Clean Sweep
“Hello everyone! This is Jasper Quincy, your host, bringing you the show that promises you a brighter future … Clean Sweep!”
The theme music swells to a triumphant crescendo, as sophisticated graphics flash across the screen – clunky oil rigs morphing into sleek wind turbines, traffic jams dissolving into tree-lined bike paths, layers of smog clearing into bright blue skies. Jasper continues excitedly.
“In a few minutes we will be checking our international database – what will today’s count be? Stay tuned for the answer to this life-changing question! But first a heartfelt thanks to today’s sponsors – Exxonerated and ShellOut. These energy giants have each donated ten billion dollars to the Buy Back the Air fund, allowing you to trade in your gas guzzler for a clean, maintenance-free electric car with nothing down and low-interest monthly payments. These generous donations mark their conversion from fossil fuels to renewable, planet-friendly resources. Thanks, guys – and welcome to today’s realities!”
After an extended ad celebrates the charms of the new, improved energy duo, Jasper returns.
“And now, let’s look at our database count. For those of you who’ve been living under a rock, our count of fossil-fuel-powered cars started at 1.4 billion, a seemingly insurmountable number. But millions of you took the pledge, especially after the ExShel team started offering financial incentives. Last week we were down to an astounding 142,683,107. Oprah is with us today, awarding this week’s first 1,000 converts a year’s free subscription to her Big O charging stations throughout the world. Thank you, Oprah! Are you ready to read the data?”
“I’m ready, Jasper.” Oprah’s smile lights up the room.
Dramatic music fills the air and the entire world holds its breath as Oprah presses a key. The number flashes up on the screen.
“Wow folks, we’re almost there!” Jason cries. “Only 65,340,023 conversions to go. Oprah – here’s the list of the lucky 1,000 winners!”
“Join us next week, when Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson will give virtual space rides to the first converts. For now, this is Jasper Quincy, from Clean Sweep, wishing you a life free of fossil fuels!”
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleTakes the reader right to a game show with all its enthusiasm. Great vocabulary, but not overbearing. Loved the word plays on “Exxonerated” and “ShellOut” = ExSHel. Positive ending which fits a game show.
Wow! Fuji this is interesting. I like the idea of the plot centered on a talk show. Oprah, Jeff Benzos and Richard Branson can sure be of help to encourage a decline in the figures. But the space trip, is it not adding its quota to carbon emission?
You are right, Thompson. I also love the plot of this story.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleOh my gosh, Thompson, you caught a major flaw in my story! Yes, one space trip would be disastrous to the carbon emission count. I’m going to see if VoiceTeam will let me change it to a virtual trip! Thanks for reading, and special thanks for having such a good eye! You would make a good editor.
Wow, this is fascinating, Fuji. And the unique setting adds more glow to it and makes it more lovelier and wonderful. Well done.
Thank you so much Lotchie!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYou’re welcome, Fuji.
Thanks, VoiceTeam, for letting me change “free space rides” to “virtual space rides”. And many thanks to Thompson Emate, for catching the fact that space rides are not environmentally friendly. I wouldn’t want my story spreading misleading information!
You’re most welcome Fuji. We are a team. Thank you VoiceTeam for the permission granted.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHello, interesting little discussion here about the carbon costs of a space ride. Unfortunately these details as pointed out by Thompson Emate, really matter. In many places much, sometimes all, the electricity is generated from fossil fuels (often the worst polluter, coal). Switching to electric vehicles will be of little value if the electricity they ‘burn’ is generated from coal. Virtual trips of all kinds may be our future. I’m not looking… Read more »
Alan, you just told me something I didn’t know or hadn’t realized. Are all electric cars truly powered by coal-generated electricity? What’s the use, then? Now I have to rethink my entire approach to this huge problem. I know people won’t give up their cars, and I did think that electric cars would make a big difference. Now I guess it’s got to be bikes, shoe leather, or, as you said, virtual… Read more »
Not everywhere. Only in places where electricity is produced by burning coal. Other places, it’s produced by burning oil which is better, or by burning natural gas, better still. Other places it’s produced by hydro power, wind power, solar power, wave power, tidal power, etc. There’s a long list. They’re all better from the perspective of the limited greenhouse gases they produce but each has other ‘pollution’ considerations. Nuclear power is also… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleAlan, this is incredibly helpful information. I so appreciate you taking the time to explain the details. Your knowledge is invaluable to those of us who are trying to work our way through the muddle of information and even misinformation. Have you seen or read anything about the work that Arnold Schwarzenegger is doing on climate change? I’ve been impressed by his impassioned speeches, but not having the knowledge you have, don’t… Read more »
I think we should applaud anyone who tries to get more people to take the climate change problem seriously, and also applaud anyone who tries to council against climate change despair. The Schwarzeneger initiative tries to do both of these, but it is very hard to assess how much good his impassioned speeches are doing. I had a quick look but couldn’t find any outside authorities who’ve assessed the success of the… Read more »
I absolutely loved it, Fuji! I could just hear the advertising in my head as I was reading your story. A story is good when it makes you feel and this does!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYour idea is wonderful and very well verbalized, Fuji. I think you even might be on to an incredible idea. If the biggest, international names of the world, sport heroes, movie stars, artists, musicians, business people etc came together in TV-shows like you are describing, the impact could be enormous. Companies would get free ads that they now are paying millions of dollars for, and people would rush to follow pieces of… Read more »