planetary biological debt - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing
The Aliens:
"You are familiar with the concept of financial debt and the need to work off a debt, with the idea that debt is a sort of hole to climb out of. Planetary biological debt is a similar concept. Humanity has currently borrowed so much from the biological bank of Earth that she is in danger of collapse. The reset for such a catastrophe means the death of much life on Earth, humans included. The solution is similar to financial debt. Make a plan. Figure out how to keep putting aside biological savings in an account that is safe. Keep doing that until you are solvent once more."
Aliens:
"The current system for running your world takes no account of what nature can afford to give. You invent your currencies and carry on as if the natural world were also an invention. Only from the perspective of God can it be considered thus. You are mortals made of matter, and so you cannot exceed the resources you have. You act as if this imagined currency has value and the trees that are a vital part of your planetary life support system have none. We would have thought, especially given your current situation, that you would have learned to value breathing. You will not be able to buy a place on another planet if you trash yours because we operate on a trust system - invitation only. And from what we've seen, wowsers, it's hard to know where to begin. Biological debt is real. Start there. Start saving up."
The Aliens:
"In terms of planetary biological debt you inherited a world from a bunch of spend-happy fools. There's enough left to save, but you've got to start right away, like yesterday."
The Aliens:
"We are trying to help you. When it comes to low impact invisible interventions we are the best there is. However... you are going to have to work to make this work. We are the inspiration, you are the man-power. It's better that way. Perhaps it is indelicate to say, but you're a paranoid bunch at the best of times and so greeting humanity in "person" is considered too high risk. You are also a large omnivore and the meat-eating has us worried because of your space-exploration desires. We don't allow animal-eaters to get into space, not deep space or the galactic community for obvious reasons. Anyhow, we have heard your distress, we have taken detailed witness statements, we have received a majority vote in favour of helping you, the creator clearly wants us to get this job done and we have banked enough karma to win. Odds are good as long as you all work hard."