Ugly Transformation
Delicious rich scents filtered into her bedroom through the Georgian window. Deeply she breathed perfumed roses and the oncoming rain while pearls of dew glistened in luscious green fields with grazing sheep. Rabbits hopscotched past their thick bodies and birds welcomed the day. In the background, the canal, a milky tea hue carried multi-coloured barges and even more zany characters.
Anger split the air. Her Dad’s voice thundered from the kitchen, “Slippery underhand councillors! They put notices in the farmer’s field stating these are not public footpaths although they have been for a century.”
His fist slammed the kitchen table causing the best China to sing in disgust. Expletives bounced off the kitchen. “Fools! They are ignoring the mine shafts! They tried to steal the Village Green, a gift of a wondrous playing field to our community! Without research, they claim that badger sets and the Great Crested Newt will not be negatively affected! Both are protected species! And why? Because developers want to build one hundred acres of lucrative solar panels on beautiful countryside, greenbelt and farm land. The fools think the solar farm won’t interrupt sheep grazing, the lambing season, wildlife, property value!”
Sarcasm sizzled as her Dad complained, “Ancient trees, blackberry bushes and hedgerows won’t grow back overnight! I am getting heartburn just thinking of acres of ugly solar panels! Isn’t their production harmful because of lead and cadmium? Harmful both to our health and the environment! So dangerous that they can’t be recycled! The panels are classed as hazardous waste! One hundred acres of blight just across the road! Not that we will see them behind blooming eight foot metal fences covered with barbed wire and topped with surveillance cameras! Ugly transformation!”
Dread coursed through his daughter’s veins. Bile sloshed in her stomach. “Ugly transformation!” chaotically turned the beautiful country view to urban blight.
“Oh, why can’t the solar panels be built on car parks, industrial buildings, blocks of flats and urban areas?” she wailed.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi Margarida – Reading your story made me realize how challenging it can be for us humans to try to solve problems which we ourselves created. Nice read ?
Thank you, Chris for reading and commenting on “Ugly Transformation.” I am for Green energy, but believe the least toxic solar panels should be built on urban buildings.
Sadly, I wrote this story in response to a proposal by Coventry, UK councillors to try to transform beautiful countryside to a gigantic solar farm.
I’m with your protagonists with this one, Margarida. We have several solar farms around us in Nottinghamshire and they are so ugly to look at. I know greener energy is needed but, as they’re building so many new housing estates, why not put the solar panels on the roofs and offer the buyers a discount on their energy bills for having them? There have to be better options. Nicely written.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you, Carrie for your rich comments. I love your idea of discounted “green” housing. On the petition which is circulating, one frustrated comment was -why hadn’t council houses been built with solar panels for many decades?
Honestly, I feel sick thinking that so much gorgeous greenery in England is being blighted!
Margarida, your story is certainly thought-provoking. As Chris stated, it is difficult to solve the problems we have created. It would be tragic to destroy the beautiful countryside in this manner.
It certainly is a conundrum as you rightly pointed out, Marianna. As one wise minister pointed out green energy must not be at the expense of natural beauty and people’s sensibilities. Below, is more information on the proposal to build solar panels on the outskirts of Coventry, where I grew up before emigrating. (It is essentially a petition, so If Voice.Club removes the link, I will understand.) I am not asking anyone… Read more »
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYou have put your finger on a delicate problem, Margarida. We have the same kind of discussion about wind turbines. And yet, the transfer to renewable energy production is needed. What a sharp contrast between your first paragraph and your protagonist’s dad’s reaction!
Many thanks, Christer for your insightful feedback. Many include myself, think that Green Energy is the right course. Yet, we need to think of the impact to the environment, toxin manufacturing products, disruption and death to fauna and flora. Can solar panels and wind turbines be recycled. Sadly wind turbines affect wild animals through collisions, noise pollution, reduced breeding and habitat loss. And yet, please forgive me for once thinking they looked… Read more »
Margarida, what a good story to get people to think about the way we think about solutions.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleGreetings, Lisa. I really appreciate your comment. There is so much to think about in the advantages and disadvantages of this renewable energy. It’s marvellous that solar power is readily and naturally available and it does not dwindle because of consumption. And yet……
I was right there with the dad, Margarida, slamming my fist on the kitchen table. Reading other’s comments, I agree with everything said. A story that can’t help but fill you with anger at what is happening all around us. Really well written, as always.
Really appreciate your kind words, Linda. Solar energy is now considered a great form
of renewable energy and yet……..
Greenmatch.co.uk discusses the pros and cons of renewable energy.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi Linda – Yes, you are right, this story can be upsetting. In the the story – when dad was describing all the destruction of the Village Green – it was quite sad. Although I can empathize, I can no longer afford to get angry on these issues, since my anger would only waste my limited energy, and not influence any real change. However, opening these discussions is great. It is a… Read more »
Chris, you are right in saying it is healthy and positive to discuss challenging conversations intelligently in a supportive environment.
I would love to hold my Grand children’s hands and take them through the beautiful English countryside where I was born, but strolling through a solar farm would be horrific.
Hi Chris – as a UK pensioner, I find I get angry about many things these days! I guess it comes with age! But of course you are right, only action brings change.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleLinda, in my mind, I see the daughter in my story joining a petition group and evolving into a Greta Thunberg-like environmental activist.
Margarida, this is a beautiful story. Its message can only be understood by those who have a deep love and concern for nature. Well done.
Thank you kindly, Thompson for reading and commenting. In one way I am for Green energy but by the same token, I don’t want it to endanger.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi, Margarida. It was a very thought-provoking read. Indeed, it was a great story.
Lotchie, glad that my story made you think about the dangers of solar farms.