Off with the forest

We have been the obedient servants of Gilgamesh for 5000 years. We have cut a path of destruction, ignored the spreading deserts, disregarded the disappearing animals, the foul air and water, the warming planet. We have destroyed most of the earth's natural forest cover, and we pretend we can live without it. The story goes that Gilgamesh defeated the forest protectors and the forces of civilization won the battle for the forest, but it is not true.