Foretelling Diaries, 2023

 (Haberci Günlükler)

  PDF:     https://drive.google.com/file/d/14MJpQkb4PiCu9mLLjEcwKDEfMi1f1ZVP/view?usp=drivesdk      

    Social and cultural values and beliefs held by different generations shaped their decisions, attitudes, and behaviors. The values of the past still reverberate today, informing our current lives and setting the stage for the future. 

In this book, four stories involving diaries from different periods offer insight into how values, beliefs, and ideas have been passed down through generations, giving us greater insight into the present and the future. Folly, greed, arrogance and violence are pervasive human traits that can bring the end of humanity. These traits can be traced throughout history, often leading to disastrous outcomes.The stories provide us with information about how the past - even prehistoric times - can influence the present and the future while rendering a more complete picture of humanity:

The Lottery

More and Better Things

The Cat with a MISSION

The Pit Trap 

      

     

THE LOTTERY 

March 30, 2230

Dear diary,

Today I celebrated my 180th birthday and I got a marriage proposal. Mr. Wright, who lives across the hall from me, asked me to marry him. I'll think about it. It might be fun to get married again. I don't know him very well. I only see him when he enters his cubicle. Despite being a virtual stranger, I can't help but feel excited about the prospect of marrying someone who is so romantic that he proposes marriage before he even knows me! Could it be love at first sight?

I don't know his age since we all live long but stay young with regenerating pills. I was fortunate to be born in 2050, just after scientists discovered the genetic code that extended human lifespan to two hundred years. The generation before us lived only for one hundred years. I didn't believe we'd live this long, but here we are!

Human lifespan is longer, thanks to technology, but there is a catch: people are stupider than ever because technology does their thinking for them. My neighbor Mr. Parker was stuck in his home today. His computerized home assistant failed to open the door and he didn't know how to open it either. He panicked and rang the alarm. Firemen came and simply turned the knob.

Especially children are confused and act stupidly when a simple task is required. When my niece was asked to turn off the tap, she spent several minutes searching for the 'off' button on the sink. More importantly, no one remembers how to do mathematical calculations.

My birthday party was terribly crowded. Since no one died in the last hundred and eighty years, I was able to invite all my relatives and old friends but we couldn't even move! Thousands of people crammed up and overflowed the streets. Many of them were too far away for me to see.

But I got some nice presents. A large potato, at ten thousand dollars per ounce, was the biggest one. I also liked the half grape and the quarter strawberry, which are extremely rare now. Very valuable gifts. Fruits and vegetables are now like jewels and people name their children "Potato", "Cabbage", "Tomato" and so on. But I won't have a party again because I can't handle the crowd.

When I told Julia that scientists were to blame for this overcrowding, she simply laughed. She is one of the scientists who are currently researching immortality, as if longevity wasn't enough! If they succeed, the world will be intolerably overpopulated. Julia just shrugged and said, 'Don't worry, we'll just have to invent teleportation!' She added, "I'm sure we'll figure out a way to make it work! Like, we'll just build more skyscrapers with cubicles, or something!"

Imagine the consequences of immortality when we are unable to handle even the problems associated with a two-hundred-year lifespan! We lost most plant and animal species after we began to live longer and consume more. I hope scientists can see the paradox! We will be immortal but we will starve to death because there will not be enough food for all. Only a planet with unlimited resources could handle an ever-growing population.

"If you want to be immortal," I said, "Leave behind a lasting legacy and a memory that will live on for generations."

But Julia wants to live forever. I wonder if that is possible. Even if it is possible, I can't imagine a world where everyone lives forever and the population keeps rising at steady birth rates. What's the point of living forever if you can't even move because of the crowd?

April 5, 2230

Dear diary,

My friend Julia - Dr. Elsburg - dropped by today and we had a long talk. She said, "Home accidents are rising. Fifty two people were injured while trying to put on their pants."

Julia has dedicated her life to unraveling the mysteries of the human mind. She's a renowned neuroscientist and one of the world's leading experts on intellectual decline. In 2220, she began to notice something troubling - people were starting to become increasingly reliant on technology for their everyday lives. They no longer had any sense of critical thinking or creative problem solving skills. In fact, they were becoming stupid in the absolute sense of the word.

At first, Julia thought it could just be a temporary phenomenon due to some unusual lifestyle changes being prevalent at that time, but as time passed things only got worse. By 2225, she was sure that civilization as we knew it was completely gone - people had become completely dependent on technology for every aspect of their lives, from eating food to navigating their way around town. Even basic tasks like shopping or cooking became impossible without access to electronic devices.

With increasing stupidity, people rely more and more on technology, and with more and more technology, they get worse. People are doing foolish things, like walking in front of traffic and getting run over. And they are reproducing like rabbits, so that the world population is now over two hundred billion.

Thanks to my parents, I don't suffer from brain atrophy. They were really just old-fashioned; they didn't believe in having any electronics in the house aside from a computer and a phone. I thought it was ridiculous, but I respected them. When I asked mom if we could do house chores using an appliance she looked at me like I was crazy and said no way! I tried to explain that an appliance would make the entire process easier but mom just wasn't having it. When I wanted to use a calculator she would tell me to use my brain. It wasn't easy, but somehow I managed to get everything done without any help from appliances and devices! So now I am a smart woman among fools - lonely and sad.

Julia says there is no turning back from stupidity. "What about cell-renewing pills?" I asked. She said stupidity was not about ageing brain cells, it was a behavioral trait that people adopted. There was a turning point in history, marked by the Industrial Revolution, when humans detached themselves from nature and began to rely heavily on machines and technology.

I said to myself: "That's when they began to lose their intellectual capabilities but they thought they were masters of nature. Nature then said, "Oh yeah? Let's see how long you last without me!"

Today, having lost their cognitive skills, people live by their instincts. Our impact on the Earth is more destructive because we are doing exactly what our prehistoric ancestors did by instinct: overeating and over reproducing - within a longer lifespan. So now plants and animals are on the verge of extinction. Soon we will be facing famine and starvation.

I tried to dissuade Julia from further extending the human lifespan but she wouldn't give up on her research. She said, "Technology has a momentum of its own. We can't stop it. Even if we abandon research in this country, scientists in another country will pursue the same topic."

April 10, 2230

Dear diary,

The neighbors told me that Mr. Wright had asked almost everyone in the apartment block to marry him, including Julia. He seems desperate to get married. It could be that he is lonely or it could be that he needs someone to take care of him financially. Whatever the reason, it appears that he is having a hard time finding someone who is willing to commit. No one accepted his proposal because he was not taking the time to get to know the people before asking them to marry him.

Julia says she can't bother with marriage because she's bored and tired of marrying too many times. Besides, she is engaged in exciting scientific projects that serve humankind. Indeed, when scientists extended human life, we were overjoyed. By the 2050s, scientists had also solved the major problems in the world. There were no more diseases or pandemics. Resources were extracted or produced at maximum levels, thus everything could be distributed fairly to all people. There was no more poverty or hunger. But then, people got bored. What was the point of living long if there was nothing left to do? So scientists had to invent new diseases and pandemics just to keep people entertained. Everything was perfect! Now, humans were shifting billions of tons of soil to make roads, build houses and mine ores. Farmland was consumed by growing cities. Mega cities and heavy industry used more water than ever. Leaders did not take any measures to observe the carrying capacity of the world and population growth trends became irreversible. 

With everyone living long and healthy lives, consuming everything they desired in unprecedented abundance, the world soon became a desert.

By 2150, overconsumption had resulted in the depletion of most natural resources and drastic climate change. We started to live in a hot, dry, waterless, forestless world.

At first, we believed that technology would find a solution to every problem. We purified and used ocean water when we ran out of water, we produced oxygen when the air got dirty, and we grew our food with vertical agriculture when the soil was depleted. But the population steadily increased. Millions of people were added to the world population every day because people instinctively reproduce faster to ensure survival in times of scarcity.

As vegetables, grains, and fruits became scarce, people tried to preserve some by drying or canning. Last year, the heads of the big states met for dinner. They almost started a war. It turned out that there were big fights between them over who ate the last dried eggplant!

April 15, 2230

Dear diary,

I recently tried a new cell-renewing pill, and the results have been incredible. My body feels completely rejuvenated, like brand new! I guess you could say I have some regenerative abilities now, just like some animals! I love technology. Something is invented every day.

Having a long life is good, but it is impossible to tell who is young or old. Thanks to cell-regenerating drugs, everyone looks young! Also, everyone gets married and divorced so many times that I don't know who is married to whom. I only know who I'm not married to. I am very selective in matters of marriage: I've been married only eighteen times, have forty children and seventy-five grandchildren. I cannot even remember the faces of my husbands that I married over a hundred years ago. I may have married some of them twice.

