Geek out on this "deep" background on each scene
There are certain things humanity tends to suck at. The phenomenon of climate change involves almost all of them.
Each scene of this "episodic" play deals with one of these factors, and has a little fun with it (at our own expense). If you want to know a bit more about them, and some of the underlying research/inspiration for each scene, this is the page for you.
Each scene of this "episodic" play deals with one of these factors, and has a little fun with it (at our own expense). If you want to know a bit more about them, and some of the underlying research/inspiration for each scene, this is the page for you.
1: The Beginning (... or the "second" Garden of Eden)
First off, think of Adam and Eve as "archetypes", then everything gets a little easier to swallow.
Then, consider that some scholars suggest environmental meanings to the old Adam and Eve story (which is strikingly similar to stories that are much older than the bible, by the way).
Ronald Wright, in his excellent book "A Short History of Progress", argues that the Garden of Eden had a physical geography, somewhere in what we now call the Middle East. And after thousands of years of heavy agriculture in this tiny "fertile crescent", we basically screwed it up (over-grazing, and too much reckless burning), and had to move down the river where the farming was quite a bit harder. So what if we drove ourselves out of 'paradise'?
(This is why you hear reference to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the play. You will not, however, hear reference to criticisms of sex before marriage, because that can be rather fun.)
Then, consider that some scholars suggest environmental meanings to the old Adam and Eve story (which is strikingly similar to stories that are much older than the bible, by the way).
Ronald Wright, in his excellent book "A Short History of Progress", argues that the Garden of Eden had a physical geography, somewhere in what we now call the Middle East. And after thousands of years of heavy agriculture in this tiny "fertile crescent", we basically screwed it up (over-grazing, and too much reckless burning), and had to move down the river where the farming was quite a bit harder. So what if we drove ourselves out of 'paradise'?
(This is why you hear reference to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the play. You will not, however, hear reference to criticisms of sex before marriage, because that can be rather fun.)
2: Knowledge (...or the car idling scene)
Knowledge transfer in our society really sucks.
Climate scientists have been warning us for a long time now. The basic idea that humans are causing climate change has been "unequivocal" for a long time, and those are strong words for science-types to use. But 'splain me again, Doctor, I am having trouble understanding what ya' mean by "anthropogenic radiative forcing".
Then the media comes along, and in trying to get "both sides" of the issue, gives equal airtime to a climate scientist and so-and-so's second cousin with the "gut feelings" on things. Throw in some "confirmation bias" in the mix, and we all run to the comfort of our search engine bubbles, quite certain in our views, and never needing to learn a damn thing.
Climate scientists have been warning us for a long time now. The basic idea that humans are causing climate change has been "unequivocal" for a long time, and those are strong words for science-types to use. But 'splain me again, Doctor, I am having trouble understanding what ya' mean by "anthropogenic radiative forcing".
Then the media comes along, and in trying to get "both sides" of the issue, gives equal airtime to a climate scientist and so-and-so's second cousin with the "gut feelings" on things. Throw in some "confirmation bias" in the mix, and we all run to the comfort of our search engine bubbles, quite certain in our views, and never needing to learn a damn thing.
3: The Tragedy of the (Unmanaged) Commons (...or the microwave scene)
You know you've seen this.
The "tragedy of the commons" is a term used in economics. Classic example: imagine a small lake that produces enough fish for the surrounding villagers to eat happily, because enough fish are left behind to keep the cycles of reproduction happily begatting along. But what if a few fishermen (or fisherwomen, we can be just as big jerks as men, so there) take too much, and the fish stocks start to decline? Not enough fish to make healthy baby fish soon? Do you stand by? Or do you start to grab as many as you can while there's still some left, and thereby becoming part of this schmozzle yourself?
This 'tragedy' has typically been used to justify the need for government regulation, i.e. we'll issue you all permits, so you act in a way that's actually in your own self-interest, by forcefully making sure you don't act like a selfish jerk. Eleanor Ostrom came along one day and reminded us that many societies around the world have actually found solutions to this, and as long as the solution was home-grown, it often worked well. So some of us like to stick the word "unmanaged" in this expresion now.
(P.S. Tip for the office microwave: instead of the nasty or passive-aggressive note, put up an "honour roll", where people can write their names when they have actually cleaned the darn thing. Gives an incentive for good behaviour. Works like a charm.)
