Urgent LAUNCH

Larry Pratt

Description

Considering that the planet Mars is a long ways away, and that current technology only allows for a one-way trip, perhaps we should concentrate on making earth more habitable before it isn''t. Urgent State may be called a road map to accomplish one goal - saving our species.

It is a story of how we might be able to finish many science projects that benefit man. The author delves deeply into what we already know, and touches a little into what it would be nice to know. Hence the genre speculative fiction. This journey takes the reader into the solution to global climate change issues. How can we slow the rate of glacier loss at the poles? Is there any way to curb greenhouse gas emissions? What about our urgent need for more alternative power sources?

This first volume in the Urgent Series lays the groundwork for an exciting adventure.

Sujets

• Science fiction

Informations

• Publié par: SMP Press
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 0001
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780996385558
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

URGENT STATE

Acknowledgement

 Who could be more important in this endeavor?

th  To my father on his 100 birthday!

URGENT STATE

••• ——— •••

One Route to Saving our Species

Larry Pratt

SMP Press

Lacey, WA. 98509

Copyrîght © 2019 by Larry Pra

Manufactured in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permîssîon. Please do not parïcîpate în or encourage pîracy of copyrîghted materîals în vîolaïon of the author’s rîghts. Published by SMP Press.

Publîsher’s Catalogîng-în-Publîcaïon Data

Names: Pra, Larry L., 1946- author. Tîtle: Urgent State : one route to savîng our specîes / Larry Pra. Descrîpïon: Lacey, WA : SMP Press,2019. | Series : Urgent series ; book 1 | Summary: Presents a near future look at the possible outcomes of today’s polîïcal, socîal, and inancîal dîvîdes, and a roadmap for accom- plishing the goal of saving our species. Idenïiers: LCCN 2018914258 | ISBN9780996385534(pbk.)  | ISBN 9780996385541 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Clîmate change mîïgaïon -Fîcïon.  | Economîcs -- Fîcïon. | Educaïon -- Fîcïon.  | Technology -- Fîcïon. | BISAC: FICTION /  Scîence Fîcïon / General. Classîicaïon: LCC PS3616.R38 U7 (prînt)  | LCC PS3616.R38 (ebook) | DDC 813--dc23 LC record avaîlable at hps://lccn.loc.gov/2018914258

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Quesïons regardîng the content, or orderîng of thîs book should be addressed to:  SMP Press or:[e-mail]  PO Box 3852  Lacey, WA 98509-3852

Urgent State

Introduction

The general election of 2016 was a turning point for the world press. Generations of readers have, with few excep- tions, been informed of important issues and scientiîc ad- vances via the respectable media. Reliance on the press is no longer advisable.  Although not entirely of their own choosing, the reporters must follow and share stories about the chaotic leadership in many countries, particularly the United States. The chaos, the smoke ‘n mirrors, ultimately compromises the credibility of the daily announcements. In addition, the news that is viewed as bad by the citizenry, is an anxiety producing prod- uct. It has been all too easy to mindlessly consume this irritat- ing programming waiting for the salve, the happy stories we used to receive. The comfort will not be coming any time soon.  While watching this process change the behavior of my lovely wife it became obvious that the long-range view, and truly large problems, were being pushed under the literary table. The truth was still inconvenient, but not even referred to in the mainstream media. Do we have the luxury of putting those issues on hold while we chase the political wanna-be’s around the small arenas of half-truths, total falsehoods, and unabashed corruption?  Our family discussion resulted in my pursuing this exercise in speculative îction. My better-half invests her time in local politics and more pleasurable short-term pursuits. I thank her for the support in this endeavor. I also thank the reader for the continued feeding of my imagination.

URGENT STATE

ONE

• — — •• — — •• • — • •

“I call it the largest massacre in history. To refer to an extinction event bestows on it an other than man-made honor. We now know man is the cause. Our scientists have proven that we face a factual issue. Massacre is the most accurate description.” As usual, Stephen was succinct in presenting his position. His two friends would have ample time to reply.  The three people sitting around the oak table were very ordinary looking. The fact that the hand-rubbed table was trimmed and inlaid with exotic wood did speak to some expense. The fact that they were seated inside an executive jet spoke volumes. Their combined wealth exceeded that of most countries.  These American businesspeople were the primary executives in their foundations. They were responsi- ble for giving away more money than the next dozen of their peers. Active philanthropists earn a great degree of public celebrity. Every person in the airplane cabin was so well known that they were often identiîed by only their îrst names: indicative of rock-star celebrity status.  The car-full of assistants that normally followed all

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URGENT STATE

three was pared down to one aide each, and those in- dividuals were camped outside the airplane, yet in- side the hanger doors. The pilots of the three planes that brought the philanthropists to this meeting knew enough to vacate their aircraft, also staying out of sight of the general public.  The sleek jet hosting the meeting had been conîg- ured to comfortably sleep six, although only the three leaders would be spending at least one night. They had previously concluded that their busy schedules would be interrupted for as long as was necessary and that they would not be bringing their spouses.  They all knew that each of these meetings was get- ting longer. More conversation yet, still, the upmost of conîdentiality. It was quite unusual for no one to know exactly where these executives had landed but secrecy was mandatory. Instructions had been given to ofîce staff in various cities around the country that personal business had called them away for a couple days.  The pilots had been vetted and sworn to secrecy. They would sleep on one of the other planes as would the aides. The host jet was isolated not only from view but from electronic surveillance. The complete set of avi- onics had been turned off lest the equipment brought along for the purpose of jamming of all radio frequen- cies cause some damage to the aircraft’s built-in elec- tronics. No one was to listen to this conversation. This was a very private meeting, the subject of which was highly controversial.  Sustainability was the issue. Not the day-to-day deî- nition that the usual active environmentalists talked about. Not recycling or clean energy or coal trains. This third annual meeting was a follow-up on their discus- sions about our ability as a species to sustain ourselves on this planet. Global survival might be a better term.  Originally, the concept had been simple. The rate at which man was undoing the very conditions that provided for human life was criminal. Regardless of

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which scientists published data or who interpreted and reported on those facts, the conclusions were the same. At some point in time, if left unchecked, we could not live on our earth. One of our future generations would be the last.  What that generation inherited in the form of wealth or knowledge would be moot. There would be no reason to transact business and no reason to try to educate others. An unimaginable chaos would be the order of the day and not enough room (or reason) for prisons: let alone schools, ofîces, churches etc.  In order to slow down that gradual degradation and give humanity a chance to correct a few things, some- thing needed to be done. Yet it was obvious that noth- ing could be achieved in time, through normal chan- nels. The process of allowing democracy to help us was no longer viable: too slow. Big money had such a hold on the lawmakers that the dollar had the loudest voice at the table, and bigger proîts were the total conversa- tion.  Never mind that all logic revealed an end in sight. Business was in an autopilot mode and no mere mortal would change that: at least no visible mortal. It was for this reason that the meeting in the jet was held with maximum secrecy. The course of action chosen by this team was to be invisible, working within the conînes of the law whenever possible. The three wealthy execu- tives agreed on the understanding that the earth need- ed more time. Making it happen was another matter.  Whether they admit it or not, all ultra-wealthy peo- ple contribute more than their fare share to climate change. Environmental degradation is a by-product of big-business and the rich own hundreds of businesses. This fact presented a moral dilemma for the executives. The prominent conundrum though, was in the îeld of law. They were about to organize an endeavor that, if successful, will build success on a foundation of the rather imsy adherence to many laws.

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