People get married, divorced and remarried several times, starting a new family every time. It is possible to have a child at any age, even at the age of two hundred. Fearing a marriage that will last over a hundred years, couples sign an annual renewal contract. Well, at least they don't have to worry about forgetting their anniversary date! If the couple is not satisfied with the marriage, they can choose not to renew the contract and go their separate ways without any legal hassles.

There is only one couple I know that has not divorced. Mr. and Mrs. Finch, who live in the next cubicle, have been married for 120 years. These birds, if I may say so, agree on everything so they have the most boring marriage on earth. In fact, having nestled together for such a long time they are so in sync that they don't even need to talk—they just chirp the same tune. A large number of their children have not left the nest, so the family is very noisy. The youngest ones, Robin and Woody, are especially naughty.

April 20, 2230

Dear diary,

I overheard Mr. Wright talking at the door today. He said, "All I want is someone to cook and do the laundry!" I couldn't believe it - the man I had believed to be a hopeless romantic wasn't looking for a soulmate, he was looking for a house maid!

Well, I'm glad I got away from this hypocritical man before he took advantage of me! What a callous attitude!

The world population has now reached two hundred and fifty billion, and everything is dire. To make matters worse, population growth shows no signs of slowing down. People reproduce like plants that scatter their seeds mindlessly. They follow the example of Stone Age people, whose behavior was based on instinct rather than rational thinking. Our ancestors, who were faced with starvation in the early stages of human history, used to eat whatever they could find because overeating was the only way to store calories. They ate at every opportunity, not out of greed but out of fear of famine and hunger. Also, they had many children to keep the human race going because few of the children survived the harsh conditions.

Today we don't need to overconsume in order to store fat for famine. We don't need to have multiple children in order to guarantee that one will survive. Our greatest folly is that we consume out of greed instead of need, and we multiply exponentially even though there is no need for extra population. In this modern age, we have access to resources that were not available in the past. This has allowed us to not only survive, but also to thrive. I am amazed at how people have lost their cognitive abilities so that they can't even think about this simple fact.

This level of population means resources are stretched to the limit. The future is more uncertain than ever. The price of longevity is living crammed up like this. How much longer can this continue? Why can't anyone stop this foolish behavior?

May 2, 2230

Dear diary,

Julia told me she would marry Mr. Wright. I couldn't believe my ears! "What?" I exclaimed, "Are you out of your mind? He is the last person any woman would want to marry! The selfish scoundrel!"

But Julia answered calmly: "Oh, I just want to make some observations and experiments on the archaic habits of the male of the species. I want to write an article on the similarities between the prehistoric cave man and modern man. Mr Wright is perfect for a case study, given his dominating and condescending attitude towards women."

"Well, whatever you do," I said, "don't make him immortal! History has had enough of this type of person."

The government announced today that ants, bees, spiders and roaches have become extinct because of poisonous chemicals - a result of industrial pollution.

June 1, 2230

Dear diary,

This morning Robin, the little Finch girl, went outside to play with her friends around the block. She wasn't too careful as she often is and stepped into a big puddle. As she tried to get her foot out of the water, she slipped and fell into the canal. Her friends ran away when they saw this happen, and Robin didn't have time to think about anything as she was sinking further and further down. Thankfully I heard her cry for help and was able to pull her out just in time!

I can't believe her friends ran away, even her brother Woody ran off leaving her alone. Stupidity can be dangerous.

When I told Julia about this, she said, "I'm not surprised. Each generation will be more stupid and irresponsible as genes accumulate these properties over time."

Indeed, I hear about people who drink bleach if there is no warning label on it saying "Do not drink!" and people who take thirty pills at once instead of one every day, so that they will get well sooner.

Living in the age of stupidity is becoming harder every day. I struggle to fit in but I can't find a single rational soul to communicate with. People are not only dumb but they are prone to use violence at the slightest sign of conflict, as they do not possess problem-solving capabilities. Even smart scientists like Julia are shortsighted; foolishly submerged in their research with no regard for its consequences.

Having a higher level of intelligence in a society of fools comes with a terrible price: one lives a solitary life rather than become a victim of the tyranny of the majority.

June 5, 2231

Dear diary,

Mrs. Finch said she was investing in precious vegetables. She thinks it's a clever move because the lettuce price forecast expects it to trade at eighty thousand dollars per ounce by the end of the month. The fool doesn't know that this only means we are running out of lettuce!

I wish people would stop monetizing everything and instead try to preserve natural resources. They often don't realize the consequences of their actions until they are faced with a crisis.

I remember how different the world was when we were kids in the 2050s. Back then, we had a lot of vegetables and fruits, and there were flowers, trees, and animals; we lived in houses with gardens, and even the smallest apartments were spacious. Now each of us is trapped in a tiny cubicle. The world has changed dramatically from a natural habitat to one dominated by concrete structures. Playgrounds, parking lots, recreation areas, and parks are gone, replaced by apartment blocks with thousands of cubicles.

Julia and Mr Wright got divorced after one year of marriage because it turned out that he was also experimenting on her. She became the subject of her own experiment. Mr Wright was using her to test his own theories about how women interact with a strong, dominant male. He was trying to prove his own theory that a strong and dominant male would be able to make a woman more submissive and compliant. He was wrong, Julia said.

July 6, 2235

Dear diary,

The government officially announced that all plant and animal species have become extinct. There are now only humans on Earth.

They should have taken the necessary measures to protect endangered species. The people thought that the government was run by smart people. They didn't realize that the government was actually run by a group of idiots who had no idea what they were doing.

We have invaded the natural habitats of all species of animals and plants. We should have understood that the planet is not only ours, but needs to be shared with other forms of life. We had to consider how our practices, be it reproductive or otherwise, were impacting the environment. There were extinctions in the past centuries too, due to climate change, deforestation and overhunting. However, species extinctions became much more rapid after 2050 when people began to live longer, to increase in number and to consume more.

Now there are no more animals or plants, no forests, and worst of all, nothing to eat. Our mistakes have pushed the planet beyond repair. It's too late now. Nature is lost. All this stems from the way we view the world, in which we consider ourselves the masters of the universe and everything is there for our benefit. Nature turned out to be the real boss just when we thought we were in charge!

We have forgotten what it was like to be in awe of nature and have lost our connection to the Earth. We took for granted the very things that once filled us with joy and wonder. There are no more animals, trees or flowers. There are no more rivers, lakes or forests, not even an inch of land. All of the earth is covered in concrete. We don't even have a piece of land to bury our dead. But then, nobody has died in the past 185 years.

I miss animals. They were so cute and lovely! I miss their gentle presence, the sound of their purrs and barks, and how easy it was to make them happy. I miss how I could rely on them for unconditional love and companionship. I miss how I could take a break from the world and just spend some time with them. I miss how they would always be there for me. But maybe it's good that they are all extinct because they were suffering immensely at the hands of humans.

February 10, 2240

Dear diary,

We are almost out of stored food. Faced with a threatening food shortage, our government asked people to eat only once a week. I expected an uprising but the people only responded by asking, "Which day?" And then, nobody could agree on which day to eat! So in the end, the government decided to let everyone eat whatever they could find "whenever they were hungry"!

We're always hungry as if we were a hunter-gatherer society before the Agricultural Revolution. But there is nothing to hunt or gather - except algae. As a last resort, we have started eating algae. I hate the taste. As for the Finches, they seem to enjoy their algae diet quite a bit. Mrs. Finch makes all kinds of dishes such as algae casseroles, algae frittatas, and algae stir-fries. She is the smart one, considering that one party is smarter in every couple.

I was hoping that we would be able to grow grains, vegetables and fruits again one day. But Julia says it is scientifically impossible to bring back extinct species of plants that we used to eat. Even if the plants had been stored in a seed bank, it is unlikely that the same species would still be viable after several years. Additionally, without proper environmental conditions, it would be impossible to recreate the exact species of plants. There is also the issue of space for cultivation as there is no land or any space for anything, for that matter.

Thankfully, algae are very versatile so that we can make all kinds of things with them. It is possible to create biofuels, dietary supplements, medicine and even cosmetics from algae. I made shoes, bags and clothes. Algae are abundant in the oceans, but at this rate, we will soon deplete them too.

March 15, 2240

Dear diary,

Mrs. Finch announced that they were expecting their one hundredth baby. She is one hundred and fifty.

People of all ages have children. Everyone is young, healthy and vigorous. Whenever they get old, they take a cell-renewing pill and become young again. Incredible advances in medical technology have enabled scientists to understand the body in ways that weren't possible even a few decades ago. In this way, science ensures that everyone is always able to enjoy the best of health and vitality! There is a large number of 190-year-old people in every country. 

Scientists have yet to create a pill that can make people smarter! Why can't people control their own numbers? They live in cubicles as small as a tree hollow and continue to breed in cramped living conditions as if there is a danger of extinction!

