Earth: The Future is History by Gabriel Dica Page A

clearly see the
crucial importance of key decisions… after they’ve been made. Of
course you can see the “incompetence” now, after learning about our
history, after reading about the effects our past decisions had.
And of course you can unquestionably determine what should have
been done, instead of what had been done. “Why did we choose so
poorly?”. The never-ending discussions that start with that simple
– what if…? –“
    Noya stops walking and turns towards the
young student: “But what are YOU doing different from all those
before you?”. Walking back to the center of the podium, she quietly
signals him to stand up.
    Noya: “What’s your name?”
    Reluctant, the student stands up: “Filip,
professor...”
    Noya: “Unfortunately, my dear Filip, my
initial question wasn’t about our reason for gathering here today,
but for the reason we are all here, mankind.”
    Noya turns to the rest of her audience: “So.
How did we get here, on the brink of extinction, as a race? What
are those crucial moments when we should have chosen
differently?”
    The question comes as a surprise, all eyes
lost in thought, contemplating, searching for an answer to this
unexpected question. They all thought she was here just to offer a
lecture, not ask them to participate.
    Noya, just standing there quietly, patiently,
waiting: “Anyone?”.
    A young, blonde woman stands up: “There are
hundreds of reasons why we’re in this situation, perhaps hundreds
of known and unknown decisions that led us here. But I think,
probably one of the most important reasons why we’re so close to
failing as a race, is because of all the wars, the endless fighting
for territory and resources, for control. I believe that’s what
kept our ancestors from focusing on what should have been
done…”
    Noya: “Wars. Good, let’s start with them and
we’ll slowly work our way towards the true reason we’re here.”
    Noya: “Filip, time to test your knowledge.
Let’s go back to the formation of the World Alliance. What caused
it? What determined the entire human population to demand it?”
    Filip, being a passionate history reader,
seems relieved to be asked about a topic he knows well. But
everyone else is just wondering what the professor is doing, this
doesn’t seem to be a typical lecture.
    Filip: “I believe the mechanism that led to
the signing of the World Alliance was put in motion in the early
21 st century. Sure, we know now just how important the
health of our planet is, but back then no one seemed to care. Not
really. Despite a few attempts to work together and slow the
accelerating decay of our planet, despite signing agreements
several times, the world’s leaders of that period never seemed to
truly grasp the importance of their decision to ignore nature – or
all the scientists making endless pleas to pay more attention to
our precious world. Their focus was somewhere else entirely: high
consumption rates were driving the economy of that period; in turn,
the economy was dictating politics, so it’s no surprise that a lot
of territories were involved in wars over natural resources all
over the globe. Back then humankind was geographically divided into
countries, each with its own leader, each considering itself more
important than any other, each struggling to obtain control over
more and more resources. It’s hard for me to imagine what it must
have been like, hundreds of leaders all wanting what someone else
had.”
    Noya, interrupting Filip to address the
class: “Indeed. It’s hard now to realize the incredible friction
and tension this must have involved. With no central leadership,
Earth was heading in 195 different directions, that’s how many
different countries and different leaders we had. Imagine the
improbability they would all agree on or decide together a common
direction to follow.”
    The noises outside seem to be getting louder
as the protest is moving closer to their building. Noya points to
Filip,