The "tragedy of the commons" is a term used in economics. Classic example: imagine a small lake that produces enough fish for the surrounding villagers to eat happily, because enough fish are left behind to keep the cycles of reproduction happily begatting along. But what if a few fishermen (or fisherwomen, we can be just as big jerks as men, so there) take too much, and the fish stocks start to decline? Not enough fish to make healthy baby fish soon? Do you stand by? Or do you start to grab as many as you can while there's still some left, and thereby becoming part of this schmozzle yourself?
This 'tragedy' has typically been used to justify the need for government regulation, i.e. we'll issue you all permits, so you act in a way that's actually in your own self-interest, by forcefully making sure you don't act like a selfish jerk. Eleanor Ostrom came along one day and reminded us that many societies around the world have actually found solutions to this, and as long as the solution was home-grown, it often worked well. So some of us like to stick the word "unmanaged" in this expresion now.
(P.S. Tip for the office microwave: instead of the nasty or passive-aggressive note, put up an "honour roll", where people can write their names when they have actually cleaned the darn thing. Gives an incentive for good behaviour. Works like a charm.)
4: Us vs. Them (...or the international negotiations)
Ever tried negotiating with your roommate over the divisions of chores? Imagine if you had 193 roommates? Welcome to the United Nations Climate Change negotiations!
And what if some of those roommates were dirt poor, worried about their next meal, let alone cleaning up afterwards?
But suppose there is an efficient solution to all this, so that cleaning and feeding goals could be mutually supportive, if everyone cooperates. Oopsies. Nations aren't so good at that. Especially when they psychologically distance themselves from "those" people, how "they" live, you know, the one's who don't live as well as we do.
If you enjoy "Yes, Minister", you'll get a kick out of this scene.
And what if some of those roommates were dirt poor, worried about their next meal, let alone cleaning up afterwards?
But suppose there is an efficient solution to all this, so that cleaning and feeding goals could be mutually supportive, if everyone cooperates. Oopsies. Nations aren't so good at that. Especially when they psychologically distance themselves from "those" people, how "they" live, you know, the one's who don't live as well as we do.
If you enjoy "Yes, Minister", you'll get a kick out of this scene.
5: Guilt-trips (... or the over-the-top environmentalist)
The marketing industry has a really good understanding of human psychology. Freakishly good. How about environmentalists? Not so much.
There was an excellent and controversial essay called "The Death of Environmentalism" back in 2004. The "ism" of environmentalism can't be a "special interest" that alienates the vast majority of people if it's going to be effective. But that's what it's been, so it hasn't been effective. Not much satisfaction in being able to say, while drowning in a flash flood, "I told ya' so, assholes!"
There was an excellent and controversial essay called "The Death of Environmentalism" back in 2004. The "ism" of environmentalism can't be a "special interest" that alienates the vast majority of people if it's going to be effective. But that's what it's been, so it hasn't been effective. Not much satisfaction in being able to say, while drowning in a flash flood, "I told ya' so, assholes!"
6: Denial (...or the alcoholic)
There is an old but fascinating essay called "The Problem of Denial" by William R. Catton, in which he describes a psychological condition called "anosognosia" (the denial people can fall into after a paralyzing stroke that so radically changes their life). He makes a parallel between this and the denial people can slip into when presented with hard-to-accept facts about what we're doing to the planet.
This helped me write a scene in which we could have compassion for a person in comical denial (although it's absurd and ridiculous) because sometimes the biggest things are the hardest to look at.
This helped me write a scene in which we could have compassion for a person in comical denial (although it's absurd and ridiculous) because sometimes the biggest things are the hardest to look at.
7: The End
Fortunately, there was no inspiration for this scene!
For theatre types, and without giving too much away, consider this scene to be an "atheist deus ex machina". There is an internal logic: ask what everyone involved needs, and is giving, in this strange little ending you just have to see!
"We are stardust, billion year old carbon.
We are golden, caught in the devil's bargain.
And we've got to get ourselves, back to the garden" - Joni Mitchell
For theatre types, and without giving too much away, consider this scene to be an "atheist deus ex machina". There is an internal logic: ask what everyone involved needs, and is giving, in this strange little ending you just have to see!
"We are stardust, billion year old carbon.
We are golden, caught in the devil's bargain.
And we've got to get ourselves, back to the garden" - Joni Mitchell