(Untitled)

[therewasaman]

Patrick opened the meeting with a warm greeting and a smile. He had notes but he didn't need them. He'd given this speech a thousand times before. He gave an overview of the natural cycle, of how the earth is a living organism and the ecosystems need to be in balance. He talked about progress and how man was the only creature that changed the

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[polly_okeefe]

I'd seen the notice on the bulletin board, and I'd connected it to the man who'd wore Jack's face. I admit, I was curious. So I came out, and sat at the back, listening.

It was a good speech. It was nothing I didn't already believe in. And the man shared Jack's charisma and passion, but there was something odd that put me off. Maybe it was just the incongruity of knowing Jack for so long and then seeing some one so like him, but slightly different. Or maybe it was just the timing. People had been on the Island for four years, dealing with these issues. Wasn't it a little presumptuous to make such a big thing about them when you've only been here a month? Actually, put it like that, this suggested a passion that had nothing to do with the situation on the Island, but everything to do with the situation back at the man's home.

At the end of the presentation, I got up, and stuck around. I listened to some of the conversations, and I moved up towards the front. I wondered if I should talk to Patrick. I wondered what I would say.

[therewasaman]

"The look on your face is...skeptical," Patrick said, smiling at her warmly. "Are you from somewhere where environmentalism isn't really a concern?"

[polly_okeefe]

I started when Patrick addressed me. "No, no," I said, quickly. "Everything you say is true. My family have had our own share of problems dealing with people who see the environment as something to use rather than something to share."

[therewasaman]

"Exactly," he said. "And when you use it, it leads to things like global climate change. Not that there's really a globe here...but you've got to wonder what's up with this rain. I understand it's never happened before."

[polly_okeefe]

I nodded. "It hasn't happened before, but it's not so surprising. You haven't been here when winter sets in. And it does: all in one day. We go to bed to tropical conditions, and wake up under a blanket of snow. The Island even changes the appearance of our huts to match. It lasts for a month before it all disappears just as suddenly."

I looked up at him. "So, I guess that’s what I can't help wondering about: how can we measure, much less worry about, the impact we're having on the environment, when we're living in an environment where our wardens can turn off the sun?"

[therewasaman]

"You've got to take care of what you've got. Just because it changes doesn't give anyone the right to shit all over it on a daily basis," he shrugged. "It's our responsibility to foster and care for the environment we're in, regardless of what it's like."

[polly_okeefe]

I lean back a bit at the swear word. It stands out among the passion and the charisma, giving it just an edge of anger.

"I know," I said quickly. "You're right. We still have to share this place, and we've got to be careful about sharing it sustainably, but I guess I'm just having trouble seeing how the big picture applies. There's no globe, here."

[therewasaman]

"This is our whole world. It's more important than you'd believe to keep this one small island livable. How many generations will it take before it's no longer huts spread out over miles but small cities, or one city cut out of the jungle. The wildlife will be harder to find, the demands on the environment will outweigh the resources. The time to think about it is now, not twenty years from now when it's a crisis."

[polly_okeefe]

"Well," I said, "how often do prisoners consider the question of overpopulation in their prisons?" I held up a hand. "Yes, I know it's important. I'm just asking if you think it's a little hard to plan, given the outside influences, here? This isn't entirely a natural environment."

[therewasaman]

"What's the point of having police? Or that task force? It's preparing for what may happen. Environmental destruction is more of a certainty than an invading hoard or killer robots or a run of criminal behavior," Patrick pointed out. "We have the police and soldiers to be prepared. There's no reason people shouldn't work to help the environment we have, regardless of what it's like. Tropics, rain, snow, it still needs to be taken care of."

He paused.

"For example...what do you do with your garbage?"

[polly_okeefe]

I opened my mouth to answer, and then checked myself, because a disturbing thought crept into my mind.

"It just goes to the Compound," I said, slowly. "Where it basically disappears. That's the Island, I think, taking care of the prison sewers."

And I'm thinking: what if the Island stops doing this? They've changed the weather; why would they stop there?

[therewasaman]

"If things can change so easily, what would people do if the garbage stopped disappearing? Would you compost? Burn it? Dig a landfill? Even three or four hundred people can have a huge impact on the environment," Patrick pointed out passionately. "People here passively accept things, which is nice, but it's not practical. Nothing comes for free. And if it does...can you trust it?"

[polly_okeefe]

"Okay," I said, carefully. "That's a good point." And it was a good point. But it was still a little intimidating how forcefully he made that point. "We should do more to be ready when the Island changes the rules. Have you talked to the council about this?"

[therewasaman]

"The council that changes every six months if they don't vanish before the term limit is up?" he scoffed. "This isn't something for the govenment. This needs to be the individual responsibility of the citizens. That's why I'm trying to raise awareness."

[polly_okeefe]

"Okay," I said, taking a step back. "You've certainly done that. I'll definitely be thinking more about what I throw away in the future."

He had a point, and I would do what I can. But I also thought that now was a good time to bring this to a close, and head out of there.