THE NATURE OF THINGS: AMAZONIA CBC Enterprises, 1989. VHS cassette, 96:24 min., $218.00 Distributed by CBC Enterprises, Box 500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario M5W 1E6 THE NATURE OF THINGS: LITTLE WARS CBC Enterprises, 1989. VHS cassette, 46:20 min., $109.00 Distributed by CBC Enterprises, Box 500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario M5W 1E6 Grades 6 and up/Ages 11 and up Reviewed by Marsha Kaiserman. Volume 19 Number 1 1991 January David Suzuki, the host of 'The Nature of Things", closes Amazonia with the following statement: "At least 200,000 sq. km. of tropical rain forest and all the life they contain are de­stroyed or degraded every year." In this show, Suzuki describes how, when, where and why this destruction is occurring. Furthermore, we learn that the whole world will be worse off without the rain forest. If this is true, then why is the destruction allowed to continue? In Little Wars, we inadvertently find the answer. Little Wars deals with games and how they are used for fun, to resolve conflict, to teach and, finally, to learn about ourselves. It is this last aspect that is most relevant to the situation described in Amazonia. Ac­cording to game theory, rational people, behaving in a self-interested, rational manner, will choose the best individual outcome at the expense of the group. In other words, individuals will exploit the Amazon at the expense of the rest of the world as long as their interests are served. Separately, both shows are interest­ing and rewarding. Together and in the sequence presented, they are comple­mentary. The only complaint is that Amazonia is too long. Suzuki makes his point early in the show and then spends too much time belabouring it. Never­theless, both tapes are highly recom­mended and are a must for all libraries. Marsha Kaiserman, Canada Institute for Scientific and Technial Information, Ottawa, Ont.