Wake-up Call: 2035

by Robert J. Traydon

  The population of humankind’s direct evolutionary ancestors was indicated as 44 193 in 48 107 BCE. The line rose slowly as it approached 1 CE where it indicated 220 million. From there it started to climb steadily with a few steep dips along the way, until it reached 1800 CE. From then to 2000 CE, it accelerated dramatically into a near-vertical tower. From 2000 CE to 2035 CE the exponential increase began to taper, but only very slightly. The current 2035 CE human population indicated 10 027 972 835, and it was growing by an average of three with each passing second.

  The Principals stared at the figure in disbelief. Then a second dotted line appeared on the graph, quite similar to the first although below it throughout its curve.

  Yusoara explained, “This second line indicates your United Nation’s population estimates. You will notice that they are consistently lower than the actual numbers.”

  She looked at the UN Secretary-General, Abdul Shara and spoke, “Your organisation currently estimates the human population to be 9 billion, but this figure falls short of the actual figure by 1 billion human beings, most of whom weren’t accounted for in Africa, Asia and South America. As can be seen, there are in fact just over 10 billion humans on the Earth at this very moment.”

  She continued, “Every one of you here is familiar with this population graph. Now, I ask you all to step back from your normal interpretation of it and re-examine it from a different perspective. Consider the consequences of it on your planet.”

  She paused for a full minute to allow the Principals to take in the information. It was incredible to see how the world’s human population had exploded during the last 250 years, from 1 billion to 10 billion people. Even more profound, was that it had taken almost 50 000 years to create the first billion humans and just 10 years to create the most recently added billion humans.

  Yusoara commented, “Unfortunately, human beings have become so accustomed to the sight of this graph that it has little impact. It is quite astounding that it draws so little emotion from any of you when looking at it. It is as though this is a perfectly normal and acceptable situation. Well, I can assure you that from our perspective, this graph is definitely not normal. It is of immense concern to us … and should be to you too.”

  Another counter showed that there were five humans being born every second, equivalent to 300 every minute. Edward Payton worked out that at this birth rate, 18 000 humans were being born each hour. That meant that it took just one hour for more humans to be born than the world’s entire remaining rhino population. He shook his head at the thought.

  Yusoara spoke, “This population data is accurate to within 1 000 human beings at all times. Consider the fact that your population’s net growth rate is 275 000 humans per day, after taking mortality into account.”

  She then called up the population graphs specific to each of the seven continents. They all showed similar exponential growth curves, although their respective timing varied. Most alarming was the recent ramping-up of Africa’s already precipitous population growth curve.

  The global population TSV was then played from 3000 BCE to 2035 CE, showing human population distribution in red. The visual was staggering – over the course of the last 5 000 years, human proliferation had totally dominated the planet. The only places not shaded in red were the world’s biggest mountain ranges and deserts.

  Yusoara mentioned that every seemingly innocuous human action should be multiplied by 10 billion to fully appreciate its collective impact. Driving a fossil fuelled vehicle, consuming domesticated animal products, using water for non-essential purposes, or even just switching on a light electrified by non-renewable means; these all had extremely serious implications when considered on a global scale.

  She said, “Many of your people may claim innocence in terms of this environmental problem, but anyone who does these things is a partial contributor. In our eyes, not a single human being is blameless.”

  The Principals found the notion very discomforting. Most people knew that their actions were contributing to the environmental problem but this did little to change their behaviours.

  She continued, “There is one very simple truth that applies to all civilisations … those that manage their populations, prevail; and those that don’t, fail. We have various case studies, dating back millions of years, relating to semi-intelligent civilisations that collapsed because they were unable to manage their populations. Those that were able to, lived on for aeons in sustainable bliss on their home planets.

  “However, what we have seen here on Earth is the very first recorded case of an intelligent civilisation knowingly proliferating far beyond a sustainable population size, and also being incapable of managing it.”

  9:50 a.m. Observatory: Earth’s Life – Cohabitating Species Displacement

  Before any interruption could be made, Yusoara enlarged an impressive three-dimensional graph titled ‘Population trends of cohabitating species’, which swept all the previous graphs onto the chamber’s surrounding wall.

  Within seconds a number of lines began to populate its axes.

  She spoke, “Of great concern to us is the dramatic population decline of almost all species on this planet, besides your own and that of your cultivated and domesticated species. This graph will demonstrate the situation for you.”

  She explained how each of the lines related directly to numerous plant, insect, amphibian, reptile, fish, mammal, bird and other species. The graph was shocking and showed a worrying trend. Between 48 107 BCE and 1000 BCE, most of the lines remained relatively constant with the exception of the ice age period where almost a fifth of them experienced a noticeable dip and subsequent recovery.

  From 1000 BCE onwards, a trend in population decline began to emerge for a growing number species, which accelerated steadily up to 1800 CE. From there up to 2035 CE, almost every line began falling rapidly towards the horizontal axis, inferring mass population reductions. Lines that met the axis represented extinction, each of which showed an official date.

