Science fiction neo world!

 

Science fiction neo world!

Global warming has risen considerably and this has led to drastic climate change across the Globe. With many regions experiencing extremely hot Summers, and constant showers of rain that inundates the cities in a matter of days. Most of the cities are at the verge of collapse because the rising water levels leave their technological networks, like IOT and AI, defunct due to heavy flooding. There is complete mayhem and the governments are failing to manage the populace that is losing their trust in the system and its management of the current crisis. And most them feel cheated their respective governments favouritism when it comes to offering safe and well protected sanctuaries to the elite few. 

When you take a long spanning view of the cities, and the areas in site, there is water, almost everywhere, and the only entity happy in this water kingdom is none other than Poseidon. His domain is increasing and it has become boundless, and with His reign extending almost everywhere, humans are forced to define a new world order and new governing system that is more Global and partly regional. 

In the midsts of these changing scenarios few of the senior scientists are being consulted to offer solutions to prevent the cities from sinking, and to deal with the rising water levels. Until humans build new smart cities capable of coping with rapidly evolving climatic conditions and growing water levels.

In the world where Poseidon rules, few scientists come up with extremely brave ideas, to first tame and then dethrone the Olympian presiding over the seas and the new water kingdom, which is posing the greatest threat to the survival of humans. And these scientists are least desultory and they possess the genius capable of despoiling part of Poseidon’s magical wand before the Olympian turns into a despot.

With most of the cities experiencing inundation, the scientists propose to study a plant that grows in arid regions. It is a small plant that almost appears dead with burnt leaves, with almost no foliage, just a lump of dry shoots and a mesh of brown threads hanging around, and being swept across with the fanning winds. When there is intense heat and the area experiences no rainfall at all ( i.e. in the past ) it enters into self induced dormancy for decades, and whenever it rains the small plant turns green in a matter of a few days. Regaining its vitality with green foliage and shoots that look tender and juicy.

While the scientists are discussing the ability of this plant to prevent cities from getting flooded, one of the government officials expresses her keenness to understand how it would be of any use at all.

“Well these plants are unique. They tend to absorb a lot of water to revive themselves from self induced hibernation. And without sounding as if we are forcing a departure from the normal and sensible bio-engineering practices, we propose to alter its growth hormone. That would help us to regulate its height, length of its branches, diameter of its shoots and length of its leaves. 

If we refer to data from prehistoric times, Earth did undergo a similar phase prior to entering into the Ice Age. It experienced continuous rain, it is this climatic condition that actually gave rise to plants with broader and thicker leaves, in rainforests of today, like Amazon.

With thicker shoots, longer stems, and thicker leaves, these plants will tend to soak in a lot of water. And also turn the air fresher by increasing the content of oxygen in the air. And these plants will have to be planted in catchment areas where we intend to drain the excess water. These catchment areas will be tiered. And this plant will be introduced to the mid-layer of the catchment area when there is heavy rainfall. 

But we are not referring to catchment areas as large as a football field, these catchment areas have to be as large as 200 acres or more. And they will be the part of smart cities, which will be flood proof. The density of these plants will be determined based on the rainfall experienced in the target region/s.

These plants will act as sponges that will suck the water. And by managing the elevation of water catchment areas, compared to the city or cities they cater to, we shall be able to divert excess water into these areas and keep our cities safe.

But as an immediate solution we propose to revive wetlands and place a blanket ban on constructing houses near the banks of rivers or any water body. That flows through the city. In addition to this we will have to map the journey of the rivers from their sources and create artificial tributaries and water canals that will divert the water to drier regions, or nearby desert or drier lands during floods or flood like situations.

Also, we are studying ecosystems in mangrove forests of India and investigating how plant life thrives there. We have come across a few trees that need a lot of water in order to survive. And we are working on creating forests, where a certain species of trees is genetically modified to be excessively water hungry. Thus, even when there is average rainfall they keep the main forest land dry, and when there is excess rainfall, they help these forest lands to absorb more water. 

The solutions proposed above are pure science with bioengineering. Now here is a long term solution that will be based on hardcore engineering and data analysis.

We are working on generating database of waterbodies in a town, city, state, country, and then mapping their natural flow that used to exist 75 years ago. It will help us to establish the points that are blocking the natural flow of water when there is heavy rainfall, determine the natural catchment areas that have perished, wetlands that are reducing, and other factors that lead to this bottle neck like situation. 

Because water also flows like traffic, if we can construct highways; based on these maps we can create water highways which will be opened only in case of flood like situations, and we will create multi tiered water catchment areas to store excess water, channeled via these water highways. 

But based on the data and final version of the maps locating water bodies and their flow through cities and towns, we will be able to define a drainage system that will be interlinked with a smart network of canals, tributaries, rivers etc. to drain out excess water. This will need a lot of heavy engineering along with accurate data analysis. And we need time for this. Based on our assessment these projects should be undertaken not by a particular government, but should be a part of national development with a vision of 200 years in mind, where sustainability, adaptability, and ability to cope with any climate no matter how harsh should be at the core of these engineering marvels. Only then will our cities be true smart cities built on data, engineering, while keeping the environment friendliness in mind and always intact. 

