Science has shown us that the majority or species that have ever existed have already gone extinct regardless of how we behave its going to happen one way or the other. Better that we control the process and decided which will benefit us and which will serve less purpose. In general it causes less conflict to exterminate an animal or plant species then it does a human population. We could invest in oxygen generation technology which could eventually be more cost effective. Without the rain forest we could have more land for the ever growing human population, I don't know about you but when it comes to people I'm not comfortable putting an animal or plants life before them.

Who's to say that the oxygen isn't the cause of many of our air born diseases and if this is the case wouldn't we be better off investing in oxygen generation technology? With the rapid growth of the human population its inevitable that we will be taking over that land in which case the animals aren't going to be an issue. Better than having a wholesale ban we should devise a method for humans to exist within the forests along side the the current population or we must relocate/terminate. Clean water I think not as far as I know its generally not safe to drink the water in a rain forest unless you boil it. It is true that we have yet to fully take advantage of the native vegetation within the rain forest which would be a reason for it to be developed and researched on large scale.

The real issue is do we continue to support the idea that there are "bad words".

The topic of this debate is flawed, its the same as asking "Should we continue to breath". Of course we want to maintain a renewable source for oxygen, however is it the best method? Might we be able to create a better cheaper system? One could play the same numbers game automobile manufacturers play when deciding to issue a recall for a flaw in their manufacturing. Is the cost of over population in our already populated areas <= the cost of loosing some rain forest and investing in oxygen generation technology? Do the pro saving the rain forest people take into account the fact that population control is mostly nonexistent? Disease, crime, space are topics that should be covered and since there is practically no opposition as of yet Ill assume they have not been brought to the table.

So my question to everyone in favor of saving the rain forest is do we pretend the inevitable isn't coming or do we start now and create the necessary industry to support booming populations and expanding economies?