  Yusoara spoke, “This situation is very concerning, especially when looking at the population curves of your cornerstone species. These species are linked to numerous food chains and are vital to your planet’s future; without them, no complex life will survive on Earth. You refer to them as ‘critical environmental equilibrium sustaining species’. These include bees, bumble bees, phytoplankton, fungi, bats, ants, termites, frogs, birds, fish, earthworms, beetles, algae, cyanobacteria, rhizobia, lactobacillus, stony corals … and there are many more.”

  The graph was cleared and these specific species’ population curves were displayed. All showed similar accelerating decline especially during the last 250-year period. The graphs were even worse for the various indicator species which included stoneflies, mosses, lichens, worms and various molluscs.

  She then ran through numerous other graphs highlighting a diverse array of surviving wild megafauna that all showed substantial population decline. She emphasised that all these larger species played an important role in the environment’s equilibrium, and went on to say that their right to live should be respected and their diverse beauty cherished.

  For all the graphs shown, she explained that the predominant causes of their rapidly reducing populations included: eradication, habitat loss, global warming, water and air pollution, diminished food supply, warming seas, acid rain, chemicals and pesticides.

  The overall picture showed a planet in deep distress.

  The graph was then cascaded across the table surface in front of each Principal. Yusoara explained that the graph was fully interactive. They could add or remove any species from the Titan’s ‘Earth Life Catalogue’, which had been reorganised according to Earth’s globally accepted Animal Kingdom Classification system. This system classified all life in terms of their taxonomic rank which included Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species. The Principals could check rolled-up populations at any rank and also manipulate the graph’s time interval to anywhere
within the recorded period.

  She gave the Principals time to experiment with the graph and they used it productively. They selected numerous genera and species that were of interest to them, to see their population history and current status.

  Edward Payton selected Northern White Rhino, Mountain Gorilla, Black Marlin, Great Albatross, Lemur Leaf Frog, African Honey Bee and more. Almost all the lines on the graph remained relatively stable since first being recorded in 48 107 BCE; until the last 250 year period, where they all crashed precipitously. Some of the lines appeared to strike the zero horizontal axis or were hovering just above it, inferring actual or imminent extinction.

  He then selected a range of domesticated animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs, cats and others. The graph was astonishing: all the lines rose exponentially in tandem with human population rise, demonstrating their inextricable link. Also evident was the inverse correlation with the wild species’ graph.

  Yusoara spoke, “These graphs all show us the impact that human and domesticated species proliferation has had on your coexistent wild fauna and flora; and how these wild species have literally been displaced from existence. We refer to this phenomenon as ‘cohabitating species displacement’. In this respect, your democratic method of governance has one major flaw, which is, that it only applies to the human species. This planet would be a very different place if all other species were entitled to the same rights as you. In the greater context of life in the Universe, they should be.”

  She then called up a vast grid which replaced the graph. It was a dashboard showing thousands of different species with their pictures. Their current populations were shown below each of them and almost all were ticking downwards. Only a handful could be seen climbing. She reminded the Principals that the figures they were seeing were actual and in real time.

  Payton immediately thought back to his skyscraper-mushroom comparison that he used in his lectures. He was familiar with most of this information so it came as no surprise to him. The other Principals, who were not as informed as he was, were truly stunned by what they were seeing. Especially disconcerting were the huge megafauna population disparities between wild species and domesticated species. All the wild species’ populations together did not even amount to a sixth of the combined domesticated equivalent.

  The Principals felt sad and ashamed by how serious the situation really was. Even though they wanted to deflect blame onto other parts of the human population, they knew that they all shared part responsibility, no matter how small.

  9:35 a.m. Earth: White House

  On his way to the lobby Agent Walker stepped into the staff lounge where he found a group of six office staff all intently watching the television. He greeted them but they hardly bothered to turn their heads away from the television screen to acknowledge his entrance into the room. He didn’t give their discourtesy a second thought and began to search around the room from the entrance in a clockwise direction.

  The television’s volume had been deliberately turned up higher than normal so that the viewers could catch every word of the news channel they were watching. Agent Walker subconsciously heard the words of a reporter over the dissonance of thoughts churning through his head.

  “Thanks for the summary report there, Jim. That is truly extraordinary. We shall continue to follow this gripping story, and will be right back after a short break.”

  The noise drifted into a drone as Agent Walker dropped to his knees to look beneath the settees and coffee table. He methodically opened all the cabinets and checked behind the curtains. Nothing there. While searching he overheard one of the office workers speaking to the others, “Where do you think she could have gone to?”

  Agent Walker’s ears immediately pricked up. It was impossible that they could know of the President’s disappearance.

  Another office worker replied, “No idea, but it’s not as though she could just disappear like that. They’ll find her having a walk outside or something.”

  Walker froze the moment he heard the word ‘disappear’. He looked up at the office workers disbelieving of the sentence that had just been said. Despite his alarm, he maintained his trademark cool composure. “Excuse me, you mentioned that someone had disappeared?”

  One of the ladies in the group responded to him, “Yes, it’s all over the news…”

  Walker did a double take in disbelief, wondering how this could possibly be.

