It is difficult to judge public sentiment about the environmenl accurately because the environment, taken as a whole, is a broad and all encompassing idea. 'The environment" is an evocative term, suggestive of mankind's rela­tionship to nature, and conveying connotations of eternity and our genera­tion's bequest to succeeding generations. The environment, perhaps uniquely among public issues. invites citizizens to engage in metaphysical speculations. Environmental issues comprise both narrow technical concerns, often mea­sured in parts per billion. and broad emotional concerns. such as the symbol­ic value of a virgin forest.

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