A world away
'The world is so depressing at the moment, so let’s go for a drive up to the Dandenongs,’ suggested Janno.
'What a great idea,’ enthused Alphy. Back on AC, they lived under an invisible protective dome, which also served to allow the Centaurians to control the weather precisely. So, every day for centuries ahead the weather was perfectly planned, with no storms, cyclones, or the like. Whilst achieving optimal climatic conditions on AC, Alphy since his arrival on Earth, or more precisely in ‘four seasons in one day’ Melbourne, had reflected that, to use a Johno expression, AC weather was in fact boring as batshit. So, much to his surprise he had learnt to love the changes of the seasons. But, along with his fellow Melburnians, he did find the unpredictability and inconsistency wearing at times.
Johno had retrieved his going bush Akubra hat, and along with his RM Williams shirt, the jeans, and boots, looked as though he was about to join a muster, not go for a jaunt in their Tesla. Janno also looked suitably stylish, with her brightly coloured logo emblazoned walking shoes, and matching shower-proof jacket. Alphy bravely donned shorts and a Save the Planet tee-shirt, the irony of which only he knew.
It was a beautiful spring day. The cool morning was giving way to a warm but not too hot outlook.
Johno and Janno were immensely proud of their all-electric Tesla. But some of the gloss had faded amongst the Carlton cognoscenti, with Elon Musk no longer considered a cool dude, his latest sin being X-ifying the Twitterati.
As they were driving up to the Hills, Alphy couldn’t help himself, and again pointed out to Johno and Janno, that their pollution free engine was in fact being charged by largely fossil fuelled electricity. So they were in fact, just transferring the pollution from Carlton back to the Latrobe Valley. ’That’s why we need to get to 100% renewables as soon as possible’ replied Janno. ‘Or the latest thought bubble of the Libs and Nationals, SMR’s,’ sneered Johno. ‘Small Modular Reactors, even if they were economically attractive, which they’re not, they would increase the volume of nuclear waste in need of management and disposal. Another classic case of Dutton con_fusion_.’
They eventually arrived in Sherbrooke Forest and commenced walking amongst the towering Mountain Ash trees, the second-largest growing tree species in the world. ‘There’s something special about a forest,’ said Janno. ‘Inspiring. A feeling of connectedness with the cosmos and the land. Living in cities, we get divorced from that sense of the universal and the environment. That’s what is so tragic about the demise of Aboriginal culture – modern culture in contrast is arrogant, aggressive and alienating.’
Even Alphy was impressed by the ‘majesty’ of the forest. Out of the billions of planets in this universe, he knew how unique Earth was. The myriad events that had to have transpired and occurred in just the right order and in the right magnitude, to result in this perfect combination. In order to deliver a life supporting, sustainable (well maybe), ecosystem.
'To quote John Muir, Father of the National Parks, The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness,’ said Alphy, suddenly feeling homesick.
'It’s a world away from Gaza and Israel,’ Johno sighed, instantly regretting he had destroyed the mood of the moment.
’Unfortunately for homo-sapiens it’s not a world away, it’s the same planet, hosting yet another bloody war,’ said Alphy, who almost used the term you Saps in his annoyance at yet another example of Sap barbarity.