The author wrote: "However, there is no such thing as values over and above human values. If we took away all the people, there would be no value in the environment."

The above is obvious nonsense. The world has existed for about 4.6 billion years. Humanity has existed for probably less than a million years in its present form. Like other species we will become extinct. The environment had value before we existed and will continue to have value when our species becomes extinct.

Grim,

I take your point about the difference between empathy and sympathy.

Col,

I concluded that I would want more rules on companies than you from the many posts I have read from you espousing your free market views on this site over the past few years.

You say: "However, there is no such thing as values over and above human values. If we took away all the people, there would be no value in the environment.

No one has a right to speak for environmental values over and above human values in the environment. Those who presume to speak for “environmental values” supposedly over and above human values, are merely speaking for their own values in using the same resource in a different way."

The environment was here before man, and it will be here after man, I don't think you really understand much at all.

You are one of these people who says, we made the word, so if we don't exist, it doesn't.

Before today, you didn't exist because I didn't know your name; and you will exist no more as I will soon forget your name.

Thank God your type are a shrinking minority.