When we discussed the topic of nature ethics in class my first thought was of the Native American indians. Throughout history they have been portrayed as the defenders of the wilderness. Personally I believe that it is due to a deep, almost spiritual, relationship that they maintained with nature. This relationship has been portrayed in countless films and books. Below I have included a link to a very famous Public Service Announcement from the 1970's that urges people to stop polluting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7OHG7tHrNM&feature=related
This commercial raised national awareness about the pollution epidemic and although the actor was not actually a Native American it conveys the utmost sense of respect that they had for the planet.
Finally, I have linked a website at the bottom of this entry that includes a traditional code of ethics for a Native American indian tribe. As you read it think about the system that governed the tribes and how they have related their sense of respect not only to each other but also to the world around them. Remember, this precedes the development of any sort of environmental ethic in the United States by several hundred years.
http://www.sapphyr.net/natam/nacodeethics.htm
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