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Capitalism's grow-or-die imperative stands radically at odds with ecology's imperative of interdependence and limit. The two imperatives can no longer coexist with each other; nor can any society founded on the myth that they can be reconciled hope to survive. Either we will establish an ecological society or society will go under for everyone, irrespective of his or her status.

Ursla Le Guin (1929-2018)

On the Future of the Left, Motherboard, February 4, 2015)

What's wrong with planting new forests?

Recorded: August 26th, 2019

Notes:

The video above is slowed to 90% of the original speed and lasts just over three and a half minutes (there's also the option of downloading a four minute version slowed to 80%). One way of using the video is to pause it when the title appears and then solicit answers from the class. If no-one can come up with a reason then brainstorm or introduce a list of such phrases as:

I don't know!
No idea!
You tell me!
Your guess is as good as mine!
Who knows?

Next go through various regions of the world and ask the class who thinks tree cover has increased there and who thinks tree cover has decreased. Then watch the video. Alternatively use this sheet.

getfile: What's wrong with planting new forests?

90% Speed MP4: 64.1 mb 80% Speed MP4: 67.6 mb