Today I had a very rude awakening to how inconsiderate and foolish our species was only some centuries ago. To vent a little I am directing a letter to the people of 2010. Here I go...Dear 2010,
Not too long ago, I was allowed to drive into a McDonalds drive through in a gas fueled car and order a hamburger with extra cheese, extra pickles and you know, the works. Just today, I stood inside a McDonalds for the first time, of course I could not get the delicious burger I have read about. Since the Sustainable Act in the year 2482 took place, all restaurants were shut down, supermarkets as they were once known were drastically changed and our economy took a big leap forward, although some might say in reverse. I certainly do.As we now have farms breeding animals in controlled environments, my family and I are limited to the meat and poultry we eat throughout the month. We are rationed with not only meat, but fruits and vegetables too. We live in a small home, and we can only use so much heat in the winter and next to no air conditioning in the summer. As for transportation, you don't see any cars around. We do have electric powered cars, but only police, paramedics and government employed are allowed to operate one. There is public transportation, but most people use there bikes or walk.
My older sister, who is now 25 and married would like to have a child, but since 2484, one must be granted permission from the government to have a child. She's on an insanely long wait list. How is this fair? Our government, following the sustainable act, is attempting to level off the population at a number that is sustainable economically, socially and environmentally.
Now, let's rewind a few years, well a little more, and look at how you lucky guys got to live, and how, even though you had great warning you chose my inconvenient fate. Philosopher, George Santayana once said, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." (213, Easton) From this idea, Jared Diamond, a world renown professor wrote a novel on how a society can choose to fail or succeed. Diamond discussed that similar to Mayan civilizations and others societies such as the Anasazis and Cahokia which failed due to lack of resourse, over population and other forms of ecocide, the people after the millennium will experience a similar collapse unless, the decisions made 'today' are designed to benefit 'tomorrow'. (213-214, Easton)
Now, 2010, you might say that the Aztecs and other civilizations failed due to lack of technology, but infact technology is a big factor which contributed to the sustainable act. The Ehrlich Professors of your time, said that due to the population explosion, or in other words, the increase of consumption, the damage on the environment increased. This is because different technologies trying to support this increase were on high demand, causing more pollution and other waste. (184, Easton) In a way the Ehrlichs presumed the control of reproduction in the future, when the two discussed a 'optimum population size..." (185, Easton) It also brings me to shame how, even though encouraged to do so, the public health officials of your time, ignored the request to look into possible health problems of environmental contaminants, such as DES. (162, Easton)
Humans and animals share the world, so it seems to me, only obvious that what affects animals and their environment must affect humans and our environment. (162, Easton). Theo Colborn, a professor in Florida, discussed the affect of a chemical DES, "a synthetic hormone drug," or estrogen, which was used to increase growth in cattle. DES caused abnormalities such as cancer and tumors mainly in women and children. (163, Easton) This situation proved obvious that humans were in "jeopardy" and were "affected" by chemicals released into the environment. (163, Easton) As Colborn says, "the tragedy is that we ignored the warning." (164, Easton.)
As these numerous warnings against environmental damage and over population were made and continuously ignored, my generation was destined to a life with little freedom and little quality.
Cheers 2010.
Arielle Lofchick -7645343
Work's CitedEaston, Thomas A. Classic Edition Sources: Environmental Studies (Classic Edition Sources). 3 ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Mcgraw-hill/dushkin, 2008. Print.
TED. "John Francis walks the Earth | Video on TED.com." TED: Ideas worth spreading. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2010. <http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/john_francis_walks_the_earth.html>.
