I flew in another rescue mission; half the city remained submerged – the water hadn’t receded.
Those dire predictions of global warming didn’t preclude half of the Artic ice shield melting in three summer/winter ice cycle. Hell – there had been no winter in the (un)frozen north.
I’d flown disbelieving politicians and pundits over the dwindling ice, polar bear carcasses, and the Innu, Inuit and other Aboriginal peoples of the Artic Circle trekking South.
The unsalty sea now inhospitable to sea creatures, their bodies washing up on northern to southern shores. Food for some; all I remember is the stench.
Cautionary tale written for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers 7. 12. 16. The image is by her friend since kindergarten: Lucy Fridkin
December 12, 2016 at 11:27 am
Great writing. A sadly too realistic scenario that is very likely to come true soon. With what’s going on right now, there is very little hope left.
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December 12, 2016 at 10:57 pm
What was supposed to take 100+ years has happened in 10.
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December 11, 2016 at 7:49 am
A very thoughtful piece.
You certainly have me thinking.
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December 11, 2016 at 9:37 am
I saw stats on the temps in the Artic and the rate at which the ice was melting, polar bears dying, etc. and became more alarmed than usual.
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December 9, 2016 at 12:30 pm
I don’t mean to be flip when I say this was a chilling tale. The visual image of the rotting carcasses and the streams of Aboriginal people heading south were riveting. Truly chilling because it is happening.
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December 9, 2016 at 11:31 am
A timely piece … scary.
Isadora 😎
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December 8, 2016 at 10:00 pm
Cold reality…or rather warm reality. I hope people remain curious and take care of the environment.
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December 9, 2016 at 4:50 am
So do I. It’s up to our stewardship. What was supposed to happen long after I was gone, is happening within my lifetime.
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December 8, 2016 at 12:22 pm
That was chilling!
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December 8, 2016 at 12:53 pm
Thanks — wish the Artic still was!
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December 8, 2016 at 7:46 am
Wow! That was scary, sobering – nay terrifying. Love your line – all I remember is the stench. A strong personal interjection, showing our narrator’s view on things. Very strong story
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December 8, 2016 at 11:26 am
That’s from walks along the shore and finding stuff washed up.
I read how much faster the Artic is melting — now within my lifetime –not 100 years from now. So, I am scare.
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December 8, 2016 at 1:57 pm
It is very scary. I’m afraid I do what I fell I can not to contribute (For instance we pay a bit more to have a green energy supplier) and then I try not to think about it too much. So much is beyond an individual’s control
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December 8, 2016 at 5:18 pm
We try, too. But it’s gotten way out of everyone’s control which is the really scary part, I fear.
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December 10, 2016 at 2:24 am
The earth will survive, though. It has a wonderful knack of correcting itself over time, even after mass extinction events in the past. Let’s hope mankind survives too.
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December 10, 2016 at 11:38 am
I hope so too.
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December 11, 2016 at 12:18 pm
It’s survived worse – near out and out extinction of life before. It’ll be fine – very different perhaps, but fine
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December 11, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Yes, the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, eg. And several before that. You are right, tho, the world will be a different place.
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December 8, 2016 at 2:54 am
That’s doom laden and worrying. Hopefully, it won’t happen, signs are it’s coming in some form.
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December 9, 2016 at 4:52 am
I remember hearing it would happen in 100 + years. The future is now.
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December 7, 2016 at 10:47 pm
A scary thought that this is something that could actually happen in the hopefully very distant future…
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December 9, 2016 at 4:54 am
The really scary thing are weather stats that can’t be ignored — it’s been warmer in the Artic than ever on record, and the pack ice and starving polar bears reflect this. I remember when that was to be a future event.
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December 9, 2016 at 11:13 am
I know what you mean…
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December 7, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Yes we should be scared… greatness comes in many shades.
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December 7, 2016 at 4:01 pm
I agree.
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December 7, 2016 at 12:36 pm
Cautionary tale indeed. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this. Nice one.
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December 7, 2016 at 12:41 pm
Thanks, Iain. I hope so too!
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December 7, 2016 at 8:48 am
A thoughtful story I hope doesn’t come into fruition. I also struggled with the second sentence.
It’s interesting to see a few environmental disaster stories emerge this week.
I thought of it as an aerial perspective and thought of a plane and coming or going and only realised it was NY when I read Rochelle’s story. I’m Australian and haven’t been to America.
xx Rowena
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December 7, 2016 at 9:52 am
I didn’t recognize NYC, and I live in the area — I just saw the optical illusion of the buildings in the lower right appearing, to me, underwater.
That sentence failed my “read aloud” test, but tired, I struggled with it no longer. Not nice of me really to leave it to the readers to struggle with too. :)
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December 7, 2016 at 7:59 am
Dear Lorraine,
It’s coming…. Great story told from a unique perspective.
Yours,
Doug
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December 9, 2016 at 4:54 am
Coming far too fast and far too soon!
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December 7, 2016 at 7:09 am
Excellent piece, although I confess I struggled with the sense of the second sentence.
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December 7, 2016 at 7:18 am
Don’t feel bad, so did I several times — I had trouble conveying my thoughts. Perhaps it was the hour and sleepless night, lol.
Thanks for reading and the thoughtful critique.
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December 7, 2016 at 6:28 am
An image I hope doesn’t come true. Great story.
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December 7, 2016 at 7:30 am
So, do I. Though the melting has been very prodigious this year as the temperatures have been way above normal, and the polar bear death rate atrocious.
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December 7, 2016 at 8:19 pm
It is. I just hope some leaders don’t drop the global warming crisis group.
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December 7, 2016 at 11:32 pm
I think our President Elect (I shiver ever time I think of it) has backed off his bravado of it all being a hoax and pulling up, but I don’t know who he’s picked for Environment.
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December 8, 2016 at 6:35 am
Let’s hope it is someone who knows what they are doing.
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December 8, 2016 at 11:29 am
We can only hope and pray.
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December 9, 2016 at 4:56 am
Bad pick has been made. Could be a diversionary tactic to hide/deflect while he moves on what his real goals/targets are.
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December 7, 2016 at 5:47 am
Chilling story, Lorraine. May we all be listening.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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December 7, 2016 at 5:50 am
I hope so — especially at a time of the year when our thoughts may be turned away from our carbon footprint.
Wonderful photo and congratulations again on the book.
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