Nevertheless, no matter how prepared we are and how strong our technology maybe, we cannot defeat nature; it will always find a way to bulldoze all our efforts, no matter how robust they are. This is why we believe modern construction and development of cities, towns etc. should not block the flow of nature’s momentum , whereas it should enhance it. The moment we obstruct it, it will always assert its force and always win. And when I say this, I do not want to sound like a grouch. Please assess the seriousness of our plan, which is more focused on nation building where nature is the most and only revered God.

While the Global community is working on similar and even better solutions, let us accept one fundamental fact, that right now, working on reversing Climate Change and Global Warming, is like Hobson’s choice. We have to act on it, and act now. And it is possible to reverse Climate Change by working on it at Global level and not placing extra burden or pressure on a few nations.

For example, India has worked really hard to enter the league of developing nations, and in order to become a fully Developed Nation, it will have to invest in and modernise many sectors. Expecting a developing nation like India to invest in Climate Change related initiatives while sacrificing and completely ignoring its growth; and good life of its citizens who have always lived in poverty, will be selfish. Because these people deserve to smile before they die. But this does not give India the privilege to be a mere spectator and not participate at all in initiatives aimed at tackling Climate Change. Based on well defined statistics India too shall play its vital role in managing Global Challenges, but within its capacity. And this shall be based on some universally accepted International standard. Because randomness can be chaotic and somewhere down the line it loses its objectivity. India as an integral part of Global community should be, and I believe it is willing to accept its share of responsibility. Because at this stage, it is not about country's survival it is about every country's survival on Earth. That includes all : Under developed, developing, developed and highly developed nations. 

These factors will have to be equated efficiently prior to formulating a Global policy to tackle Climate Change, Global Warming and related issues. We will have to think on behalf of everyone, and then on behalf of the Earth, whom we all eventually represent. Whether Indians, Germans, Americans, English, Europeans, Japanese, we all have something in common, our ancestors, the Chimpanzees. I guess that disqualifies all of us from the race to superiority. Because at the finish line, we all see the chimp giggling at us all, right beside Poseidon waiting to reclaim His kingdom. 

( But that in no way should mean that an American should cease to be American, or an Indian should stop being Indian. Following our respective cultures is very important, because that makes the World more beautiful and vibrant. A sense of identity is very important. In this case it is the same tree, grafted with a great variety of cultures. The tree grows and becomes stronger, and with it these cultures grow too. 

Unfortunately, right now we are growing as individual trees and that is why we are where we are today. We are failing to understand that an apple tree which is grafted with several varieties of apple, each apple tastes different and retains its identity, and this puts less pressure on the resources as well.) 

It is time we identify the potential of each country and allow that country to be the best in those field/s. Our trade and commerce should be devised on this model, if we are to avoid clashes of economic interests and if we are to put less pressure on natural resources. This should be the way that shall lead us into a secure and happy future. And to be able to reverse climate change and other issues we certainly need a Globally acceptable policy. Otherwise, it will be a haphazard trajectory where collisions will be unavoidable.

This is what we have been working on madam. And with your cooperation we are sure we can tame the Poseidon.”

Said the ardent scientist, while gently nodding his head and occasionally looking at the scrupulous and well informed female official.

It is true in this conversation between the female official and the scientist not even a word is expendable, because this is based on scientists' detailed research. And this made me wonder, what can I do to contribute at an individual level and indirectly participate in positive change. This was my thought in light of the fact that I am neither the government that has the funds to invest in projects nor am I the scientist who is supported by a team of efficient scientists with many years of experience. So, I wrote a science fiction novel, They Loved in 2075. Where the situation is similar, with only few differences, it is a strong sci-fi romance, and humans are facing a different kind of threat. Which can be summed up as follows:

How will humans experience love in 2075? This science fiction novel navigates through the possibility of men and women falling in love with machines, without knowing they are robots imitating human emotions. Will you still dare to fall in love in 2075 or will you strive to tell the difference between a human lover and a robotic lover?

This Sci-fi novel tells the story of a man who falls in love with a real woman in 2075. And how he struggles to feel human and keep his emotional composition intact.

This Sci-fi story also aims at revealing why the man chose to love a real woman and not a never ageing and always beautiful woman with synthetic feelings. In 2075, this might be a choice we all will have to make. Especially our children!

This looks scarier than Climate Change and Global warming, and it is a reality that is taking shape today around us, but as of now, it exists in its trace form. By 2075, it will be so dominant that humans will experience complete emotional numbness. Then, we as a species shall stand defeated without being defeated at all, because then, we may not realise how winning feels, and what it is that we shall win against. 

Then monsters of Climate Change and Global Warming will roam free and rule our cities once again, only that this time Poseidon will be accompanied by Hades, Helios and Ares. At this point, we may not stand a chance, because we shall be victims of existentialism and with exodus of emotions from our societies and our lives in 2075, we shall be left marooned on the highway that goes nowhere. Because there will be nothing left.

To realise the snares of misconstrued existentialism and understanding the exigent need to tackle Climate Change and other threats that have the potential to wipe us out as a species, They Loved in 2075, is the science fiction novel that plays its role in spreading the right awareness. And without awareness there cannot be any action, because awareness or realisation always precedes action!

As you conclude reading this blog post, please take this thought with you and wrestle with it in your free time, “ He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils.” And They Loved in 2075, is not just a sci fi novel, it is a remedy to avoid evils that will be real in 2075.