How do you explain environmentalism to someone who isn't environmentalist?

This is probably the wrong forum to post this on, but maybe someone here can help me. I'm writing a hip-hop song about environmentalism, but I'm having trouble. How can I best argue against the idea that the earth has no inherent value other than what it serves us? I believe that the environment is worth saving simply because its beautiful. For a lot of people that doesn't suffice though. I could argue that if we plunder the earth too much it will negatively effect us, but I don't want humans to just create an equilibrium with nature, but also to genuinely respect it. Is there any rational arguement as to why humans should love the earth? Or is that a feeling only art and music can foster in a person?

mmm  good question. I believe that one thing that hurts your cause the most is the people who are out front speaking about it, the Al Gores the Micheal Meyers. I find it hard to follow some one just becasue they make movies or can sing like the U2 guy!

I hope this makes sense but I think the Native Amercains had it right all along, they would pray to their God after taking an aminals life, they would never take more from nature then they could use.

Chane your leaders and things might become more beleivable, speaking for myself if an actor or swinger attempts talk about anything other then their craft I turn them off!!

Good luck in your work 

Whatever you do, it brings attention to the subject.  Makes a few more people think about something in a way they maybe hadn't, if at all. 

 Even though I do not pay attention to what celebrities talk about most of the time, it's the same for them.  If they are talking about going green, etc, good.  It will help expose more people to something worth thinking about.

In one of my books, there was a thing about Easter Island.  It posed the question, 'Is the earth going to follow the same path as easter island?'  In my opinion, a bit extreme, but interesting.

Just don't get to extreme like those Scientologist..they think you should not harm anything that is living...That is nice and all but they take it to the next level and beyond....they think it is wrong to harm anything living...even a blade of grass

Have fun in whatever you do!

Here's an idea that might help you get the point across but then again it's been used

We need air

we need food

we need water

the rest is all extra

We need the enviroment for our air water and food

take that away we die

that all the extras away we still live...albeit we won't be as comfortable but we will survive

He who dies with the most toys, still dies!!! 

I'll let you know once i have a finished product, you all offer some interesting ideas. Theres no way to post any files on this forum, but if anyone wants to here the beat I made for the song I can email it to them. It's pretty good! I only put finished instrumentals on our myspace.com/depth12 but this one is promising.

I think there is no arguement for why the environment should be saved other than it will preserve our species. That's probably why the only way to protect the environment in court battles is to sight the endangered species act. According to capatolism land has no value unless its developed or exploited. I will have to glorify environmentalism in a more abstract way.