The Earth Fights Back

Chapter 5

41 5 obuh’s instructions to Itoff later on in his office were quite severe. The frown on his face, his gestures and even the simple sound of his voice were quite hard, meant to intimidate and push Itoff to do even the impossible. There was no wavering and Itoff understood that they were all getting to a point where their otherwise comfortable lives were seriously threatened. Itoff eventually left to summon his IRDI mates, equally bent on achieving results. After two days of thinking, proposing, discussing and rejecting, they had gone nowhere. On the third day there was again another hand up with yet another idea. “I have been looking at this thing closely for a while and I have noticed certain trends on earth,” said a professor of meteorology. “May be we don’t need to do anything. We could sit down and wait for them to destroy themselves.” “That is not quite clear said Itoff. Earthlings enjoy life and want to live for as long as possible. Even those who attempt suicide end up feeling very lucky if they are saved or their suicide attempts fail. How do you think they would want to destroy themselves if not provoked to the extreme?” “I was thinking more of the way they abuse the environment,” said the professor. “Most of them may not have suicidal tendencies but their foolishness and recklessness could equally lead them to wiping out mankind. You see, many earthlings believe that their God actually gave them a balanced world. There is enough land on which land animals and man live and exploit for food and other sources of livelihood. There is enough water for sea animals to proliferate and even provide a steady source of nourishment M 42 to man and many animals. There is air to breathe in the atmosphere and an established way of recycling it through plants. There are natural ways of reproduction and timely plagues and diseases to check an over increase in population.” “Are we going back to school?” complained another professor. “Give him time.” growled Itoff. “Let him say what he wants. Maybe we would arrive somewhere.” “Thank you sir.” The speaker who had the floor said gratefully to Itoff. “Among animals, there are herbivores that live on grass and plants and carnivores that feed on them. But you see, while accepting that all these natural gifts, checks and balances were put there by their God, these same humans have been constantly abusing the environment without the least thought about tomorrow. Bush fires have become very common in third world countries where subsistence farming is rife and traditional methods of rearing cattle is common, resulting in much of the vegetation that provided some balance, being replaced. In developed countries, heavy industrial plants spew obnoxious smoke into the air and produce lots of toxic waste. After killing all the fish in their rivers through the careless disposal of toxic waste from industrial plants, much of this waste is now smuggled into developing countries where corrupt senior officials fill their pockets and provide protection and cover.” “We could clap for this thorough lecture on the earth and its habits but where does it lead us?” asked Dr. Funkuin. “Many destructive things,” replied the meteorology expert. “The ice in the poles which constitute the best form of preserving excess water is melting at a terrible rate. The weather is thus disrupted in many parts of the world and destruction from floods and storms is increasing at an alarming rate.” 43 “True,” said Yivissi.” I have watched many such scenes on earth.” The meteorologist smiled appreciatively. “The air is becoming terribly polluted through wastes from industrial processes, bush fires, and lots of other causes. Sulphur dioxide and other substances detrimental to the ozone layer remain a constant threat. With the ozone layer depleted, destructive rays from the sun will easily penetrate down to the earth and cause much havoc. I tell you, it is just a matter if time before the earthlings are wiped out.” “Do you know how long we have to wait for this to take place?” asked Fulumfuchong. “Not really” admitted the professor. “It will have to take some time though, but not too long.” “Let me show you something then,” said Fulumfuchong, switching on the large monitor for all to see. The scene was an international conference on climate change. Countries were blaming one another for being...