Where in your area have you seen people "pave paradise and put up a parking lot"? What used to be there? What is there now? What reasons were given for the new development? Was the trade worth it? What did the community gain or lose? What impact did the new development have on the environment? Did anyone question the new development? What reasons did they give?

Besides natural areas, what other areas are threatened by over-development? Historic areas, small communities.

What kinds of changes are made to the environment when new development moves too fast (over-development)? Loss of wildlife habitat, endangered species; increased traffic and air pollution; inadequate water supplies, etc.

Besides over-development, what other environmental risks does Joni Mitchell warn about? Deforestation, pesticide use. What are our "tree museums"? National parks; state, national forests. Are parks and nature reserves enough to keep plants and animals thriving? What can we do to keep "tree museums" nearby? Greenways, rail-trails, backyard wildlife plantings, etc.

This song was written in 1970. What happened to call attention to environmental issues? Rachel Carson's Silent Spring warned about pesticides, 1962.

What progress has been made to protect the environment since 1970? EPA, unleaded gas, efficient cars, recycling, renewable energies, ozone layer, sustainability, hybrid and electric cars, etc. What has gotten worse? Amazon deforestation, more development, landfills, greenhouse gas emissions, use of plastics, infiltration of “forever chemicals” into drinking water. etc. What more needs to be done?