Scientists have extended the lifespan of humans, used genetic engineering and biotechnology to eradicate all diseases, created cell-regenerative pills to stop aging and keep everyone young and healthy, but could they not foresee the problems this would cause? And that's not all, they are constantly researching to achieve more longevity! Scientists are intelligent only within the confines of their area; they can't see further. 

November 19, 2245

Dear diary,

I'm sick of eating seaweed, but there is no other choice. I'm trying to make bread with seaweed flour. It tastes awful. They say there will be war soon. Apparently there is a pea left somewhere, and they will fight for it.

Why didn't the authorities take action before all plants, grains, vegetables, trees and forests disappeared? The lack of action taken led to the complete devastation of the environment, leaving us with a landscape of deserts where vibrant green forest and foliage once stood. I try to remember the beautiful colors and fragrances of flowers but it only hurts to remember.

June 15, 2246

Dear diary,

We lived in a shelter during the Pea Wars. In the past, the human population was reduced by wars, but now that doesn't work. A hundred million people died in the First Pea War, but within a week, a hundred million were born! Same with the Second Pea War. They couldn't find the pea in the first war so they started a second war. Rumor has it that a starving soldier found it and popped it in his mouth.

Despite the immense loss of life in the two Pea Wars, human populations were able to rebuild rapidly, due to extremely high birth rates. The planet has to accept that humans are here to stay! But at the expense of what? Our presence has come at the cost of irreparable damage to our environment and its inhabitants.

Wars devastated everyone. The entire region was in chaos and it was difficult to find a safe place to stay. I can't believe they started two world wars for a pea! I mean, I know it was a really valuable pea, but still! Probably the wars were fought to reduce the population, not for the pea. However, this method can not work: This is a matter of simple math. People live longer and multiply exponentially, so the population increases at an accelerating pace. 

December 1, 2247

Dear diary,

The government announced that they would declare a war on the first day of each month to keep the rising population in check, since there are no natural deaths. This month's war is between those who rise from the left side of the bed and those who rise from the right side. People think it's a good idea. Well, let them fight. I don't even know which side I'm on. 

Human intelligence, which can find solutions to everything, cannot rise above the reproductive drive which was once necessary for the survival of the species. People continue their traditional habits from the Stone Age and continue to multiply as if there is a danger of extinction. Despite advances in modern technology, humans are still driven by the same primal, instinctive needs as they were thousands of years ago. As a result, all land was taken up by people, no living space was left for animals, not even a single plot remained for agriculture. The human species invaded the earth. There are no other living species left. All this because of the insatiable greed of humankind! 

This generation has lived much longer than any other species. The increased longevity of humans has been a factor in the decline of other species, as humans have had more time to acquire and consume resources than other species have had. The only way out is that in 2250 people at the age of two hundred will die, when they reach the end of their lifespan. Only then will there be some space in the world. Natural deaths will reduce the population and everyone is looking forward to this.

January 4, 2248

Dear diary,

The government will allocate rations of algae. Rationing will be done according to the height and weight of each person. This means thin people will get less food and fat people will get more but everyone happily accepted this. They are very compliant and docile, as well as dumb, they accept everything the government decrees. They think that the government can make better decisions than they can.

But what will we eat when the algae is gone soon? Everyone asks this. There is nothing else to eat. There will only be humans. I feel terrible when I think about the possibilities. What if people propose to eat each other? This is an unthinkable, yet possible option. It was done in prehistoric times.

Scientists are trying to make food from plastic derivatives, but it would probably be difficult to digest. Well, one thing’s for sure: it will taste even worse than seaweed soup!

January 28, 2248

Dear diary,

Scientists have invented virtual production technology through chips in the brain. This technology allows people to have what they want and need without taking up any physical space, so they can live in a tiny cell-like cubicle yet still enjoy the luxuries of a palace! Brain chips create a false feeling of happiness by making people believe they can have anything they want. People can access resources they would never be able to afford in the real world, such as expensive cars, designer clothes, and luxury vacations, by using virtual production technology. This gives them a sense of instant gratification and satisfaction, even if the items they are accessing are not real. Everyone lives inside their own brain, and thanks to their chips, they get the virtual happiness they want. Real life is unbearable.

It has never been the desire of the masses to know the truth. They are easily controlled by those who supply them with illusions. As sad as it sounds, this is an eternal truth of humankind.

February 6, 2248

Dear diary,

The government invents a silly pretext to start a war every month. For example, last month's war was between those who like beans and those who don't and resulted in a lot of deaths. They also divide people according to their favorite sports teams or songs and give them guns and tell them to shoot those who don't share their views.

However, despite the frequency and seriousness of these conflicts, people continue to live and thrive, resulting in an ever-increasing population.

This month's war was started when someone made a joke about a sunny day being better than a rainy day, which led to a heated argument between the two sides and eventually a full-blown war. There were many casualties, but this did not result in a decrease in the population, as birth rates were even higher. It seems that people reproduce more at times of crisis to compensate for losses.

April 23, 2248

Dear diary,

The greatest monthly war occurred in March. Fifty million people died in the Fig Seed War, including thousands of my own family. They fought over what was inside a fig seed! Since they couldn't figure that out, they stopped fighting when both sides were exhausted.

I don't know any of my dead relatives - the families are so big now that no one knows anyone. Still I was very upset. Humanity must understand that the population does not decrease with weapons of mass destruction. Fifteen billion people were born within just one week after the war.

Isn't it funny how people used to strive to increase their population, but these days they must decrease it? In the past, it was necessary to increase the population because child mortality was very high. Besides, in ancient times more people meant more security and with the agricultural revolution they needed more field workers. Today, the conditions are very different. Why do people act irrationally when it comes to reproduction? Is it too hard to change traditional habits?

If we were in the twentieth century, this problem could have been solved with a world war or two, but now the population is so big and birth rates are so high that even when a million people die in a war, hurricane or earthquake, this loss is compensated for by a million new births in one day.

10 January, 2249

Dear diary,

Finally, what we feared came upon us. We ran out of seaweed. Rising ocean temperatures have caused a decline in the amount of algae available for harvesting. Of course excessive harvesting of algae also contributed to its depletion.

People are desperate for food now. Faced with the threat of famine, the government is taking measures. All available resources will be used to create foods with a long shelf-life. The state produced a standard food item made from whatever was left on earth, like grains, vegetables and fruits and this would be rationed for all people. People joked that the food would probably be made of rocks and dirt. But they ate it, their faces dropping in disappointment as it tasted like cardboard!

March 5, 2249

Dear diary,

As a last resort, the government has told people to eat their leather and woolen clothes which contain fats and proteins that can be digested.

Also the police will conduct a thorough search of all cubicles for any food items that people are trying to hide.

So we started boiling our possessions such as clothes and shoes. What can one eat when there is no food? Despite the joy virtual interaction brings, it cannot replace the need for nutrition - those who go without food are living in a dire situation, and the means to which they must resort to survive is heartbreaking. Children gnawed on plastic and got sick. Some tried to cook and eat wooden furniture. A whole family died after eating rubber tires.

Julia says they are working on a food supplement in pill form but raw materials are scarce.

April 14, 2249

Dear diary,

The government told people not to feed their kids. Most people were compliant but mothers with young children wouldn't accept. A mother was seen cutting off flesh from a dead body at a war site to feed her children.

We seem to be on the verge of starvation because we have destroyed everything. The human race multiplied irresponsibly, and as if that wasn't enough, they also desired longevity. Greed and ambition made humans invade the world at the expense of all other living things. And finally here we are, with nothing left on the planet except humans. Humans everywhere, on roofs, in apartments, on roads, under bridges, along subway tunnels… Like a swarm of locusts that has gorged on everything in its path, leaving behind nothing but barren landscapes.

Everyone around me says, "Someone has to die to make room for the next generation," but no one wants to die. There is a palpable sense of despair, and it's obvious that no one wants to make the ultimate sacrifice. In panic, people are trying every way to survive.

People are starving, with no food and no hope of finding food. They are scavenging for anything edible, no matter how unpalatable or inedible. Many have resorted to eating anything they can find, in an attempt to stave off hunger, even if it means eating something that could harm them. They are boiling and eating carpets, curtains, armchairs, tables. They are trying not to think about the grim possibility of cannibalism. People are doing everything they can to escape this horrifying prospect but it is a time of growing hatred, fury, and violence. People are becoming more and more desperate, feeling that they have nothing left to lose. They lash out in anger and frustration at any perceived threat, and violence has become more prevalent as a result. It is only a matter of time before violence escalates and the situation becomes even more dire.

The only hope is that two hundred-year-old people will pass away in 2250, bringing a sigh of relief to the world.

31 July, 2249

Dear diary,

Desperation has taken over. Tensions are running high as people will do whatever it takes to survive, even if it means resorting to violence.

