The forest area in the U.S. has hardly varied at all in the past 100 years. The U.S. now grows more wood, in the form of living trees, than in the last 60 years. Europe has grown much greener over the past 100 years. Europe’s forests grew by a third over that time.
Funny coincidence: Last week I went to the library and read the comics page in a 26-year-old newspaper just to see what it was like back then, and this exact strip was that day’s Calvin & Hobbes. What a coincidence, huh?
Scientists says that it’s impossible , and it will be impossible for ever, to have contact with them , neither them with us : enormous distances even running at the speed light . "Star Trek " will continue to be an utopia .
Back in the sixties and seventies we were told not to use paper grocery bags as it killed the trees, trees are the lungs of the planet, we’re all going to dieeee! In those days meat and fish were wrapped by the seller in paper parcels, fruit came in paper bags etc. They were encouraging people to use plastic because it’s reusable. The consumer is not the one who demanded everything come pre-wrapped in plastic, packaged in plastic, and handed over in a plastic bag! Now suddenly the oceans are full of plastic, and it’s our fault, and yet we never had a say in the first place.
With all the problems the world is facing today, such as poverty, starvation, diseases, wars, climate change and more, the fact that we are spending billions of dollars trying to find intelligent life on other planets shows a rather low level of intelligence on this planet.
That is likely to change in the US, where the money-first/environment-second administration is pushing to end logging restrictions in over 9 million acres of now protected old-growth forest in Alaska. But the biggest issue is unrestrained deforestation in the Amazon, which has potentially significant long term effects on climate.
Well, what I do know as a nurse, there is a correlation between Evergreen forests that are planted (and sprayed with pesticides) and the surrounding area being a cancer belt. This is very true in the mountains of North Carolina where Christmas tree farming is a very big business. The surrounding hospitals including Boone, Winston-Salem, Greensboro and as far south as Charlotte see a number of patients from the mountains who have a high incidence of cancer. Makes you think “natural” is the way to go and preserve what we already have!
Or.. we are all players in a grand computer game. In fact most religions spell out the way the game was developed.. In one popular religion replace the word God in the book of Genesis (in the Old Testament) with Alien(s).. and what they did on day one.. then day two.. and you have a pretty good description of how non computer savvy folk would describe it.
Well, it seems all the comments are about the deforestation issue. My comment is merely that (although I know this is just a comic strip) its strange that Calvin can be so “deep” and well read sometimes and other times does know that a bat is not a bug.
Why aren’t the forests preserved and maintained as they should be? Because it’s not profitable – for some. It’s the profit system, not “man”, that is to blame. The cartoonist has ZERO CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS.
One of my absolute favorite quotes! And so true! I’ve heard people ask that if there is life on other world’s, how come they don’t make themselves known to us? My answer: they’re so much smarter than we give them credit for.
BE THIS GUY about 5 years ago
They came, they saw, they weren’t impressed.
Robert4170 about 5 years ago
The forest area in the U.S. has hardly varied at all in the past 100 years. The U.S. now grows more wood, in the form of living trees, than in the last 60 years. Europe has grown much greener over the past 100 years. Europe’s forests grew by a third over that time.
codycab about 5 years ago
Because they didn’t want to contact us.
in.amongst about 5 years ago
Apparently, we humans are a contagious disease.
Concretionist about 5 years ago
This is not one of my favorites, but it is absolutely spot on.
Watcher about 5 years ago
The CO2 has dumbed us down and it is sure we will get dumber.
Katsuro Premium Member about 5 years ago
Funny coincidence: Last week I went to the library and read the comics page in a 26-year-old newspaper just to see what it was like back then, and this exact strip was that day’s Calvin & Hobbes. What a coincidence, huh?
jayendra1977 about 5 years ago
This coming from a 6 year old!!!…..hv to salute the mastery of Watterson….such simple delivery style of such powerful messages…..
Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus Premium Member about 5 years ago
Scientists says that it’s impossible , and it will be impossible for ever, to have contact with them , neither them with us : enormous distances even running at the speed light . "Star Trek " will continue to be an utopia .
orinoco womble about 5 years ago
Back in the sixties and seventies we were told not to use paper grocery bags as it killed the trees, trees are the lungs of the planet, we’re all going to dieeee! In those days meat and fish were wrapped by the seller in paper parcels, fruit came in paper bags etc. They were encouraging people to use plastic because it’s reusable. The consumer is not the one who demanded everything come pre-wrapped in plastic, packaged in plastic, and handed over in a plastic bag! Now suddenly the oceans are full of plastic, and it’s our fault, and yet we never had a say in the first place.
jimchronister2016 about 5 years ago
I figured that out 30 years ago!
RobinHood about 5 years ago
Klaatu Barada Nikto
DorothyGlenn Premium Member about 5 years ago
This strip is from 1989 so I see how motivated we humans are.
rentier about 5 years ago
Yes, this could be! Calvin a brave rescuer of nature and life!
jpayne4040 about 5 years ago
Best. Line. Ever!
Purple People Eater about 5 years ago
With all the problems the world is facing today, such as poverty, starvation, diseases, wars, climate change and more, the fact that we are spending billions of dollars trying to find intelligent life on other planets shows a rather low level of intelligence on this planet.
Comic Man X about 5 years ago
Someday it will happen Calvin…
marty jones about 5 years ago
That is likely to change in the US, where the money-first/environment-second administration is pushing to end logging restrictions in over 9 million acres of now protected old-growth forest in Alaska. But the biggest issue is unrestrained deforestation in the Amazon, which has potentially significant long term effects on climate.
Lecherous about 5 years ago
Wait. Back up – he was reading?!? It wasn’t a comic book?
KEA about 5 years ago
All time classic C&H.
rae.callaway Premium Member about 5 years ago
So, a kid who can’t even read a paragraph that says that bats aren’t bugs reads about forest destruction and extinction of species? I don’t buy it
Masterskrain about 5 years ago
NAILED IT, CALVIN!!!
Tentoes about 5 years ago
Such insight, Master Calvin!
MotherofChickens about 5 years ago
Well, what I do know as a nurse, there is a correlation between Evergreen forests that are planted (and sprayed with pesticides) and the surrounding area being a cancer belt. This is very true in the mountains of North Carolina where Christmas tree farming is a very big business. The surrounding hospitals including Boone, Winston-Salem, Greensboro and as far south as Charlotte see a number of patients from the mountains who have a high incidence of cancer. Makes you think “natural” is the way to go and preserve what we already have!
BiggerNate91 about 5 years ago
Well said, Calvin. Well said.
Alberta Oil Premium Member about 5 years ago
Or.. we are all players in a grand computer game. In fact most religions spell out the way the game was developed.. In one popular religion replace the word God in the book of Genesis (in the Old Testament) with Alien(s).. and what they did on day one.. then day two.. and you have a pretty good description of how non computer savvy folk would describe it.
sobrown51 about 5 years ago
Well, it seems all the comments are about the deforestation issue. My comment is merely that (although I know this is just a comic strip) its strange that Calvin can be so “deep” and well read sometimes and other times does know that a bat is not a bug.
Local 574 Premium Member about 5 years ago
Why aren’t the forests preserved and maintained as they should be? Because it’s not profitable – for some. It’s the profit system, not “man”, that is to blame. The cartoonist has ZERO CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS.
poco Premium Member about 5 years ago
This is a comic strip! It is not a forum for hostile political agendas. Thank you,
poco Premium Member about 5 years ago
But, of course, Calvin may be right.
COL Crash about 5 years ago
They’re avoiding us like the plague.
Snoots about 5 years ago
Have to say… I do love Bill’s artwork. That woods is just masterful pen & ink.
GreggW Premium Member about 5 years ago
Beat that, Berke Breathed.
oakie817 about 5 years ago
consider this: what if we are the only intelligent life in the universe?
Andrew Sleeth about 5 years ago
The surest sign intelligent life lives elsewhere …
… is that none of it lives here.
hagarthehorrible about 5 years ago
I would love to relax in that kind of green area. No wonder Calvin does not like to go to school.
Laurie Stoker Premium Member about 5 years ago
Amen to that, little dude.
bluegirl285 about 5 years ago
One of my absolute favorite quotes! And so true! I’ve heard people ask that if there is life on other world’s, how come they don’t make themselves known to us? My answer: they’re so much smarter than we give them credit for.