Echo Times

Issue date: 4/4/03 Section: Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor: This is just a short story. It is a fantasy with no similarity to reality. One upon a time in an alternative universe there was a world like Earth, but unlike Earth this one had no oil in the Middle East. This world was forced to find other sources of energy, because the US and the other oil countries could not supply the countries without oil as well as their own. This world tried nuclear power but had the same problems that we had with the waste disposal and accidents. This world had to develop alternative sources of energy. The governments in this world encouraged research in solar panels, wind generation and other clean energy sources. Because of this support (and no one fighting the research and use of alternative energy), these technologies advanced quicker than our world, so they developed inexpensive solar cells, cold fusion and electric vehicles, decades before our world. In this world most of the homes and business have solar panels on their roofs. The use of hemp seeds to make lubrication oil was know for over one hundred years, (covered wagons used it to lubricate their wheels). Hemp also made the canvas on the covered wagons, (name came from cannabis). Since hemp was widely farmed in this world, hemp was the source of 90% of the paper used here. This paper could be recycled more times, because the hemp fibers are stronger than wood. Hemp fibers also made a cloth that was longer lasting and stronger than cotton and man made fibers. Because hemp provided 90% of this world's paper they have nearly all of their forests. They have no global warming because the forests are the lungs, kidney and liver of the planet keeping the air clean and moist and removing carbon dioxide and adding oxygen. There are no long term droughts anywhere on this world. This is also because of the forests; for they keep the moisture in the ground keep the ground water level up so that steams do not dry up in the summer and give the north area's their much needed summer rains for crops. Since the costal redwood forests still stand, they are naturally pulling the water out of the summer fog, adding to the ground water. (Redwoods are one of the few trees that will do this and get 45% of their water from fog). This world has only a fraction of the endangered species that our world has, since the old growth forest are still there and there was no sediments filling up the streams and bays and exits from the bays into the ocean. This world also has never had any "trouble" in the Middle East since there is nothing there that anyone wants; the native people live a happy simple life like they have had for centuries. Most people in this world are driving electric cars, and there is no cross country shipping by truck here, all shipping is done by electric trains. With trucks virtually off the freeways they are safer for cars. This world is a paradise all because there was no oil in the Middle East. The End Written by: Kevin West (This story is pure fantasy and any similarities to reality are just a coincidence.)

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