Mother Earth - It's Time!

During the years I taught a course in Science Fiction, one allegorical story was probably my favorite. It was called "The Wound" and was written by Howard Fast. I hate spoilers, but as the story is hard to find and you probably won't read it, I'll tell you something about it. It had to do with drilling for oil deeper than ever before and setting off an underground atomic bomb to aid the process. When the deed is finally done after some protests, "they" get a gusher all right, but it turns out it's not oil but blood - great symbolism!

One point of the story is we can't irresponsibly just keep taking and taking from the Earth - there really is only so much she can give us and will until she can't anymore. I am not a full-fledged tree hugger, but I do like to hold hands (limbs). I understand responsibility. Big Business is driven with the cry, "More! MORE! NOW!" as are many consumers. There is apparently little or no thought about outcomes or the future.

Good Science Fiction extrapolates - examines and presents possible outcomes if nothing changes along the way. Not everyone is smart enough or concerned enough to see that we need to think more about what's happening and the possible consequences of our actions.

I thought about this in light of the BP disaster. Maybe you can think about it too.