I hadn't realised that I take it as an article of faith that people of a certain age group know that conserving our environment (habitat, animals) is in our best interests.
Today I found myself discussing at my colleague (40-ish) about saving endangered species. Living in New Zealand (where a lot of introduced flora and fauna - possums, rabbits, german wasps, wild ginger - compete with native species, with natives losing out) means that this topic is a big part of the national psyche. The
kiwi bird (
New Zealand's national icon) is a threatenned species, although I tend to think of it as endangered when there are so many more predators out there - stoats, cats, dogs - than kiwi.
Her rationale was that the animals are endangered for a reason, possibly due to Darwinian survival-of-the-fittest process. I asked whether animal's habitat loss had anything to do with the humans who are/were encroaching on the animal's usual territory? I think, although I can't be sure, she didn't answer that.
Edited to add: At that point, iirc, I used the example of the African elephants whose habitat was being encroached upon by humans; she replied "why would the loss of elephants affect me personally?"
At some point she brought up her belief that humans, Homo sapiens sapiens, had been giants in-the-time-before-now; I mused upon the poor nutrition and health, and the smaller armour in English museums. I asked for proof. She replied "well, I cannot show you any bones or proof. It is what I believe." I pondered on the current Ancient Egypt exhibition at the Auckland Memorial Museum and wondered whether we could go and see the mummies. I did not hear her answer.
/edit
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Although to be fair, the discussion segued from the ethics of killing possums (a pest in New Zealand): my position and the
Department of Conservation's point is that the animals are destroying New Zealand wildlife; her position is that humans should only kill animals for immediate benefit (e.g. for meat or fur or to prevent harmful things happening to humans).
I'd appreciate it if you could give me some ideas on how to talk to this world view; I'd appreciate it if you could give me more examples of this type of world view.
Thanks,