There is only one year until 2250, when population growth will be balanced by natural deaths as has always been the case throughout history. Then maybe a new ecological equilibrium can be established. Agricultural production can start again when land is available and fertile topsoil is recreated. This will also bring about a renewed sense of hope and purpose for people, as for two centuries they have struggled with a lack of resources and limited living space. At the end of two hundred years, people can look forward to rebuilding their lives, societies, and economies.

But what shall we eat until then? It seems everyone is thinking about the same thing but it is so horrifying that they can't say it. I am very scared. My only consolation is that the two hundred-year lifespan is almost over. Then those who reach the age of two hundred like me will die. Having lived in such a world for almost two hundred years, I am not pleased with it. All I could look forward to was weird-tasting seaweed soup!

I think we have learned our lesson. Humanity might act smarter if given a second chance. It is not rational to live eternally, to want endlessly, to consume ever more, to multiply and spread all over the planet destroying all other living things.

I asked Julia whether they had found the secret of immortality. "No, not yet," she said. "But we found a way to extend the human lifespan to seven hundred years."

August 1, 2249

Dear diary,

The news shocked me, and left me petrified. We were all waiting for the two-hundred-year lifespan to end, but now scientists have found the gene that extends human life up to seven hundred years! By increasing the production of telomerase, the gene helps to slow down the aging process. This is the worst news I've ever heard. There is no longer any hope. If only they'd first found food to feed so many people!

I cooked my last pair of shoes today. The taste lingers in my mouth. I feel terrible things will happen soon. Without sufficient nourishment, these feelings of despair and hopelessness are only intensified. I knew the human mind's hunger for more would lead to disaster, and I fear that is where we are headed.

Humans have wanted to consume everything, living or nonliving. Now, some have begun to seriously consider eating each other - a prospect that no one could express openly before. They are discussing how to determine who will be food for others. Some suggest a lottery system. How could they even propose such a thing?

Human desire for more has caused us to disregard the value of life, pushing us to the brink of a catastrophic disaster. We have seen living creatures as nothing more than resources, to be used and consumed, rather than respected and protected. This disregard for life has led us to consider the unthinkable - using our fellow humans for food. It is a testament to the power of our desire for more and the depths of our depravity that we have reached this point.

January 25, 2250

Dear diary,

Julia is gone. Guards took her away. Apparently she lost the lottery. I am waiting for my turn.

I know that there will soon be chaos. Starving people can't wait for the slow lottery system to provide food. They will take the matter into their own hands and start slaughtering each other.

The reality of the situation has set in, and I can't help but feel like humanity's ultimate demise was inevitable. Somehow, humanity always wanted more of everything: to live more, to eat more, to consume more, to profit more… I don't know what caused this insatiable yearning for more, but it has brought us to our downfall. We have been pushing the boundaries of our planet to satisfy our limitless needs and wants.

Our greed has led us to where we are today: humanity has reverted to its savage past. Civilization was merely a dream that concealed our true nature. It is clear now that our darker side was always underneath, no matter how hard we tried to suppress it.

MORE AND BETTER THINGS

November 23, 2023

Dear diary,

Recently I bought a new car, a brand-new phone, and a pair of designer shoes. And then I thought, why stop there? So I went shopping today. I got some new clothes for winter, and I also found a few things for the bedroom. It was fun to pick out things that I liked, and I can't wait to show off my purchases.

I know that my husband wants me to look glamorous at all times. With environmentalist protesters outside his firm's building, I wanted to pick something that would make him proud and show him that I'm supporting him. My new wardrobe could give him a bit of confidence knowing that I'm standing with him through this trying situation.

I was so excited to finally find and purchase the fur coat that I had wanted for so long. This will be the perfect addition to my wardrobe, and I look forward to wearing it. A girl in the store was looking at me furiously, though. She must have been jealous of my find. Probably she wanted the coat for herself. Well, that's life.

Then I bought leather boots and a snake skin bag. With this purchase, my look is complete and I can feel confident in any setting. Animal skins are in fashion now and this look got thousands of likes on Instagram when influencer Babbie posted it.

Lisa says I am being frivolous but what does she know about the good life? All she does is read and write. I mean, why read about the good life when you can live it? I respect her though, because she is my oldest and closest friend. She was the smartest kid at school and she has been a mentor to me in difficult times. She has provided a great deal of emotional support and guidance over the years, especially when I lost my mother at a young age. Her intelligence and knowledge have been invaluable to me in many ways and I hold her in high regard.

November 25, 2023

Dear diary,

The environmentalist blobs on the face of the earth are as incomprehensible to me as they are crazy. I stood by my husband during the protest, wearing my new fur coat of course, but for some reason they were outraged.

They shouted that I was contributing to the destruction of the planet, and that I had no right to be there. Also they said I hurt animals. Why? I love the environment too. For instance, I recently made the switch to LED light bulbs - they look so much better in the crystal chandelier - and I'm passionate about eating organic food. As for my love of animals, I intend to buy the Ashera Cat, the world's most expensive cat breed, worth 22,000 dollars. I'll post a video of myself with the cat on Instagram, so everyone will see how much I care about animals.

Note to myself: I must plan the outfit I want to wear with the cat. Sunglasses, accessories, shoes and things.

December 10, 2023

Dear diary,

I am sure now that poor people are truly jealous of the lifestyles of the rich. My intention was to demonstrate my commitment to animals by sharing my purchase of the Ashera cat on Instagram. Of course this made me stand out from the average person who is not able to make such a purchase, which may make those same people envious. I am used to being envied for my lifestyle of luxury and abundance. But people made rude comments about wearing fur, being cruel to animals, not adopting from a shelter and so forth.

They also called my husband a greedy capitalist who had no respect for anyone. They think that my husband and I are taking advantage of people and living a life of luxury and abundance at the expense of others. However, this is far from the truth. My husband and I have worked hard to build our businesses and have done our best to ensure that our employees are treated fairly and that our products are of the highest quality. We have also given back to our communities through various charitable initiatives. My husband and I like to think of ourselves as the Robin Hoods of the 21st century—taking from the rich and giving to ourselves!

P.S. We named the cat "Kitty" because we couldn't think of a better name.

January 5, 2024

Dear diary,

Money was invented to be spent. So I spend. My husband doesn't mind, he knows I enjoy shopping. I like to be able to buy the things that I need and also the things that I want. I find it empowering to know that I can buy whatever I want. But sometimes I buy things I don't need and I can't even remember why I bought them in the first place! My husband just shakes his head and tells me I have an "expensive hobby".

Owning property and other goods makes me feel secure. The more goods I have the more secure I feel. It's a feeling like being well-equipped to fight a war. In times of economic hardship or unexpected circumstances, having money or other goods saved up gives me some assurance that I can take care of myself and my family. Perhaps this is why I always fear that I don't have enough.

Money is a form of power, and having money gives me the freedom and ability to do things I otherwise wouldn't be able to do. It brings me happiness like nothing else. For example, I recently bought a designer handbag that I had been wanting for months, and I was so excited when I got it that I just couldn't stop smiling!

Lisa worries that I may have deep unmet needs underneath my excessive spending. She thinks I surround myself with material items to fill the void of not getting my emotional needs met, such as feeling validated, secure and loved. My spending can be a way to try to get those needs met without having to ask for them directly.

Lisa asked me to join an organization that protects the environment. It's called Green Nature. My husband thinks it's a good way to silence the environmentalists. I accepted and will attend their monthly meetings. This is the trend now, everybody is joining environmentalist organizations.

January 30, 2024

Dear Diary,

I bought another pair of shoes today and now I have exactly three hundred pairs. Why? Because each one is different. I feel like each pair of shoes has its own unique style and character. I collect them because I enjoy how each pair can transform an outfit and express my personality.

Lisa says I am being extravagant and thoughtless. She is always criticizing me. This has started to be disturbing. I would rather have a friend who shared my joy. Lisa doesn't understand me. Everything I buy and wear adds to my personality. My possessions make me respectable and worthy. It's a way to express my personality and beliefs through fashion. Many people use clothes and accessories to communicate to the world who they are, and I am no different. Shopping and buying clothes is an important part of my identity, and it gives me a sense of pride and importance. I feel like my clothing choices represent me and give me a sense of self-worth. And when I'm feeling down, I just go shopping and buy something new - it's my version of retail therapy!

February 4, 2024

Dear diary,

I went to the meeting of Green Nature today. I wore a green suit for the occasion, to show my dedication to the cause. And green shoes. It was a bit of a stretch, but I think I managed to make a fashion statement about saving the environment.

I was given a test to calculate my ecological footprint. It turned out that if everyone lived like me, we would need twenty earths. I guess I need to invest in some eco-friendly shoes!

The group discussed how population growth was threatening the Earth's carrying capacity. I thought I must contribute so I said "More people, more products. A greater number of consumers helps the economy and economic growth because more products and services must be produced to satisfy their demands." They all yelled at me: "What about the environmental impact of population growth? If the population increases, more resources will be used, which can lead to the degradation of the environment, including air and water pollution, deforestation, and soil erosion."

