Easter Island and climate change
A few years ago I received a copy of A Short History of Progress as a Christmas present. In it, it’s author, Ronald Wright, speculates that the native inhabitants of Easter Island caused their own eventual destruction by felling the once plentiful native forests on the island as part of the construction process for the famous Easter Island Statues.
In the book (and I’m paraphrasing from memory) Wright asks why none of the natives saw what was happening, tried to halt to the insane construction of statues, and protect and rekindle the forests for future generations.
I’m struck with a similar feeling about mankind when you read some of the scarier stuff on climate change – in particular this recent article in the Guardian, entitled Too late? Why scientists say we should expect the worst.
With thanks for @TomRaftery for the pointer.
As an aside, I notice that Wright has a new book called What is America? A Short History of the New World Order. Must add that one to the Christmas reading list.