August 4th, 1978 (Friday): Chicken 1000 meets the Lorax

Petey and I watched the Dr. Seuss special tonight.  The second half on the the special was "The Lorax", which mad us both very sad.  

The irreversible destruction of the environment by industry is an ever present problem.  Now that the pipeline runs across the fragile Alaskan tundra with the constant threat of sabotage, now that truckoads and train loads of poisionous gasses explode across the country, now that what to do with radioactive wastes puzzles us all, Dr. Seuss's message is urgent.  "Unless"...

The Endless Pavement is another horrific version of the future where cars rule everything, trees and grass are entirely superseded by concrete, and people-bolted into cars at an early age-have forgotten how to use there legs.  The only entertainment is auto racing on the big screen and the art of conversation has been forgotten.  

Then there's Chicken 1000 (I don't know if the number's right), the escape of a "battery hen" to a normal life.  I usually dislike didactic stories, but the only way to ensure environmentalists is to begin with the children.  

There's also an impressive (but very sad) science-fiction movie (whose title I've forgotten) about the last forests, growing in space when the decision is made that they are no longer economically feasible, and they are to be converted to freighters.  Trees and grass are a luxury.  The  tale says it well-"welcome to the house.  Aren't the furnishings beautiful?"  We must learn to be good guests in God's house, our Earth.