But hey, at least we'll have more people to help clean it up!

Note to myself: Next week we will discuss ocean pollution so I must buy a blue outfit.

March 1, 2024

Dear diary,

My husband has decided to start a new line of cosmetics. His firm was producing cleaning products like soap and detergents but the new branch will do everything from perfume to cosmetics. There will be unforeseen products like new shampoos made from exotic animal oils and lipsticks made with the juice of a rare fruit found in the Amazon rainforest. He is currently in talks to create a new line of cosmetics made from rare alpine flowers, as well as a line of designer pet perfumes for specific breeds of cats and dogs. He believes that the cosmetics industry is an ever-growing sector and by diversifying his portfolio, he'll be able to create a more profitable business. He's also looking to capitalize on the trend of consumers buying natural and organic products, which have been growing in popularity in recent years.

I am sure that this new venture will help his firm expand into a wider market, reaching a new demographic of customers. I told him to create new products that may not be available anywhere else, as well as products tailored to specific customer needs. I suggested that the firm create a line of eco-friendly products with specialized features. He liked the idea very much. With this, we believe we will be able to improve our reputation among environmentalists.

March 10, 2024

Dear diary,

I took part in the design of the new line of cosmetics which we named "Kitty" after our cat. It became a great success soon after it was launched. We are now looking to expand the "Kitty" line to include new, innovative products that will take the beauty industry by storm. Skin care, hair care, nail care, body care and all that stuff. For instance, one of the products we are now developing is a ten-in-one shampoo and conditioner that is enriched with natural ingredients from the polar bears at the North Pole. This is something that no other brand has been able to offer before. We are confident that its combination of natural ingredients and polar bear-inspired branding will make it a hit among beauty enthusiasts. Why bear? Because bear fur can withstand harsh climate conditions. The natural ingredients in the shampoo and conditioner are designed to be as resilient as a polar bear's fur, allowing customers to maintain healthy hair even in challenging climates.

İ'm also planning to crete a new face cream named "Forever Young". It can be made with rare plants or animals on the verge of extinction such as the Argan tree, which is found only in Morocco, known for its anti-aging properties and becoming increasingly rare due to habitat loss. Or we can use the rare snow leopard's skin oils to make the cream. But we must hurry before they go extinct and disappear.

July 30, 2024

Dear diary,

Our sales are soaring worldwide! This success is very encouraging, and I'm eager to see how far we can go! A new Kitty Cosmetics product is created every day, and they are so unique that no other product can compare. For example, the new Mermaid Magic Lipstick is a shimmering aqua blue that changes color based on the temperature of the user's lips and it is made with a rare aquatic plant which is an endangered species. The ad says, "Be sure to buy Mermaid Magic Lipstick before it goes extinct!"

My husband told me it was a great idea to join an environmental organization. He is very supportive of their activities and donates large amounts. He's even gone so far as to plant trees and educate communities about sustainable living practices.

Lisa seems angry. She says we produce unnecessary goods and we increase their number and variety, all for the sake of more profits. She said we are overusing resources and this is not a sustainable economy. Whatever...

September 20, 2024

Dear diary,

I took over the firm after my husband died of a heart attack last month. He was exhausted because of the hard work. Although I told him we had enough money and he should rest, he wouldn't listen. He kept pushing himself to the limit, until his heart could take no more.

I want to honor his legacy by creating something that he was passionate about - well, I am passionate about. I'm planning to start a new brand of shoes and boots. It will be called "Kitty's Shoes" or better yet, "Puss in Boots". We had discussed the idea for some time and he was so excited about it. I'm sure he would be proud to know that I'm taking his idea and making it a reality.

I must not overwork though. I need a makeover after that disastrous night when he died. Friends tell me I look tired and worn out. I now need to find a way to restore my appearance and confidence. I could start by treating myself to a new wardrobe and a new hairstyle.

November 25, 2024

Dear diary,

We are moving into the fashion industry! My dreams have come true! We have access to a world of possibilities, with a global market that has the potential to reach millions of people. We can use the latest technology and materials to design unique and stylish clothing that will appeal to a wide range of customers.

The public is never satisfied with what is available, wants something new and different, wants variety, and always demands more and better things. For instance, people may buy the latest smartphone, only to find that they are unsatisfied and quickly want the latest model.

Lisa says capitalism survives by inciting terrible wastefulness. She argues that the fashion industry encourages planned obsolescence, where clothes are designed to go out of fashion quickly, so that people will buy more in the future. And then there are people who buy the same clothes twice because they forget they already have them! True, I often do this.

Lisa said capitalism is fueled by consumerism and the continuous production of goods and services. To sustain this system, there needs to be a large population to consume goods and services. So capitalism both wants to increase the number of people and also makes people greedy so they will buy new things instead of reusing and recycling.

I replied, "So if you’re looking to help save the economy, go ahead and buy that new car you don’t need!"

Lisa lectures me on every occasion. It's getting on my nerves. I often think back to the days when Lisa and I were best friends. We had such a strong bond back then. How did we come to have such different personalities when we grew up? I can't help but feel a tinge of sadness that our relationship has changed so dramatically. I wonder if her feelings for me have changed because I married a rich man. Is she jealous?

February 18, 2025

Dear diary,

I decided to start a new fur fashion line using the rarest animals in the world. Fur being a symbol of wealth and a marker of status, I think the richest and highest elite deserve the best. So we will use the Amur Leopard, the Sumatran Tiger and other exotic animals. By using the rarest animals in the world, I am creating a product that is truly one-of-a-kind and exclusive. This will set my fashion line apart from the others, and will result in a luxurious product that will appeal to the highest elite. After all, if you've got it, why not flaunt it — especially if it's rare animal fur?

April 20, 2025

Dear diary,

The fur line was met with criticism from environmentalists who argued that it was unethical to use animal fur for fashion. They also argued that it was not sustainable and was putting an undue strain on the environment. Our intention, however, is to continue with it. It is a highly profitable and lucrative business. Besides, we are not killing the animals, we are only using their fur after they were killed by other people. So no one can accuse us of being animal abusers or murderers.

Lisa will not talk to me anymore. She said the fur industry was the utmost cruelty. Well, I am sick and tired of her criticisms. I know that she is a highly intelligent and sensitive person but I need a friend who supports and encourages me in my ventures, not someone who accuses me of animal cruelty and yells at me all the time! It's heartbreaking to think that our friendship has been destroyed over something like this, and I need someone who shares my values and also knows how to be a true friend.

June 21, 2025

Dear diary,

I hired a team for research, development and innovation. It seems nothing can ever be enough for me, so I always try to come up with more and better products. To ensure success, we will keep innovating and developing new products to meet the ever-increasing demands of the market. Fortunately, the world population is growing so that there is a large number of consumers ready to buy whatever we propose - or impose. I'm sure I can always count on the world population to keep up with my products, no matter how unreasonable they may be! Knowing that there is a large number of potential buyers can provide a great incentive to keep innovating and developing new products. With more consumers, companies have the potential to maximize their profits by having a larger market to sell to.

The majority of the population, however, does not have the purchasing power of the elite. Therefore, we must produce cheap products in large quantities. I have an idea about accessories made from rare exotic plants. For instance, we could make trinket boxes from rare Brazilian rosewood, or jewelry from the wood of the African blackwood tree. We could also create handbags from the bark of the African Wawa tree, or wallets from the endangered East African sandalwood tree.

June 22, 2025

Dear Diary,

Bad news! We are faced with a major challenge. We must act quickly and efficiently if we are to move forward. The new Earth Protection Party seems very popular and will probably win the election. Their goal is to reduce environmental destruction by restricting production and consumption. It looks like our days of living like kings are coming to an end.

This could have major implications for our businesses and a major impact on our economy, as restrictions on production and consumption would limit the profits of companies and lower GDP growth. The party also intends to take measures for population control. This could lead to a decrease in the working population, raising the cost of labor and resulting in fewer people producing goods and services, further reducing economic growth.

What is wrong with these environmentalists? They want to ruin the economy! They argue that humans are not the center of the universe. These nitwits must be stopped, and we must make them realize that humans are indeed the most important beings on earth. We'll make them a big sign with the words: "Humans: The Center of the Universe!" That'll show 'em!

But then again, cats might disagree.

Of course humans are the most intelligent species on Earth and therefore superior to other creatures. They deserve to be privileged. Humanity must make sure that nothing is left on earth that it has not utilized for its own purposes. After all, everything was created for us. It is our responsibility to ensure that we use all of the resources this world has to offer to their full potential. Human desire for a better life has no limits, so we must continue to innovate in order to create goods and services that can improve our quality of life.

