Pamela Swanigan

Pamela Swanigan, an award-winning essayist and former university instructor, delves into the rhetoric of 'hopium' and its failures in addressing ecological overshoot. She critiques how children's literature reflects reverence for nature yet often succumbs to human exceptionalism. Pamela discusses the influence of Judeo-Christianity on our disconnect with nature, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous cultures in fostering resilience. Embracing J.R.R. Tolkien's 'long defeat,' she advocates for a courageous confrontation with ecological realities rather than delusional optimism.