Post by goldenmyst on Feb 20, 2020 23:35:26 GMT -6
Hudson Bay Co-op
Rowena says, “John, home feels so far away here in the tundra of Hudson’s Bay.”
I reply, “The land is arable here with the help of the greenhouses. The biosphere reclamation project gives hope for our grandchildren.”
A signal makes its way from a communications satellite to our monitoring antenna. The message says an Ark ship from Norway is on its way with a cargo manifest of robotic construction crews and urban planners. Rowena’s heart sinks. Also in the message is a plan for the rapid conversion from a communal economy to a free market one. And so the ship of people arrives who are tired of watching their skin shrivel under a sky unprotected from ultraviolet rays. They miss getting groceries at the store like civilized people do. I convene a council meeting to discuss the implications of these new settlers for our community.
They dock on our shore. The first delegation from the strangers steps off the boat. Legends of our icy land are dispelled when the people step into a mud puddle. The robust leader marches with his followers in tow wearing a coat unsuited for summer in the new Arctic. He reaches out a hand in friendship to Rowena and me. We accept it with deep-seated reservations. We enter the greenhouse. The emissary speaks. “What a quaint little commune you folks have built for yourselves. Just to breathe in the scent of your botanical gardens is heavenly. I’m sure your plot will make a wonderful museum when our urbanization plans are developed. I hear you don’t use money. Well, every capitalist society has room for socialist enclaves.”
Rowena says, “Our people need plenty of space. There is room for your cities on the other hemisphere. I’m sure you understand our need for fresh air and open fields for our children. Pollutants from mining operations would contaminate the air we breathe. My husband John and I would be glad to negotiate an arrangement with your committee suitable for both our needs.”
Rowena leads me by the hand to a private space. “Their leader is appropriately named Argon after the gas which in sufficient amounts can choke oxygen out of the air.”
“I know, we’ll convince them to build their cities far away. I have a plan which will appeal to them.”
Argon approaches us. “There you two go hiding. No need for secrecy between us. My agenda is open to discussion.”
I tell him, “Sir, there is a reason you may find the opposite hemisphere more suitable for your cities. My team set out to form a sister colony near Vladivostok on the Pacific coast of Russia. They found large stockpiles of uranium warehoused there and even surprisingly deposits of titanium ore in the ground mostly absent round these parts. These materials make the environment unsuitable for our agrarian way of life since they contaminate they soil. But they would be perfect for an urban society such as you envision.”
Argon gets jubilant. “Those uranium ores are especially of interest because we plan to use nuclear energy to power our cities.”
Rowena is shocked. “But sir, we use solar and wind energy with great success. Please don’t contaminate our atmosphere with the meltdowns which will inevitably occur. Those are accidents waiting to happen with catastrophic results. Reconsider for the sake of our progeny. There really is no need to resort to such drastic sources when clean energy is abundant.”
Argon replies, “Come, come now milady, the water from our plants would supply your community’s needs for generations to come.”
Rowena says, “Sir, with all due respect that water would be irradiated. And if we’re downwind of the steam they produce it would block the sun withering the vegetation we depend on both to replenish the oxygen depleted from the cataclysm and for food.”
Argon says, “How many days of sun does your proposed locale for us have on any given year?”
I reply. “The majority of their days are sunny. Since global warming the environs has developed microclimates like in Costa Rica. You can spend a cool day in the hills and descend to the seashore for a warm afternoon swim in the Sea of Japan. Just be sure to use sunscreen for the UVs. To be honest ozone levels make an indoor life preferable but that should fit with what you plan. And the water needs filtering but even we do that on any given day depending on the radon levels. Street vendors from China barter for their authentic Mandarin food cooked on wood stoves for a savory wood flavor.”
Argon grins and raises his hands skyward. “Then yes your idea sounds viable. Energy from the sky should work. Let us hold hands and join forces for a future on our beautiful planet. Of course, we don’t want to endanger our children. But for now, let’s dine on this luscious vegetation which I hear tell you’ve prepared into a meal for us.”
Rowena smiles and says, “Come join us in the community room. Let me introduce you to the bounty of edibles which our agrarian economy has grown from the soil.”
Argon asks, “John, are there any other natural resources we should know about in the East?”
“Street musicians play the Koto for a smile and a piece of bread. There is gold. Our people have no monetary need for it because we don’t use money or accumulate wealth. But for a capitalist, it may be of immense interest. There is some evidence, though not conclusive, of an enormous diamond vein. Though we haven’t mined it or explored it to its fullest extent.”
“You have sold me, good sir. We shall not encroach upon your piece of heaven. We will visit you but not build nearby to protect your environment. Let us drink a toast to good neighbors.”
Argon and his team head out to map their own version of paradise. Rowena fans herself and says, “John you know eventually their urban sprawl will overtake the whole planet. That is how their system works. It will be just like old earth. Those robots work fast. We may see the first skyscrapers on the horizon in our lifetime.”
“We’ll have many summers before then. There will be plenty of time to convince them to at least allow us our collectivist dream.”
Rowena says, “We will be the beauty spot of our world and it may just be my pipe dream but perhaps the new settlers will want to emulate us.”
“Greenhouses filled with greenery everywhere as far as the eye can see. We even bathe together au naturel like in a hippie commune but with the work ethic of a capitalist which means we don’t starve. If I were them, I’d jump on that bandwagon.”
