The Jungle Book updated

Data from many sources indicate that the Earth ecological crisis might not wait till distant future. To avert it, some difficult truth must be accepted and adequate steps taken. One of them is the strict protection of the world forests, even at the cost of the short term economic growth. These remarks are inspired by the place of our conference. The woods of Białowieża are the last remnant of a huge forest, that once covered the northern Europe. In pre-christian times the trees of this forest were considered sacred. I admit, I did not share this belief-not until the summer of 1998 in Mexico City. The rainy season in this year did not arrive in June as usual: instead of violent, refreshing rains there was not a drop of water. The air in the city was almost static; the forests around were burning. The veil of smoke extended as far as Texas causing respiratory difficulties. During the same summer fires devastated the jungles in Sumatra, forests in Florida, Greece, even in Siberia. (It is hard to imagine tropical jungles burning: we think they are so wet!) I suddenly realized that the Earth ecological problem might exceed the rise in the se