I always thought that #JRRTolkien's #Smaug was a metaphor for the #IndustrialAge and #WealthHoarding. It seems I'm not alone! #Tolkien was actually an #environmentalist and possibly a #socialist (though he describes himself as an #anarchist). Does that mean #LOTR will be banned by #Fascistic #Capitalists? Hmmmm...

#Dragonomics: Smaug and #ClimateChange

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Richard Fahey

Excerpt: "Today, we talk about dragons. I refer specifically to the greedy, northern (often fire-breathing) variety as described in Beowulf and featured in Tolkien’s #Hobbit, and I will consider how these monsters present #EnvironmentalCatastrophe as a direct result of #hoarding and #greed.

"My discussion of dragons and climate change continues my recent series of blogs interested in placing medieval literature (and in this case also modern medievalism) in conversation with current crises. This blog develops an earlier argument made in a paper at a 'Tolkien in Vermont' conference (2014), titled 'Dragonomics: Smaug and #Pollution on Middle-Earth,' in which I argue that pollution in Tolkien’s Hobbit is linked to both the literal destruction by the dragon, and the rampant greed that motivates Smaug and ultimately initiates the plunder and violence at the Battle of Five Armies."

Read more:
https://sites.nd.edu/manuscript-studies/2019/02/22/dragonomics-smaug-and-climate-change/#:~:text=I%20would%20argue%20that%20for%20Tolkien%E2%80%94whose%20environmentalism,promised%20wealth%20but%20delivered%20also%20ecological%20catastrophe.

#MiddleEarth #Capitalism #ClimateCrisis #Oiligarchy #Oligarchy #CapitalismMustDie

The purple #seastar aka #OchreSeastar - Pisaster ochraceus - is one of the most commonly found #starfish along the coasts of #BritishColumbia. You can see they have thousands of tiny feet on their legs to help them move around.

The purple sea star is considered a #KeystoneSpecies & an essential indicator of #OceanHealth.

#WildlifeWednesday #SeaCreatures #MarineAnimals #wildlife #ProtectOceans #SupportMPAs #WildFirst #HealthyOceansHealthyPlanet #Environmentalist #nature #photography #WhatsInMyHand #MarineLife #LookAndLearn #educational #MarineBiology #VancouverIsland #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #Cascadia #PNW #SalishSea

Jane Goodall was one of perhaps a handful of people I've ever heard speak, like the Dalai Lama, who you just feel their presence and aura as someone truly special.

Truly was glad I got to be around her in person, once - something I won't ever forget. 🙏.

https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/10/jane-goodall-primatologist-who-taught-the-world-to-hope-has-died-at-91/

#JaneGoddall #environmentalist #nature #RIP #Africa