in a remote area, I can tell you that even the "locals" lack respect for this great land that is so open and unspoiled. They don't respect the law, they don't respect the land and they don't respect future generations. I have a real issue with the number of "hunters" I've seen chasing deer from one end of the area to another, using their cell phones to call each other and to herd the deer into one small area where they shoot repeatedly (obviously not really marksmen)until they kill something. Or, at least, wound something. Half the time, it's each other. Outback ethics? You have to be kidding.

While I totally understand that littering and other like practices are wrong. One of the problems we face today is trying to keep to much of our areas for "solitude". The term used that should apply is MULTIPLE USE.
I love the outdoors, but to say that I have to enjoy them by a narrow definition is not an ethical problem, but rather a poor choice of definition. How have we come to live on this planet and we must always act as if we are strangers in our own house.

Should we destroy things? NO! But we should also not act as if we are doing something wrong by walking off a trail! Come on, let us figure a way that we can enjoy this earth without acting as if it is going to disappear.

I think that this is like the global warming farce, why would God create an earth (for MAN) and then destroy it by the act of human breathing- it defies logic! Just as the narrow definitions set forth by "environmentalism" which are implied by this article. God created the Earth for man to enjoy and live, not to sneak around in!

"The soul's salvation is seen in the secret silence of solitude"

Dear Define Ethics,

The problem with your argument is that God did not create trucks, ATV's and beer cans. In the days when people lived and travelled by sweat and hard work, most of these wild areas were hard to reach and inhospitable to white men and therefore were mostly avoided or never even discovered. But today because they can be easily accessed by thousands of lazy, self serving pleasure seekers riding and driving their modern vehicles, the wild areas are prime targets for morons who have no respect for anything that doesn't have a checkered flag or number 3 on it.

I always try to leave the campsite as I found it or better. It is the ethical thing to do.

Ethics should be internal. It shouldn't make a difference if no one is watching.

"God didn't create trucks" Without getting into a religious debate, I believe that he did, or at least the ability and intelligence to create trucks. With that he also gave us the freedom to make decisions.

One of those decisions is how and where to use my truck, another is the establishment of rules to govern ourselves. Every decision we make will have consequences. some good, some bad. In govering ourselves (in the US) we elect people who are supposed to make rules for the benefit of the society.

Trucks are wonderful, I wcouldn't even have breakfast without them. Trucks are wonderful creations (of God?) when used properly. There are a lot of places where trucks shouldn't go, on top of my desk, inside the school, on the NJ Garden State Parkway and yes some natural areas.

You still have your freedom to try to drive your truck anywhere, but there will be consequences for your decision. It may be from law enforcement,it may be from someone else following your tracks. It may not even be apparent for years, even to saying "Dad-did-it!"

Learn to respect others,behave properly,respect roadless areas!IMPORTANT!

Trashy is as trashy does. Some folks are just too selfish, lazy, and/or ignorant to respect their environment, whether urban or nature. What's tragic is that these fools are handing down their values to their kids.

We need a culture of caring about others, our environment, our legacy and get beyond the culture of me, mine, what I want matters more than anything else in the world.

Some people are filthy animals. The entire earth is littered.

If you don't know much about Leave No Trace you should take a second to check out their web site. The 7 principles taught are thorough and reasonable. They not only teach what's important but why it is.

God didn't give us the earth and say "Have fun. Use it to death." He gave us stewardship over it and told us to take care of it.

What we do when no one is watching truly shows our ethics and what we really believe.

I am getting real tired of this religion of environmentalism. With all of the "holier-than thou"....er "more environmental than thou". See I am more environmental than you are...blah.blah.blah.

You see every one needs a cause to live for greater than themselves. It is apparent that some have a 'graven image' of the environment. What is your sacred cow?

Followed to its logical conclusion, true environmentalists, if they really cared, and were not hypocrits would just commit suicide to save the precious dirt they walk on.

Thanks for the excellent web links in this article. At Wilderdom there is a short animated film worth seeing about global climate change.

“Tread Lightly” and “Leave No Trace” are great maxims to live by in nature and to teach to children.