That Choice

Looking into the future, two hundred years from now, I truly believe Washington D.C will look different from now whether if society takes its current path now, whether society decides to go completely green and use reliable energy, or whether society goes 50-50. When I say 50-50, I mean we continue on our way but at the same time implement “green” measures halfheartedly. Two hundred years from now, D.C and all the cities around us will look different. What national capital has stayed the same without some serious adjustment due to technological and architectural adjustments? When D.C was first created, it did not look like the D.C we know now. So when I look ahead at D.C, at its current path, I see something a little different

In 200 years, I see the Capital Building, the Memorial, the Mall, the White House all there, still standing. I see solar panels, thermal protection sheets, rain and water reusing technology already installed in the museums, homes, and government building. Energy will be considered reusable because the advancements of technology in capturing sun in the solar panels and wind from the mini wind farms on top of all homes and building. People will be of course using recycled paper and becoming more serious about recycling. It would seem that the environmental movement succeeded because in reality, due to the way society has moved at the paced we are now moving, we have failed.

We have failed the planet. Our ozone layer depleted, our carbon emissions did not drop significantly, our climate temperatures have risen, our ecosystems have change, our environment is no longer the environment we have now. Why, because of man’s failure to change, to adapt. 200 years from now, people will be asking, why did we not see the warning signs? Why, did we not see that with the increase of temperatures, biologically systems would change as a result? In which, we would have to adapt along with it because we are directly linked to how and what our environment will provide for us. Of course everyone is going to use solar power because, if the sun is beaming down UV rays and skin cancer is officially on the rise, why would the human population not take advantage of the high level of energy that is piercing through our atmosphere, and when of course, there is no more oil or fossil fuel left. Which means everyone is relying on alternative use of energy. How do we use fossil fuel if it doesn’t exist anymore?

People will be forced to grow their own food in different environments we are used to now. People will be forced to be responsible in their consumption levels, not everyone can be meat eaters because of the energy it takes, and the methane cows produce to feed every mouth will increase and as a result, add more pressure to our earth to sustain us. Housing will be forced to be green, because the rate were going, there will not be enough timber, wires, cables, cement, glass, etc to house to everyone in the middle class setting. Houses will have to be built using glass, which captures to the sun’s energy, all the water use in the house will be monitored and constantly reused, because the planet’s oceans can’t provide for the 15 billion people who need clean fresh water.

However, if society starts now, we will not be forced to go green because of depleted sources. Society will go green because we want to save our planet. We want to save our environment; we all want our children to live in clean safe environments. As result, it is important for Washington, D.C to go green as soon as possible. Unfortunately not all the affordable technology is there yet to implement it worldwide. But when the technology does become affordable for everyone to take part in the “green” revolution, Washington D.C and the whole world will not be forced to live sustainable, because our resources are depleted, we go “green” because we have a choice. We have a choice to take care of our planet and a choice to take care of our future.

That is why I hope our country and D.C, will look like what its needs to look like. Solar panels, wind technology, biomass, thermal protection sheets, heat absorbing glass, mass public transportations that use biomass, reusable water technology implemented in every public, private building and homes. Social responsibility along with environmental responsibility implemented now into schools so out future can be aware of their impact and make a positive change for our environment. Our monuments, State Capital, White House and memorials are still there but of course with the added technology. Our housing will probably have more stories added to decrease the amount of sprawl use. As a result of decrease sprawl more farms can be added around the city to decrease transportation cost and use again less energy to feed the population. Two hundred years from now, people will be more food consumption responsible and know what impact they are having on the earth and actually take due action. This is what I hope for the future. I hope that society won’t be forced to take action because there is no other choice, than take action now so that choice of living in a depleted environment is not an option.

Sydney