Jared Diamond Quote
I have often asked myself, What did the Easter Islander who cut down the last palm tree say while he was doing it? Like modern loggers, did he shout Jobs, not trees!? Or: Technology will solve our problems, never fear, we'll find a substitute for wood? Or: We don't have proof that there aren't palms somewhere else on Easter, we need more research, your proposed ban on logging is premature and driven by fear-mongering? Similar questions arise for every society that has inadvertently damaged its environment.
Jared Diamond
I have often asked myself, What did the Easter Islander who cut down the last palm tree say while he was doing it? Like modern loggers, did he shout Jobs, not trees!? Or: Technology will solve our problems, never fear, we'll find a substitute for wood? Or: We don't have proof that there aren't palms somewhere else on Easter, we need more research, your proposed ban on logging is premature and driven by fear-mongering? Similar questions arise for every society that has inadvertently damaged its environment.
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About Jared Diamond
Originally trained in biochemistry and physiology, Diamond has published in many fields, including anthropology, ecology, geography, and evolutionary biology. In 1999, he received the National Medal of Science, an honor bestowed by the President of the United States and the National Science Foundation. He was a professor of geography at UCLA until his retirement in 2024.