Topic: Deforestation

The avocado trade in Michoacán, Mexico, has become increasingly dominated by criminal cartels, leading to the term "blood guacamole." These organizations extort growers and engage in violent clashes over the multi-billion dollar industry, which accounts for a significant portion of the global supply. The environmental toll includes massive deforestation of native pine forests and extreme water depletion, as avocado cultivation requires twelve times more water than tomato farming.

Farzan Toosi addresses the rapid destruction of the Amazon rainforest for cattle pasture and farming. He references the "Warriors of the Rainbow" prophecy, which predicts a diverse tribe of people coming together to save the earth. Toosi expresses frustration with the short attention span of the modern news cycle regarding environmental crises and calls for sustained activism to protect the jungle.

Viktor Schauberger argued that modern science only understands half of the water cycle, ignoring the "earth water" component. Deforestation removes the shade and root systems necessary to regulate ground temperature and raise the water table. The removal of a simple stone structure over a spring can cause it to dry up, demonstrating how sensitive water is to light and temperature changes.

Research into cancer treatments led to the discovery of the medical efficacy of cannabinoids, prompting the creation of the film The True History of Marijuana. Utilizing hemp for paper and building materials could prevent the widespread deforestation seen in the Pacific Northwest and the Amazon. However, the efficiency of cannabis poses a threat to the profits of the plastic, oil, and synthetic textile industries.

The guest reflects on how quickly European settlers depleted North American resources, moving from extreme abundance to scarcity in just over a century. He shares an anecdote from an indigenous perspective criticizing the wastefulness of cutting down massive trees to build houses that require constant wood burning for heat. This "rape and pillage" mindset is contrasted with the sustainable, synergistic relationship Native Americans maintained with their environment.

Alcohol fuel is presented as a solution to the global health crisis caused by indoor wood and kerosene cooking, which kills millions of women annually. The segment references Hillary Clinton's involvement with the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves after witnessing the toxic conditions in rural huts. Switching to alcohol fuel would also significantly reduce global deforestation caused by the search for cooking fuel.