no, those were "conservationists".

conservatives are people who prefer the status quo, and if change needs to be made, it must be made slowly. this doesn't mean that they are mutually exclusive though.

republicans became "conservative" and "right wing" when Nixon got the southern democrats to join the republican party. before then, they were "liberals" meaning they supported less government oversight, and individual rights. they were created as an anti slavery party. the democrats being the conservative, proslavery party, or at least antiabolition.

but lets say this. teddy roosevelt was the greatest conservationist this country ever had. he was also the most inperialistic, militaristic guy ever. all in all he was pretty awesome. he was also a big hunter and industrialist. but yeah, he'd kick my ass if i said "pave the rainforest"

\ Sigh...

You all can look at history and try to say what is "right" and "just".

However, you fail to look at today.  And you fail to look at the OP...

This is a post on environmental wackism... not religion (even though environmentalism is by all definitions, a religion)

We may be the gardeners of this planet, but we didn't create it.  We don't even know the intricacies of how it works.  We still are finding species we have never seen (ocean depths, rain forests, ect)

Get off your intellectual high chair and realize how little you actually know.

i think the OP didnt explain himself well but i got the idea and agree. people are arrogant. and they want to think their every action is going to be either gods gift to the world or the ending decision for something. these are the same people that dont believe in consuming animals for food.....................which is an ass backwards idea. according to science plants are as much ALIVE as animals or you and me are. so its ok to kill one lifeform for you to continue living but not another?? but back on topic. people think that by the earth becoming more hostile that its all our faults and that somehow we need to stop it............quite arrogant to think you can stop nature dont you think? people are afraid the Earth will become too hostile for themselves to survive not animals................any animal that goes extinct will be replaced by another creature. its just the way life keeps bouncing back. Earth will be around ALOT longer then humans and LIFE will be around ALOT longer then humans NO MATTER what we do to our enviroment. Earths taken a beating from more powerful effects then humans.

i really think humans need to be smart about consumption and waste and just be more mindful of our effect on everything. but i really dont think that somehow were capable (atleast yet) of totally destroying all life on Earth. even if all our nukes were set off and our nuclear reactors were to go off. i can guarantee you that life would still continue on, it might not be human (as well definitely be gone) and it might have a hard time for the next few 100 thousand years but eventually life would bounce back and be stronger then ever.

people need to just be honest not just with others but themselves......................were here to save OURSELVES not Earth...

Why is it that all the godless environmentalist wackjobs, who I presume would believe in evolution, what with it kinda being the only working theory, completely ignore the circumstances of their own existence?

This planet isn't a garden, it's a snow globe.  Now I happen to like the fact that it's one third iced over during winter and too cold to live in comfortably in many areas, with vastly suboptimal weather for life, I still wear shorts when it's cold enough to freeze your spit before it hits the ground.  Some time in the next few thousand years, if history can be anything resembling a guide, this planet will turn back into an ice cube, with glaciers working their way down to kansas.  The several billion people and accompanying wildlife will be slaughtered wholesale in the fight for the remaining lands.  Since it's currently cooling despite higher than normal solar activity, it may be time to start shitting yourselves right now.  If we could actually warm this planet up to a level where it doesn't spend 80% of the time looking like a Christmas decoration, it would be the best thing to ever happen to humanity.  Global warming alarmists bring me great amusement.

Then there's all the crazy conservationists.  If we happen to kill off a few species, why is it a problem?

Evolution is a process of elimination.

We've got some owl variant that only lives between such and such, obviously this owl sucks.  If it didn't, it would range over a wider territory.  If anything, it should be our duty to nature to weed it out for good so it can stop wasting space.  Every time we save a fish that only lives in one river, or a bug that only lives in one valley, we're trying to prevent what is supposedly the natural course of life on earth.

I have no problem with not hunting whale X to extinction.  Regardless of my views on hunting something that might be smarter than me, it's stupid to exterminate a viable, valuable resource.  Especially in the wasteful manner that commercial whalers practice.  Ending civilization over a bait fish that only lives in one river?  That's just fucked in the head.

Arrogant?...I'm not sure. I think it's noble idea, just not possible IMO. I think we can be good stewards of the land, but I don't think we can save it. That's in God's hands.

I sometimes wonder if we use all this "green" technology, if sometime in the future we will find out that we are screwing up something unforeseen.

I'm just wishing people'd learn how to spellz.

ok... time to outline some distinctions.

First of all-Christianity.  yes, christians have done horrible things.  so has everyone else there.  there is a fine line between what a religion may teach and how the "adherents" follow it or twist it to suit their purposes.  if you look at medeival europe, there are many more reasons than religion for the things they did, many of which were motivated by greed.

Next, on killing off "usless" species existing in only one place.  the previous posts have a point, but it is arrogance- it's that word again!- to believe that we have more than even basic understanding of the connections that compose the natural world.  sure it may seem useless, but that's when you discover that it is vitally important for the ecosystem in question.

@ heft- i agree tootally wid u alz.

yeah. definitely!