Welcome to Janet's Blog

I first used this blog to publish "Trash" before I knew about ebooks. I wrote "Trash" twenty years ago. The novel explains why, in the original version of "If not for the tomatoes" Annie wrote: "We had aliens come and tell us". It wasn't Al Gore at all.

Annie isn't the hero of "Trash", but she has her own story ( a much more polished novel). Go to smashwords.com and look for "Tipping Point". (Follow the link to the right.)

If you're a first time visitor to my blog, try reading "If not for the tomatoes" first. (It's the short story in Annie's future - look in 6/5/07) This is only half the story, though. The complete story that inspired Tipping Point appears in my other blog as "Our choices".

To begin reading "Trash", start at 17/6/07. (Many apologies for the poor navigation.)

READ ON FOR LATEST BLOG POST


Monday 2 September 2013

Fantasy and the Future

Many of the fantasy novels I'm so fond of reading include ideas that demonstrate that the author is concerned about the future of the world. The "Wool" trilogy is very clear about the capacity the human race has to destroy the world around them in a misguided quest for victory. "Metro 2033" ends on a tragic note: having finally realized that the "dark ones" wish to co-operate with the humans of the Metro, Artyom helplessly watches the missiles destroy them. I found his moment of tragic enlightenment especially poignant. Will humans realize, too late, that we are destroying ourselves?

The scientists of the world are adamant - human behaviours are hastening climate change - but at times it seems as though no-one hears. As I sit here in Christmas Hills, listening to the birds calming down from their morning chorus, I am horrified by the beautiful Spring morning. This weather is not due for another month. Records continue to fall - this has been the warmest winter on record, just like last winter. The pundits are predicting high fire danger this summer - my season of anxiety will be extended this year. (Perhaps I should start packing my evacuation bags right now, even though winter is only just officially ended.)

What will it take? When will the people in power start making decisions that will help our climate heal? Or will greed for money overpower common sense? Will we be able to create a sustainable future or simply be left to watch helplessly while the environment that sustains us is damaged beyond repair?

"Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we cannot eat money."

Humans have evolved intelligence and reason - why aren't we using it?

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