Half-Earth by Edward O. Wilson

 

Summary (Amazon): 

In his most urgent book to date, Pulitzer Prize–winning author and world-renowned biologist Edward O. Wilson states that in order to stave off the mass extinction of species, including our own, we must move swiftly to preserve the biodiversity of our planet. In this "visionary blueprint for saving the planet" (Stephen Greenblatt), Half-Earth argues that the situation facing us is too large to be solved piecemeal and proposes a solution commensurate with the magnitude of the problem: dedicate fully half the surface of the Earth to nature. Identifying actual regions of the planet that can still be reclaimed―such as the California redwood forest, the Amazon River basin, and grasslands of the Serengeti, among others―Wilson puts aside the prevailing pessimism of our times and "speaks with a humane eloquence which calls to us all"

Edward Wilson Biodiversity Foundation: https://www.half-earthproject.org/; https://eowilsonfoundation.org/half-earth-our-planet-s-fight-for-life/

Reviews:

1. The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/11/half-earth-planets-fight-for-life-edward-o-wilson-review

2. Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/edward-o-wilson/half-earth/

3. NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/science/e-o-wilson-half-earth-biodiversity.html

(NY Times)

Interview:

PBS: https://www.half-earthproject.org/half-earth-book/#pbs

October 22, 2021 Half Earth Day Virtual Summit

 Registration: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/page/4/

Bialowieza Forest (Wilderness Society)

Discussion Questions:

French Guiana (wiki)

An Elephant in my Kitchen by Françoise Malby-Anthony

 

Summary (modified from Amazon): Sequel to The Elephant Whisperer, which was written by Lawrence Anthony, in this book, his wife Françoise writes about her experiences after she has to carry on after his death. She never expected to find herself responsible for a herd of elephants with a troubled past. A chic Parisienne, she with Lawrence founded a game reserve but after his death, Françoise faced the daunting responsibility of running Thula Thula without him. Poachers attacked their rhinos, their security team wouldn’t take orders from a woman and the authorities were threatening to cull their beloved elephant family. On top of that, the herd’s feisty new matriarch Frankie didn’t like her.

In this heart-warming and moving book, Françoise describes how she fought to protect the herd and to make her dream of building a wildlife rescue centre a reality. She found herself caring for a lost baby elephant who turned up at her house, and offering refuge to traumatized orphaned rhinos, and a hippo called Charlie who was scared of water.

(https://www.anelephantinmykitchen.com/the-story)

Reviews:

1. http://www.poachingfacts.com/resources/book-reviews/an-elephant-in-my-kitchen-review/

2. Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/francoise-malby-anthony/an-elephant-in-my-kitchen/

Website for the book: https://www.anelephantinmykitchen.com/

One of the Authors' Websites: http://www.katjawillemsen.com/home.html

(https://www.thulathula.com/south-african-safari/)

Thula Thula Game Preserve: https://www.thulathula.com/

Groups to support:

1. South African Conservation Fund: https://www.saconservation.fund

2. Four Paws International: https://www.four-paws.org/

3. My Baby Rhinos - Children Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0NKp7SyhKA; https://www.facebook.com/mybabyrhinos/

4.Elephant Orphanage in Kenya, which Cheryl shared: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Other:

1. African Lullaby: Thula Baba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cLFlKcXmSk

2. Poaching Rhinos Article: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/rhino-poachers-are-back-after-south-africa-eases-lockdown-restrictions-2021-05-03/

Interviews:

1. From Thula Thula Wildlife Reserve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_-Sa826KwA

2. https://anglophone-direct.com/an-elephant-in-my-kitchen/

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a8F1znHP3c

Videos:

1. Video with Lawrence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTtcz8Vuor0

Discussion Questions: (John will be leading the discussion.)

(Reader's Digest)

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

Summary: (Selection from Amazon):
"Alan Weisman offers an utterly original approach to questions of humanity's impact on the planet: he asks us to envision our Earth, without us. In this far-reaching narrative, Weisman explains how our massive infrastructure would collapse and finally vanish without human presence; which everyday items may become immortalized as fossils; how copper pipes and wiring would be crushed into mere seams of reddish rock; why some of our earliest buildings might be the last architecture left; and how plastic, bronze sculpture, radio waves, and some man-made molecules may be our most lasting gifts to the universe."

Reviews:
NY Times: "Starting Over" by Jennifer Schuessler:
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/books/review/Schuessler-t.html
The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/may/03/society1

Book and Author Website:
http://www.worldwithoutus.com/about_author.html

Author Interviews:
1. NPR: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14194915
2. Jon Stewart: http://www.cc.com/video-clips/0xoqg1/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-alan-weisman
3. NOVA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8CsBMCfu0s
4. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQxBYoGNmO0

Related Articles:
1. "Should it be Saved: Proposals to focus resources on some endangered species and let others go extinct are stirring fierce debate", Warren Corwall, Science, Sept. 7, 2018.
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/361/6406/962

2. "Florence engulfs hog farms and chicken houses, thrashing NC agriculture", Dan Charles, NPR, September 18, 2018.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/09/18/649132289/florence-engulfs-hog-farms-and-chicken-houses-thrashing-north-carolina-agricultu

Eleven Fun Facts from the Book: Mother Earth News:
https://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/nature/world-without-us-alan-weisman

Discussion Questions: 

1.     What are some of the things that you found surprising or not, that would survive a world without humans?

2.     When considering common household items you use (such as a computer, cell phone, lawnmower, etc.), reflect on its origins, how it’s manufactured, its’ uses and lifespan, etc. How might such self-reflection inform your future choices that you make to buy, use or store something?

3.     Which species do you think will adapt, thrive or decline in our changing world?

4.     Many conservation groups and governments (i.e. Endangered Species Act, etc. ) have worked and continue to work to protect and restore species most at risk of disappearing. Which species do you think we should focus on to save? How does one choose?

5.     Are humans a part of the natural world or separate?

6.     We are aware of some of the worst ecological disasters such as Chernobyl, but were some of the author’s examples surprising to you, such as plastics, embalming products, flower industry waste, nuclear waste? (Remember, this book was written in 2007)

7.     Did you find this book depressing? Hopeful? What was your emotional response to this book?

8.     If humans were gone, what would you hope would return, i.e. animals, plants, etc.

9.     What new revelations might you have to help the destiny of the earth now, beyond your own personal actions, which would have a greater, broader, meaningful impact? Perhaps: promoting renewable energies, encouraging businesses to eliminate plastic bags and straws, supporting conservation and environmental groups, other ideas?

Some of the questions were inspired from: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/sites/default/files/bookclubkit/discussions/weisman_world.pdf and http://www.galesburglibrary.org/BookClub/WorldWithoutUs.pdf