Rowena says, “John, home feels so far away here in the tundra of Hudson’s Bay.”
I reply, “The land is arable here with the help of the greenhouses. The biosphere reclamation project gives hope for our grandchildren.”
A signal makes its way from a communications satellite to our monitoring antenna. The message says an Ark ship from Norway is on its way with a cargo manifest of robotic construction crews and urban planners. Rowena’s heart sinks. Also in the message is a plan for the rapid conversion from a communal economy to a free market one. And so the ship of people arrives who are tired of watching their skin shrivel under a sky unprotected from ultraviolet rays. They miss getting groceries at the store like civilized people do. I convene a council meeting to discuss the implications of these new settlers for our community.
They dock on our shore. The first delegation from the strangers steps off the boat. Legends of our icy land are dispelled when the people step into a mud puddle. The robust leader marches with his followers in tow wearing a coat unsuited for summer in the new Arctic. He reaches out a hand in friendship to Rowena and me. We accept it with deep-seated reservations. We enter the greenhouse. The emissary speaks. “What a quaint little commune you folks have built for yourselves. Just to breathe in the scent of your botanical gardens is heavenly. I’m sure your plot will make a wonderful museum when our urbanization plans are developed. I hear you don’t use money. Well, every capitalist society has room for socialist enclaves.”
Rowena says, “Our people need plenty of space. There is room for your cities on the other hemisphere. I’m sure you understand our need for fresh air and open fields for our children. Pollutants from mining operations would contaminate the air we breathe. My husband John and I would be glad to negotiate an arrangement with your committee suitable for both our needs.”
Rowena leads me by the hand to a private space. “Their leader is appropriately named Argon after the gas which in sufficient amounts can choke oxygen out of the air.”
“I know, we’ll convince them to build their cities far away. I have a plan which will appeal to them.”
Argon approaches us. “There you two go hiding. No need for secrecy between us. My agenda is open to discussion.”
I tell him, “Sir, there is a reason you may find the opposite hemisphere more suitable for your cities. My team set out to form a sister colony near Vladivostok on the Pacific coast of Russia. They found large stockpiles of uranium warehoused there and even surprisingly deposits of titanium ore in the ground mostly absent round these parts. These materials make the environment unsuitable for our agrarian way of life since they contaminate they soil. But they would be perfect for an urban society such as you envision.”
Argon gets jubilant. “Those uranium ores are especially of interest because we plan to use nuclear energy to power our cities.”
Rowena is shocked. “But sir, we use solar and wind energy with great success. Please don’t contaminate our atmosphere with the meltdowns which will inevitably occur. Those are accidents waiting to happen with catastrophic results. Reconsider for the sake of our progeny. There really is no need to resort to such drastic sources when clean energy is abundant.”
Argon replies, “Come, come now milady, the water from our plants would supply your community’s needs for generations to come.”
Rowena says, “Sir, with all due respect that water would be irradiated. And if we’re downwind of the steam they produce it would block the sun withering the vegetation we depend on both to replenish the oxygen depleted from the cataclysm and for food.”
Argon says, “How many days of sun does your proposed locale for us have on any given year?”
I reply. “The majority of their days are sunny. Since global warming the environs has developed microclimates like in Costa Rica. You can spend a cool day in the hills and descend to the seashore for a warm afternoon swim in the Sea of Japan. Just be sure to use sunscreen for the UVs. To be honest ozone levels make an indoor life preferable but that should fit with what you plan. And the water needs filtering but even we do that on any given day depending on the radon levels. Street vendors from China barter for their authentic Mandarin food cooked on wood stoves for a savory wood flavor.”
Argon grins and raises his hands skyward. “Then yes your idea sounds viable. Energy from the sky should work. Let us hold hands and join forces for a future on our beautiful planet. Of course, we don’t want to endanger our children. But for now, let’s dine on this luscious vegetation which I hear tell you’ve prepared into a meal for us.”
Rowena smiles and says, “Come join us in the community room. Let me introduce you to the bounty of edibles which our agrarian economy has grown from the soil.”
Argon asks, “John, are there any other natural resources we should know about in the East?”
“Street musicians play the Koto for a smile and a piece of bread. There is gold. Our people have no monetary need for it because we don’t use money or accumulate wealth. But for a capitalist, it may be of immense interest. There is some evidence, though not conclusive, of an enormous diamond vein. Though we haven’t mined it or explored it to its fullest extent.”
“You have sold me, good sir. We shall not encroach upon your piece of heaven. We will visit you but not build nearby to protect your environment. Let us drink a toast to good neighbors.”
Argon and his team head out to map their own version of paradise. Rowena fans herself and says, “John you know eventually their urban sprawl will overtake the whole planet. That is how their system works. It will be just like old earth. Those robots work fast. We may see the first skyscrapers on the horizon in our lifetime.”
“We’ll have many summers before then. There will be plenty of time to convince them to at least allow us our collectivist dream.”
Rowena says, “We will be the beauty spot of our world and it may just be my pipe dream but perhaps the new settlers will want to emulate us.”
“Greenhouses filled with greenery everywhere as far as the eye can see. We even bathe together au naturel like in a hippie commune but with the work ethic of a capitalist which means we don’t starve. If I were them, I’d jump on that bandwagon.”
