B.A.L.L.S.: Climate change and alien invasion to save humanity
A funny thing happened to me over the
holidays, a realization that some people
aren't half bad. Give me a sec and; I will get
to that.
Christmas happened … an odd ritual: some sort of spiritual ego satisfaction garnered by purchasing goods that are wrapped, labeled and placed under a dead tree that has been decorated with large ornate glass balls, plastic figurines of chicks and young boys with red cheeks and wings, sentimental knick-knacks and obscure folk art ornaments that we hang with a tear citing that this used to be Nana's, and fine-shaved metal streamers that we later pull out of the ass of curious cats, all accentuated with strings of coloured lights. What a beautiful dead tree it is. Not unlike an open casket funeral. We wait with bated breath (whatever that means) for a specific morning, to sit in our robes and staticcharged pajamas to systematically reach under the dead tree and distribute the goods that will be utilized for six months then thrown into the garbage*.
*"...only one percent of the total North American materials flow ends up in, and is still being used within, products six months after their sale."
Paul Hawken, Natural Capitalism, (1999) p. 81.
Isn't it nice to be generous once a year? To appease some deep-seated guilt that arises with the realization that we contribute nothing to the well being of the planet? That we covet our money, our stuff, our cars, our toys, our way of life, even at the expense of our environment, our global citizens, our climate and our planet?
Of course I am speaking in general terms, in fact there are many that care about our daily interactions! There are even a few that care about our planet. In fact, I happened upon this sentiment over the holidays. Remember that snowstorm we had? You know the one: where every school in the city closed down except for Fanshawe? That day opened my eyes: people were nice! There were people roaming the streets just to push cars out of snow banks. Neighbours that you don't even say ''hi'' to jumping in and helping you shovel. People offering aid and advice, a smile and an open heart. Where did this come from? They wanted nothing in return, expected no thanks, and certainly didn't expect a plastic-wrapped leftover basket of bath oils and puny useless laboratory scented soap balls that someone else gave to you! It seems that adversity brings out the community in people. Hardship overrides our defensive need to protect our grumpy status quo and actually help one another!
Perhaps we live too softly here in Canada? Perhaps what we need is a bit of adversity in our lives to remind us that we live in a community.
Say we are attacked by aliens from outer space (that would be pretty neat), and we knew that they meant business: they were bent on destroying the peoples of Earth. In one day we would no longer be Canadians, or Africans, or Muslims, or Chinese; in one day we would not be women or blacks, democratic or rich: we would be Earthlings, bonded together to save our planet. In one day! All of this culture and language, and money and life that we have invented, all reevaluated with adversity. The collective waking up — and all it will take is an invasion of killer aliens from a different galaxy. That, and a snowstorm.
For one day there, I felt like an Earthling, and not just a Tim.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Christmas happened … an odd ritual: some sort of spiritual ego satisfaction garnered by purchasing goods that are wrapped, labeled and placed under a dead tree that has been decorated with large ornate glass balls, plastic figurines of chicks and young boys with red cheeks and wings, sentimental knick-knacks and obscure folk art ornaments that we hang with a tear citing that this used to be Nana's, and fine-shaved metal streamers that we later pull out of the ass of curious cats, all accentuated with strings of coloured lights. What a beautiful dead tree it is. Not unlike an open casket funeral. We wait with bated breath (whatever that means) for a specific morning, to sit in our robes and staticcharged pajamas to systematically reach under the dead tree and distribute the goods that will be utilized for six months then thrown into the garbage*.
*"...only one percent of the total North American materials flow ends up in, and is still being used within, products six months after their sale."
Paul Hawken, Natural Capitalism, (1999) p. 81.
Isn't it nice to be generous once a year? To appease some deep-seated guilt that arises with the realization that we contribute nothing to the well being of the planet? That we covet our money, our stuff, our cars, our toys, our way of life, even at the expense of our environment, our global citizens, our climate and our planet?
Of course I am speaking in general terms, in fact there are many that care about our daily interactions! There are even a few that care about our planet. In fact, I happened upon this sentiment over the holidays. Remember that snowstorm we had? You know the one: where every school in the city closed down except for Fanshawe? That day opened my eyes: people were nice! There were people roaming the streets just to push cars out of snow banks. Neighbours that you don't even say ''hi'' to jumping in and helping you shovel. People offering aid and advice, a smile and an open heart. Where did this come from? They wanted nothing in return, expected no thanks, and certainly didn't expect a plastic-wrapped leftover basket of bath oils and puny useless laboratory scented soap balls that someone else gave to you! It seems that adversity brings out the community in people. Hardship overrides our defensive need to protect our grumpy status quo and actually help one another!
Perhaps we live too softly here in Canada? Perhaps what we need is a bit of adversity in our lives to remind us that we live in a community.
Say we are attacked by aliens from outer space (that would be pretty neat), and we knew that they meant business: they were bent on destroying the peoples of Earth. In one day we would no longer be Canadians, or Africans, or Muslims, or Chinese; in one day we would not be women or blacks, democratic or rich: we would be Earthlings, bonded together to save our planet. In one day! All of this culture and language, and money and life that we have invented, all reevaluated with adversity. The collective waking up — and all it will take is an invasion of killer aliens from a different galaxy. That, and a snowstorm.
For one day there, I felt like an Earthling, and not just a Tim.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
