Common Fate between Humans and Animals?

An analysis of environmental conservation and justice issues using the dynamical systems theory of groups suggests that the perception of common fate between various inhabitants of an ecosystem should be critical in extending personal self-interest to encompass ecological concerns. Analysis of 124 newspaper articles on the Key Deer Wildlife Refuge in Florida showed few depictions of common fate between humans and other species, little attention to long-term considerations, and a focus on surface threats to endangered species with "facts" disputed by developers and environ-mentalists. In a second study, only 30% of Big Pine residents described plant or animal species as part of the beauty and uniqueness of the island. Residents approved of the island's rural lifestyle and liked the deer, but neither factor predicted support for slowing the pace of development. The degree to which residents perceived common fate between themselves and the deer was a reliable predictor of all general and specific policy preferences. The growth of environmental conservation is discussed in the context of how groups and social identities are constructed and reflected in communities and society.

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