Caution: touching on the political.
Writers are supposed to confront the ugly stuff. Give a wake up call.
However, in the 50 years since Carson's
Silent Spring we've learned nothing, except how to make tobacco science more appealing.
I was on a board at a SF convention last year and the topic was
end of the world scenarios. Zombie apocalypse = end of the world. It's all code
words for when this poor weary planet runs out of steam. It's when civilization
breathes its last gasp and anarchy reins.
Welcome to the Dark Ages Redux. "No phone, no lights, no
motor cars, not a single luxury. Like Robinson Crusoe, it's as primitive as can
be."
The theme is everywhere we look. Dystopias are in vogue.
Stories of alien invasions undermining civilization, zombie viruses, blindness
viruses, infertility....
I think the way we're living is non-sustainable. I suspect,
at least on a subconscious level, everyone agrees with me.
Neither political party is taking this seriously enough.
Maybe some figure they have enough money for private armies. Others may figure the Rapture will save them. We have a leader who went on national television to tell us that "Fracking was safe."
Maybe with bottled water and filters for your bath, fracking is safe. Maybe we'll get a tax break for gas masks as well. Maybe some figure life will raise itself all over again. Maybe creatures
that thrive on radiation and mercury and plastics will evolve and start all
over. But by that time, me and mine will be long gone.
That part doesn't bother me so much as thought of if I'll be
around or my loved ones for the big dissolution. What will it be like? Riots? The
breakdown of law and order. Private armies owned by the rich to suppress the
poor. We've seen so many distopias on paper, TV or the silver screen. What will it
be like when the majority of kids die of cancer at an early age due to
pollutants in our air, water and soil? What will it be like when fewer and fewer
children are healthy because of mercury and other toxins attacking their bodies?
Keep reading and watching those zombies. It's a primer of
things to come. Take good notes...
So how are you preparing?
Please drop in this afternoon (Tues. Dec. 18th) to 
