Elaboration 8

The ancient Chinese were aware of the fact that trees produce and regulate their own climate. A fact not even known today in Iran, Nepal, etc. It is written by Nora Waln in connection with the same awareness in Germany, before there was awareness of acid rain, in 1937. Speaking already of a past, she remarked on the awareness of the Germans for their backfiring policy of clearing (?) forest for arable soil. "Instead of an increase in the food supply, they had less. Seasons of flood and seasons of drought were successive. Wind blew away soil and seed. Even the rain changed its behaviour. Clouds floated by without dropping their moisture or else let it down in torrents, to run away as fast as it fell." Nowadays, in the same Germany, the writing on the wall (the 'Waelder') is unmistakable. Waln however, has not told how Hitler around the 20ties, was already concerned with industrial pollution, long before there was such general awareness as there is today. The man who simply picks-off the fruit of the trees (as the animals do), does not harm nature very much, unless he is overabundant. It is the invention of implements (saw, axe, fire, etc.) that makes for massive destruction, at first unnoticed (Athens), now becoming lethal. It shows clearly what these old sages knew (Stoics e.g.) that essentials are easy to come by (food, shelter etc.) and this does not disturb nature, but for luxuries, we need craftsmen, implements, industry, advertising, selling competition, and ... the end is lost.