Deep ecology isn't an academic philosophy, nor is it institutionalized as an ideology. What happens in deep ecology is people coming together in direct actions, organized efforts to improve the ecosystem. It is a lifestyle, of sorts, a social movement.

There is no separation between the self and nature for proponents of deep ecology. The self is expanded into nature, and overcomes the narrow concerns of industrial life, devalues the particular, and emotional based attachments. Human life is one with the ecosphere. Deep ecology believes in equal rights of the human and the environment. We have the same right to flourish.

It makes sense then, that Arne Naess, the philosopher who coined this phrase, believed the most influential participants to be artists and writers, who express their insights not in academic tones, but through the arts. Unlike other anthropocentric (human intersted) views of the environment, this ethic embracing plants and animals as well as people is required for HARMONY! Such an ethic is effective if people actually believe in its validity, rather than just its usefulness - conservation strategies are implemented by people who love what they conserve. Lovers feel no need to hide their attitudes, they embrace their passions and wish to impart them to others. (Maybe this is really emo and girly, but I'm down, ok?)

Deep ecology is about questioning the fundamental beliefs of the impacts of human life on the earth, rather than considering the relationship simply as a branch of biology. Deep ecology is a more holistic view of the world. The parts of the ecosystem we consider to be separate function as a whole for the deep ecologist, who believes that all life forms have instrinsic value, and have a right to life that can't be quantified.

Akin to Arne Naess's deep ecology, Aldo Leopold believed humans to be "plain members of the biotic community" - (knocking us down to size a little) which is a general scheme I find pretty nifty. Leopold's idea of land ethic states that "a thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise". This supports deep ecology at its most fundamental level.

I'm a dude, your a dude, we're all dudes, some of us just trying not to destory everything in our path ... I don't care HOW emo it sounds, deep ecology starts with LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.