June 25, 2025

Dear diary,

I saw in the news today that Lisa had been elected leader of the Earth Protection Party. I hadn't seen her for a long time, so that's what she was up to!

Lisa had always believed in environmentalism, studied environmental law and when she heard about a new political party that was campaigning to protect the environment she knew she had to join. I'm not surprised that she became the leader: Lisa had the perfect combination of skills to lead the party in their mission. Her knowledge of environmental law, her charisma, and her passion for the cause made her the ideal candidate to lead the party and fight for the environment.

June 30, 2025

Dear diary,

We held a meeting today with the executives of a group of business firms to discuss how we could try and get the environmentalist party banned from entering elections. I could see that they were all concerned about the fate of their businesses.

They were worried that if this party got a strong enough foothold in the government, it would be difficult to give up the progress they had made over the years. They knew that if the platform of the party got enough votes, it would be hard for them to continue making money without polluting the environment.

The Earth Protection Party was founded on the premise that humans are damaging the environment with their economic activities and that we need to take steps to address this problem. The executives of the business firm didn't like this idea one bit. They wanted politics to be about solving problems, not about pointing fingers or making finger-pointing speeches. They also said they must correct their own image as business firms and acquire an environment-friendly reputation.

The group decided that they would work together to create negative publicity for the party, and convince the state not to endorse them. They also planned to use their money and power to influence voters so that they would not cast their ballots for this party. If they could stop this party from getting into power, they believed that things would stay the way they are now - environment friendly yet still profitable for business.

They decided to hire a private detective to investigate the party leader's past and hack her emails, hire fake protesters to disrupt events hosted by the party, and spread disinformation about the leader in order to discredit her. I remained silent as the person in question was Lisa, who had once been my best friend. I knew that they would find nothing bad in her past.

September 10, 2025

Dear diary,

The private investigator reported to the meeting of the executives today. He said there was nothing illegal or unethical in Lisa's past.

"I've done a thorough search including her childhood and her family. There's nothing," he said.

John Grawdy, the CEO of an oil firm, replied sarcastically, "Really? Tell us about her life."

"When she was five, she was offered candy by a neighbor and she accepted it."

"That's a bribe! She accepted a bribe!" shouted John and made notes.

"When she was in high school she rescued a dog from an abuser and adopted it."

"Theft! Obviously she stole the animal." John noted.

"In college, she joined an animal rights group and…"

"Ha! I should have known," John interrupted. "Joining radical organizations and taking part in illegal activities!" He made notes.

The PI continued:

"She started practicing law as an attorney. She defended a student who had been wrongfully accused of drug dealing."

"There!" shouted John. "She was involved in drug dealing. Furthermore, she had a relationship with a criminal!"

John rose from his seat with a contented expression on his face.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said. "We have all the evidence we need to bring down Lisa Miller. We will process this information. But this is not only a matter of taking down one person for they will promptly find another leader. We must discredit the environmentalist ideology. We will say the party is extremist and dangerous, that it wants to take away everyone's rights. Environmentalism is just a fad, anyway."

I admire the professionalism of these people. They know what to do in a time of crisis. I think it's a brilliant idea to start a campaign attacking environmentalism and promoting our own political ideologies. For the good of humanity, of course.

October 7, 2025

Dear diary,

In just a few weeks, our group had put together some slick ads accusing environmentalists of being hypocrites because they claimed to care about the environment but still drove Hummers and wore designer clothes. The ads got plenty of attention; it didn't matter how untrue these accusations were - what mattered was that it worked. It was the perfect example of how you don't need to be honest to be successful — just be sneaky!

The business firms decided to ruin the political career of the party leader Lisa Miller by discrediting her. They used a combination of false stories in the media, as well as smear campaigns and false witness testimonies, to create an image of the leader as untrustworthy and dishonest. They wanted to make sure she was no longer in a position of power. By discrediting her, they hoped to ensure that her political career was destroyed and the party would be weakened.

The firms paid several journalists to write false stories about Lisa, claiming that she had taken bribes from their business rivals and that she had lied about her credentials.

To further damage her reputation, the businesses even hired a team of online trolls to spread rumors and discredit her on social media platforms. The trolls even went as far as creating fake social media accounts and using them to post false allegations about the leader's involvement in illegal activities. For instance, one troll account posted an article alleging that the leader of the Earth Protection Party was linked to money laundering, although there was no evidence to support the claim. People readily believe these!

In return, Lisa campaigned to outlaw business firms from running campaigns in elections. She argued that businesses should not be able to use their financial resources to influence election outcomes because this could lead to a situation where businesses could control the government and the policies it makes, instead of the public having a say. She argued that allowing businesses to run political campaigns would give them an unfair advantage, as they would be able to use their resources to influence the outcome of elections. She also argued that businesses are not accountable to the public, so they cannot be trusted to act in the public's best interests.

Lisa remains determined to fight, but I think eventually her party will be banned from running in the elections. The business world is more powerful.

October 30, 2025

Dear Diary,

Lisa came to my office unexpectedly today. She looked different. Her face was drawn and pale. She did not sit.

"Do you know what hurt me most?" she said. "You, the person I deemed my best friend, joined the pack of rascals who were spreading lies and slander about me. You knew that none of their accusations was true but you didn't stand up for me. I could have stayed strong if you had been on my side but I was left alone."

"Yes, it was betrayal that felt the worst," she lamented sadly. "I thought you'd be my ally, but you chose to remain silent, leaving me to face the libels on my own. I never thought you'd turn your back on me like that."

She continued with a trembling voice:

"They even accused me of child abuse!"

I listened to her without saying a word. I could tell she was in shock and disbelief that someone would make such an accusation. She had tears in her eyes. It was clear that the accusation had deeply hurt her.

"You did this for money," she continued. "You have enough money to last you a lifetime but you want more."

She added:

"You have known for years how much I value my cause and how hard I work." Indeed I knew she had devoted so much of her life to this cause.

"Your greed ruined not only my life but the future of millions of people. I will never forgive you."

As she was leaving, she turned around for a last word:

"And I did not have an affair with your husband!"

"I know," I said hurriedly, trying to comfort her, but she had already gone.

December 25, 2025

Dear diary,

The crisis is over. The Earth Protection Party has been taken care of. They cannot be in politics ever again. We arranged a campaign to show the public that economic interests are more important than the environment. After months of lobbying, the government finally agreed to pass legislation that would make it illegal for the Earth Protection Party to hold political office. This new legislation was backed by a large coalition of economic interests, who argued that economic growth and development would be hindered if the Earth Protection Party was allowed to come to power. The coalition argued that the Earth Protection Party's strict environmental policies would lead to decreased economic growth, higher taxes, and fewer jobs. They also argued that environmental regulations would make it difficult for businesses to operate, resulting in fewer profits and higher costs for consumers. The coalition was able to persuade the government to pass the legislation and the Earth Protection Party was officially disbanded.

Lisa said to the press, "I will make a last warning before I leave. Shortsighted arrogance leads people to believe that they are the masters of the universe so they feel entitled to use all resources for their benefit without consequence. This attitude leads to a disregard for the environment and the other living beings with whom we share the planet. Arrogance also allows people to justify exploiting and abusing resources that are not renewable. As a result, habitats are destroyed and species are pushed closer to extinction. If we continue to consume and pollute our environment at the current rate we will deplete the natural resources that are essential for our survival, leaving us with nothing but ourselves."

But nobody listens to Lisa anymore, after all the rumors that tarnished her image. She left the country to continue her work elsewhere.

We have overcome the threat posed by environmentalism. This has been a huge victory for the economy and it is something that will benefit humanity for generations to come. As I always say, humans are the best and deserve the best!

With the crisis averted, I'm now free to explore the rapidly evolving field of electronics and artificial intelligence. Actually, I will not leave any area unconquered. We must do everything possible to improve the human condition. I'm excited to see what the future holds!

.

THE CAT WITH A MISSION

January 15, 2000

Dear Diary,

On my way to work today, I saw a cat trapped high up in the branches of the old oak tree in the lawn. I had no idea how O could help her. She sat motionless on a branch like a beautiful statue of Basset, the Cat Goddess, looking down on her worshippers.

After several minutes of trying to come up with a plan, I was ready to give up. That was until I remembered that cats always land on their feet! So I just decided to let the cat jump down by itself.

I was late for work. As I was telling everyone about the cat, the boss came in. "May I ask why you were late this time, Miss Porter?" His voice was extremely cold. Before I could say a word, Betty snapped. "She was trying to take down a cat from a tree," she said with a giggle. This made me look so silly in front of everyone! The boss said, "Miss Porter, we expect our employees to be serious and punctual, rather than wasting their time with cats."

None of the people in the office cared about the cat. To them, it was like she did not even exist, she was so unimportant and unworthy. I was planning to ask Tom for help. He was an athletic type who could climb trees. I thought he wouldn't refuse. If he helped, I would accept to go out with him - he had asked me many times. But I was appalled by his answer: "Of course I can climb a tree," he said. "But I can't waste my time on a cat."