  The lady spoke on, “… An employee at The Real TV Network studios is claiming that Serena Harpon disappeared, right from in front of her, while they were having a conversation.”

  Walker’s heart skipped a beat in both relief and surprise. “Really?” he said.

  “Yes, but I think this employee must be crazy. Watch here …”

  She pointed towards the television as the Cable News Network (CNN) emblem returned to the screen with its trademark theme music. Below the emblem was a ‘BREAKING NEWS’ yellow banner. Within it, script scrolled from right to left saying: ‘Serena Harpon allegedly disappears from office.’

  Agent Walker was struck by what he was reading. The news anchor was brought back on screen and continued with her show: “And welcome back. Breaking news here on CNN, Serena Harpon is reported to have mysteriously disappeared from her office at around 9:00 a.m. this morning, where she was speaking with an employee about a potential promotion. The distressed employee said; and I quote, ‘that Ms Harpon was right there, sitting behind her desk, and the very next moment she was gone’. The employee, who is now receiving trauma counselling, is known to her colleagues to be a steady, no-nonsense woman. Speculation is rife as to Serena Harpon’s whereabouts, but at this time her exact location cannot be confirmed by anyone. Her spokesperson has also refused to comment on the situation.”

  Agent Walker’s thoughts were doing cartwheels. Considering the information that he himself was privy to, the three sets of circumstances were too strange and coincidental to be logical. Could it be possible that the US President’s unknown whereabouts were related to the supposed concurrent disappearances of the Chinese President and Serena Harpon?

  The almost exact same times of their respective disappearances also tied in. He considered the theory and then pushed it out of his mind. He had to focus all of his mental energy on the search operation, rather than absurd conspiracies. He then made his way to the lobby to see whether General Flanker and his National Guard soldiers had arrived yet.

  9:55 a.m. Observatory: Earth’s Life – Extinction Extent

  Another graph titled ‘Extinction extent’ was enlarged which showed the number of species’ extinctions over the last 50 000 years. Immediately apparent was the exponential rise in extinctions which was related directly to the rise in human population. Accompanying graphs for each continent showed that the extinction scourge was a worldwide phenomenon.

  Between 48 107 BCE and 1000 BCE, numerous terrestrial megafauna species were shown to have become extinct. The timing and locality of these extinctions were shown to be directly linked to prehistoric human migration across the world.

  Yusoara remarked, “Your ‘prehistoric overkill hypothesis’ correctly explains this megafaunal extinction phenomenon. Wherever humans migrated to, terrestrial megafauna species that were naive of the human threat, were hunted to extinction.”

  Edward Payton was familiar with the overkill hypothesis, which theorised that humans who first populated the world’s continents, were responsible for the Late Pleistocene extinction of predominantly megafaunal species. Many scientists argued that climate change was most likely responsible, but the evidence that Payton was now seeing incontrovertibly supported the overkill hypothesis. Climate change may have played a part in some cases, but certainly not all.

  He scanned over other charts on the world map which showed that during this extinction period, North America lost 33 of its 45 genera of megafaunal mammals; South America lost 46 of 48; Australia 15 of 16; Europe 7 of 23; and Sub-Saharan Africa only 2 of 44. This explained why
present-day Africa had such an impressive abundance of large wildlife when compared to the world’s other continents. However, this had not been the case 50 000 years ago when both North America and South America had more megafaunal diversity than Africa.

  [* Some of these Late Pleistocene extinctions included:

  North America – American lion, American cheetah, Mastodon elephant; South America – Cuvieronius elephant, Giant ground sloth, Smilodon sabre-toothed cat; Australia – Zygomaturus marsupial rhinoceros, Macropus Titan giant kangaroo, Diprotodon; Northern Eurasia – Woolly mammoth, Woolly rhinoceros, Giant polar bear; Asia – Giraffids, Gigantopithecus giant ape, Pachycrocuta giant hyena; and Africa – African bear, Giant Hippopotamus gorgops.

  Extinctions continued into the Holocene epoch, especially on remote islands such as New Zealand, Madagascar, the Pacific Islands, the Indian Ocean Islands and the Caribbean. Altogether, this was widely known as the Quaternary Extinction Event.]

  From 1000 BCE onwards, the number of extinctions across the full spectrum of life rose gradually until 1800 CE. From there, extinction numbers began to climb rapidly, skyrocketing in the 50 years leading up to 2035 CE. In the last year alone, over 140 000 species had been lost to extinction, equating to 1,4% of the Earth’s total life diversity.

  Yusoara commented, “Even though your planet has experienced five previous natural extinction events, there is no reason for it to suffer a sixth unnatural one. I say ‘unnatural’ because the cause of this unravelling sixth extinction is an intelligent life form … in the absence of which almost none of these extinctions would be occurring.

  “I must stress that extinction should not be underestimated. Once a complex species becomes extinct, it is lost forever and the Universe’s overall diversity of life is poorer as a direct result. We have used our most advanced technologies to recreate complex organisms to the atomic level accuracy of their living equivalents, but we cannot breathe life into them.