Travelling Full Circle
All along the Fylde coast a row of windmills were rising to deal with the disaster. In past years governments had over ridden the wishes of the local people. Whilst those that they could not bend to their will, they tempted with cash.
For a while it had seemed that all was going well and that drilling for shale gas was safe. But then an earth quake had struck, struck with a magnitude never felt beforehand. So many reinforced concrete shafts had spilt asunder, allowing the poisonous chemicals that they had delivered deep underground to be driven back up to the surface. Result polluted land and water courses.
Now the people were paying the price. For they were being levied with a tax to build windmills, windmills which would take a century to pump the resulting mess out of the ground. And now the government had decided that a second line of windmills would be needed to supply desalinated sea water to flush the land free of pollutants.
Footnote: Today it is very cold here in Yorkshire, and so I thank heavens for a gas industry which keeps me from freezing. So now I have a dilemma. How can humanity survive without destroying the planet ?
This Post Has 14 Comments
I think that’s why the green energy industry exists, to look for possible alternatives. Problem is, western nations are energy greedy. Even the data centers operated by major companies such as Amazon or Google suck up huge amounts of electricity. Unless the world wants to give up the internet, they’re either going to have to find ways of generating power that are more sustainable or admit to themselves their hunger for cute cat videos is more important than the long-term health of the ecosystem.
Thank you James, for an interesting reply. Lots to think about. Mike
Lots of work is being done on the green/clean energy front now, thankfully, so hopefully, things will work out in the end. Let’s hope it’s not too late by then.
I am not convinced that my own nation is doing all that it might to use the power of the ocean and sun. Let alone recycling used energy… If I was leaving school today I would love to undertake research into designing sustainable energy and transport.
you’ve put your finger on the problem, that’s for sure.
cheers.
It is a problem that’s for sure. Thank you joem
At this point in our evolution we depend on the earth’s resources to sustain our life styles. Maybe that is why galaxy exploration is becoming so important — when we no longer have the resources to keep our lifestyles. Good question! Great story!
Thank you PJ. I agree about the need to look towards the galaxy,
Well, we’ve banned shale gas up here in Scotland, although there is a legal challenge. Personally I think it’s a distraction from the fact we need to concentrate on green renewable energy sources. I like were you took the prompt with the old technolgy being harnessed to clean up the mess of the modern world.
Thank you Iain, I hope the inclement weather is not causing you to much difficulty. I do believe we can harness the power of oceans, as well as the sun. Although tonight all the local solar panels are covered with snow!
Rem acu tetigisti. Thought provoking read.
Thank you so much yarnspinnerr, I really appreciated your feedback.
A dangerous question and dangerous actions. Thoughtful. Thanks.
Thank you athling.