 Tom said he would gladly rescue humans but he wouldn't bother about animals.Then the whole office got into a discussion about animals. Tom said humans are superior to other species and animals were created for the benefit of humanity. Everyone agreed.

"We have the right to use animals and plants as we like because we are more intelligent. We can use animals and plants for food, shelter, clothing, and other purposes," he said. "But we don't climb up trees for cats!" 

In the heat of the discussion I learned that he was hunting and trapping wildlife for sport.

When I returned home in the evening the cat was still sitting in the tree. I can see her now from my window. Strange, I never saw this cat in our neighborhood before. She is a big brown tabby with a fluffy tail. She is beautiful. I can't take my eyes off her. Her mesmerizing gaze captivates me as she sits with a graceful pose on top of the tree.

But I have a lot of work so I can't spend time with a cat now. After I finish office work, I intend to start writing my novel. My true passion lies in writing, not in a menial secretarial job. As regards the cat, I don't care much about animals anyway. It will be up to her to figure it out on her own.

January 16, 2000

Dear Diary,

As I was going to work this morning I saw the cat sitting in the tree again. She had been there all night! I felt sorry for the creature so I put down some food near the tree. I had to hurry to work. I hoped she would come down from the tree by herself.

In the evening I asked my neighbour for a ladder. He looked at me as if I was very strange, trying to rescue a cat from a tree. "Miss Porter," he said. "There are more important things to do in life than play with cats." I explained that the cat was stuck up in the tree and had been there for hours, and I needed the ladder to help get her down. The neighbour, somewhat reluctantly, agreed to lend me the ladder and watched as I attempted the rescue. However the cat was so high up in the tree that it was impossible to reach her even with a ladder. "Maybe you should call the fire department," the neighbour suggested. "They'll be able to get the cat down safely." I nodded and sighed. "I guess it's worth a shot," I said.

I tried to start the novel in the evening but I didn't know what to write about.

January 17, 2000

Dear diary,

It's weekend so I don't have to go to work and I can deal with the cat. She is still up in the tree. I hesitated before calling the fire department but I had to. When they said, "How can I help you?" I sheepishly replied, "Sorry, sir, it's just a cat stuck in a tree!" After explaining the situation, I was taken aback when a disappointed voice told me that fire departments prioritize responding to emergency calls involving human safety and property. I listened in embarrassment: "We don't serve animals ma'am, you can call animal control."

The animal control people said they don't rescue cats from trees because cats can perfectly come down by themselves. But this cat was too scared to come down and had been stuck there for two days. I knew I had to find a way to get it down myself, so I decided to call a tree service. Fortunately, they had a truck with a long ladder. However, the cat was sitting on the highest thin branches and they could not reach her. I then remembered that I had a fishing net in my garage. I went back inside and retrieved it. But they were not able to throw the net over the cat because of interfering branches. After a few tries the tree service left.

All I could do was put some food down at the base of the tree before I went to bed.

Also, I did some research on cat behavior and animal rescue operations. Apparently there are experts with special techniques to save cats from trees!

January 18, 2000

Dear Diary,

This morning the cat was still there. I called the Animal Protection Society for help. They sent a young woman named Elsa who volunteered for rescue operations. She was very kind and gentle and she tried to lure the cat down with a piece of cat food. She explained to me that the Animal Protection Society has been helping cats and other animals in need for many years, and that she was glad to be part of the team. She talked to the cat for hours but the cat wouldn't move. At the same time she was telling me the stories of her rescues. Elsa's dedication to her work was evident; she stayed with the cat for hours, talking to it and trying to persuade it to come down, all the while sharing her own experiences with me. As the cat remained perched on the tree, she left to help other animals, saying she would send another volunteer, Tim, who was a friend of hers.

I was very impressed by Elsa's enthusiasm for her work. She showed a real commitment to her purpose, and her passion for helping animals was clearly evident. She was willing to spend hours on one animal and then move on to help another, without any expectation of reward or recognition. Her dedication was truly inspiring. It made me wonder if I could become like her. I had never felt like this about my job!

Tim came to help in the afternoon. He was a graduate student studying animal behavior and he seemed to be knowledgeable about cats in particular. He was literally a cat expert and had done research on animal behavior, so he was able to come up with creative ways to try to get the cat down. He tried different techniques to coax the cat down, including making cat sounds, playing cat videos, and using cat toys. He threw a rope up the tree and tied the other end to a cat carrier. Then he pulled the rope sending the carrier up, right next to the cat. We waited and waited but the cat would not enter it. She was sitting dutifully on the branches as if she was on a mission.

"She must be hungry by now," I said. Tim replied, "No, she is probably hunting birds and eating their eggs, too."

Having exhausted ourselves in vain for hours, we decided to go out for dinner. It was during this dinner that I learned about animal rights, human arrogance - and Tim.

He spoke passionately about the need to recognize animals as sentient beings, deserving of respect and protection, rather than viewing them solely as resources to be exploited. He argued that we need to move away from an anthropocentric view of the world and embrace a more holistic worldview; and we need to understand that the rest of the animal kingdom has just as much right to their lives and their habitat as we do.

I found out that he was a vegan! He was deeply concerned about cruelty to animals. What a caring and sensitive soul!

So we had a vegan dinner. It was fun and delicious.

During dinner he talked excitedly about his projects. He had written an article that would be published in a highly esteemed journal. Being a writing fan, I listened to him with interest. As he was talking, ideas were forming in my mind about my novel. But he didn't know that.

He wanted to create awareness about the importance of animal rights. He was particularly opposed to anthropocentrism - the belief that humans are superior to all other creatures and have the right to use nature for their own benefit. He said this arrogant belief has become deeply entrenched in modern societies, and it continues to shape our view of the world and our actions within it.

I asked, "I wonder when humans started to adopt their arrogant attitude towards nature?"

He said, "Aristotle's hierarchy of living things, which suggested that humans had dominion over all other creatures, is believed to have been the basis of this attitude. As the idea of human supremacy spread, it became more and more entrenched in the belief systems of the cultures of the time. Eventually, it became a widespread worldview, with humans believing that the world revolved around them and that they were the most important beings in it."

I said, "I don't think so. This belief likely originated much earlier than Aristotle, with the development of agriculture in Mesopotamia. Maybe even earlier in the Paleolithic Age humans began to be arrogant when they invented their first tools. They started to think they were the supreme masters of nature as they were using sticks and stones. That is, after the dinosaurs disappeared. Of course they could not propose this when dinosaurs were around!"

Tim continued, "Maybe. Human arrogance led to disregard for the rights of others. Those with anthropocentric views regard animals as objects, rather than living creatures with feelings. Factory farming, animal research, and other practices cause immense suffering for animals. We must recognize that animals are sentient beings, deserving of our respect, compassion, and protection. Anything less is unacceptable."

I asked him: "What can I do to help animals in the face of all this cruelty? It seems to be institutionalized and socially accepted, no matter how brutal. The idea of animal rights will not be easily embraced by the average people who make up the majority of the population."

"One way to help is to support organizations that work to protect animals, like wildlife conservation groups and animal rights organizations. Also, you can reduce your own consumption of animal products and be an advocate for animal rights by speaking out against animal cruelty and encouraging others to do the same."

It looked like a new chapter was starting in my life.

As we parted, Tim gave me a copy of his article which was in his car.

January 19, 2000

Dear diary,

I used to think that humans are the most intelligent and superior creatures on earth because they have the ability to think and reason, as well as the capacity for complex emotions, which no other species has. But not anymore.

Now I know that other species are also sentient creatures. Last night I read Tim's article. It was well written and articulate. I was enlightened about the Earth and all living things and our place in it. He wrote with respect and empathy, demonstrating that the rest of the animal kingdom has just as much right to their lives and their habitat as we do. As I was reading it, I came up with several ideas of my own that I could write about in my novel.

I realized that despite making great discoveries in food, transportation, communication, energy, electronics, genetics and other fields, humans continued to use and abuse animals for their own benefit and comfort. Although today's technology is so advanced that we no longer need animals, the traditional understanding of animal use has not been abandoned, on the contrary, cruelty to animals has reached much larger scales in industrial farming, the fur industry, chicken farms, research laboratories, and live animal trade. The human brain has created tortures ranging from sheep shearing machines to mink farms, from slaughterhouses to zoos, horse races, bullfights and circus shows but it has not reached the level of respecting animal rights. This is because human nature is just as selfish, self-seeking, greedy and insensitive today, as it was in the Paleolithic Age. Only a small minority with developed mental and emotional capacities have reached the level where they can respect the rights of other living things. 

