wafflehead - I am also known as 'Madam Tau' - so not a gentleman!
I totally agree with your sentiments - but especially the last paragraph. Re the fires in Brazil - I have done quite a bit of research this last year and a half, I have always had an interest in the Amazonas, but saw a play, then read a book and another one, where the farming practices of the poor who live in and around the Amazon rainforest areas are mentioned; they simply have to clear more land, as - surprisingly - the soil in the rainforest does not last long enough to keep growing food crops on - so they go and cut down a few more trees, often they go deeper into the forest, away from prying eyes, where they own a bit of land, cut down the trees there, also burn them and then plant a new crop.
We, the whole world - will have to help these people survive, as a non-existent Rainforest will tip the world into the existential crisis, that's being talked about - on here as well. Taurisk
Wafflehead - I have just remembered something I read recently: it is Voltaire I am studying lately - again - he was well-known for being rather lukewarm about religion, being witness to all the troubles caused by the persecution of the newer Protestant religions under Louis XIV (the Huguenots, at one stage coralled in a church in Paris and summarily butchered, the rest fleeing the country, taking valuable tradesmen and commercial skills with them - in this case to England, also Holland and the rest of Europe) also the so-called Jansenists were persecuted - and also witnessing the rapaciousness and power plays of the Catholic Church etc. made him doubt the value of religion, but he did say this:
"If there is no God, he should be invented!" or words to that effect.
What he meant by this was that we as humans are so unevolved, we need that higher authority, including the rules set by a higher authority (via the various religious faiths) to keep us from behaving badly. Madam Tau
