She’s 75

It’s not like the seminal work of high fantasy that inspired an entire genre is actually a direct response to the author’s personal trauma suffered by war or anything. It’s surely not a (wee bit racist) allegory for the dangers of industrialization, industrial war, and a paean for an idyllic simpler pastoral/peasant life that never existed.

There’s the already mentioned defensive alliance. Mali and Burkina Faso are supposedly in talks to “federate” into a larger political unit. Guinea has been invited to join the talks, but as of yet has not done so (I think).

The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of whimsical changes of heart

Damn materialists BTFO.

This should be a non-issue, or even an opportunity, but it’s a complete crisis for capitalism. As a society we need rapidly decrease the carbon emissions from our buildings. This means electrification of utilities, but more importantly it means reducing the heating/cooling load of buildings. This would require a massive building campaign of new homes, depressing the price of existing homes across the board. Then once population demographics have shifted enough to begin depressing the price of homes on their own, begin systematically destroying the older housing stock.

It’s a super racist/bigoted place (esp against religious minorities), but still manages to be hands down the best province in Canada