Obviously Tim is one of those rare people with high emotional intelligence who struggle to survive in a society with a dominant majority of mediocre people. I had read somewhere that in every society, a few highly talented and gifted individuals have provided the lead for progress throughout the history of human civilization. These are the leaders who ensured the development of humanity, even if their value was not appreciated in their own time. They are determined to break free from the confines of this stifling world, refusing to accept society's archaic standards and archaic expectations.

This morning Tim came again to check on the cat. However he seemed more interested in seeing me than the cat because he was asking me questions like whether I had a boyfriend, whether I lived alone and so on. He didn't worry much about the cat who was lying comfortably on her branch and looking down on us like she was an empress of some sort. Tim seemed to be blushing as he asked me questions and the cat just kept purring in the tree like she was enjoying the show!

Then Tom came with a big electric axe in one hand. He had changed his mind about helping cats in distress. He stopped for a moment, looking at Tim. Then he yelled at me, "I'll cut down the tree if you want!"

"No, no!" I screamed. I didn't want to lose the great oak tree. We started to protest against the idea of cutting the tree, but Tom was adamant about it. He argued that cutting the tree down was the only way to save the cat, as she was too far up in the tree to be safely rescued. Tim said it wasn't necessary to cut the tree, the cat would eventually come down. Tom argued that the cat had been stuck in the tree for three days and it was getting restless and agitated. He feared that the cat might jump down and get hurt in the process. Tim was not convinced. He felt that the cat was safe enough in the tree and that cutting it down was an excessive measure, but Tom held his ground. Tim felt that three days wasn't a long enough time for the cat to be stuck in the tree to warrant cutting it down, and that the cat would eventually come down on its own. Tom, on the other hand, argued that three days was long enough and that the cat could get hurt if it attempted to jump down. He also felt that waiting any longer posed a risk to the cat's safety. The two disagreed and with no resolution in sight, the disagreement quickly escalated into a fight.

Two grown men fighting over a cat?

Watching them, I realized they weren't fighting over the cat, but over me. Tom was big and muscular, Tim was intelligent and sensitive. Tom was stronger and taller than the other, but he looked angry and violent. Tim seemed gentle and calm, but it was clear that he had skills that could be dangerous. Tom was facile with his fists; he had a lot of strength. Tim wasn't as big but he was much smarter. He could think ahead and strategize better than Tom. But that didn't mean Tom couldn't fight; he just wasn't as deadly with his fists. I had to decide quickly and put an end to the fighting.

I didn't want either of them to get hurt, so I screamed "Stop! You are both my friends! I don't want you to fight!"

In the end, Tom and Tim both agreed to walk away, each one understanding that the other had strengths and weaknesses that they could not match. Tom was physically stronger while Tim was more strategic, and they both saw that they had to respect each other.

Tom left. I admired Tim more now. He might not be able to physically overpower his opponent, but he clearly had brains and strength of character that could help him get through tough times.

Tim said he and Elsa were going on a rescue operation and asked me if I would like to join them.

I can't believe what happened later. I joined them and we rescued five puppies abandoned in the woods!

We had to trek through the woods for hours and it was exhausting but worth it when we finally got to the puppies.

There were five of them, about two months old, terrified to be separated from their mother and very hungry. It was heartbreaking to see them desperately cry in search of their mother. They were clearly relieved to see us and I felt their trust in humans as we held them in our arms.

We brought them back to safety and now they have a chance at a good life. It was a very rewarding experience. But more importantly, I offered to foster one of them until a home could be found. And I don't think I can part with him. His name is Buddy.

January 20, 2000

Dear Diary,

I didn't go to work today.

I went out at least ten times to check on the cat. I was desperate now after having made so many futile attempts to bring her down safely.

I hadn't managed to get the stubborn cat down but in the process, I had become a fully educated animal rights advocate. Little did I know that my attempts to rescue the cat would make me an expert on the topic - I could now lecture the whole world on animal rescue techniques! Within five days I had read up on animal welfare laws, studied the behavior of cats, and I had learned about animal rights and how animals were abused in factory farms, laboratories and other industries. I had become increasingly aware of the plight of animals and the need for urgent action to protect their rights. I had determined to use my knowledge to help not only this cat but all animals by writing a book on animal rights and human wrongs. My mind was now engaged with questions like: Why are humans so cruel and ruthless toward animals? What makes people so violent that they can commit atrocities against animals and each other? I had joined a local animal rights organization and would work to bring awareness to the community about the need to protect animals from abuse. I had adopted a puppy. I had even started to think about changing my job - which I hated.

And I had met Tim. He opened my eyes to a whole new world and inspired me to research and write about animal rights and human arrogance. It looks like we have a lot to share in the future. The cat had changed my life.

At six o'clock I left the house to attend the meeting of the local animal rights activists with Tim. Perhaps I could find somebody there to rescue the cat. As I was walking to the car, I looked at the tree to check on the cat one more time. With bewildered eyes, I watched her skillfully glide down the tree, judging each step with expert precision, skipping elegantly from branch to branch, before jumping to the ground and running off without a scratch.

 THE PIT TRAP

Sunset, Cold Season

Dear Cave Wall,

I don't know if anyone will ever understand what I'm trying to express with these drawings but I must tell our story. I will do my best.

I will not tell the story of how we banded together to fend off wild animals or how we managed to survive a particularly harsh winter when food was scarce. Those are stories told by elders over the fire every night. I want to tell you why we became aggressive, cruel and violent; because I am afraid that in the future people will regard us as savages who have no feelings.

The incident that made me do this was my encounter with a tiger today, which left me in the impossible situation of having to choose between being human or beast. But first, let me tell you how I learned to make these signs and drawings on the cave wall.

One night as everyone was talking about their day over the fire, one of the hunters said he discovered a cave with a lot of drawings on its walls. He said the drawings were very old and conveyed some sort of message but he couldn't understand their meaning.

I was a very curious young girl. I went there the next day. I walked out in the morning with the other women to gather food and I left the group secretly to find the cave. It was indeed very old, probably abandoned because of a flood, as it was on low grounds. The walls were intact and fully covered with drawings from one end of the cave to the other, and from top to bottom. I was amazed at the large variety of signs and pictures that were obviously trying to tell something important. Someone who had lived generations ago had told his story and I had to solve the puzzle.

I sat there for a whole day trying to figure out the meaning of the drawings. Towards the evening I had put the pieces together. This was a sensitive soul from among our ancestors sending a message to the future. He had made drawings every day and marked each day with an O sign to denote sunrise. When he didn't like something, he had crossed over it with an X.

Here is his story:

O

"It's morning. It all begins again. Every day is the same: We go hunting, kill animals, cut them up and bring the meat to the cave. There is no meaning to life other than eat and breed and try to survive. "

O

"I lost my mother to a cave lion when I was a child. It was an enormous animal. It was such a quick kill with one blow of its claw that my mother didn't even know what happened. Then in front of my eyes, the lion tore up my mother's body with big sharp teeth in a few seconds. I remember how my father got mad and killed the lion with many spear strikes. I cried for days. Then I noticed a little lion cub that was crying for his mother, just like me. His mother had killed my mother but I did not have any feelings of revenge. He and I were suffering the same pain and I knew what he was going through. So I took the cub to a place where he would find another lion mother."

O

"I noticed today that I am different from the other men in the tribe. I don't like hunting. They enjoy killing animals and laugh at their pain."

O

"The wise old man pointed to me and said, 'This boy is very intelligent. In fact, he is the most intelligent person I have ever seen.' I don't know how he reached this conclusion. I try to act like the other men in the tribe. The only different thing I do is scratch drawings on the cave wall with a sharp ended stone. The others don't understand the meaning of these drawings. They have no idea what these symbols stand for."

O

"I go hunting with the other men and pretend to act like I am hunting. I hold in my hands nothing but a stick and a sharpened stone while the other men have spears and big clubs. They laugh at me because hunting a mammoth with such rudimentary tools is a foolish endeavor. Actually, I don't want to kill the animals."

O

"I don't want to go hunting. There must be other things to life. The women are gathering so much food that there is no need to hunt, anyway."

O

"The tribe is unsure how to deal with predators as they are larger, faster and more powerful. They are led by a wise elder, who knows that the only way to defeat the predators is to use their own methods against them. He instructs the people to be more violent and cruel than the predators - to do whatever it takes to protect themselves as this is their only chance of survival."

O

"The hunting group becomes more cruel every day. In the past they began by fighting predators with weapons made of stone and wood. But this was not enough; they had to become more violent than the beasts in order to defeat them. The tribe employs tactics such as cutting off the animals’ legs or arms in order to render them immobile, poisoning their food sources, or setting traps for them in their habitats. This is wrong. I don't want to be part of it."

O

"A woman was assaulted by a bear and all the men went out to save her. But spears and arrows were not good enough so they started to sharpen stones and attach them to the ends of the spears and arrows to create sharper and more powerful weapons. This allowed them to hunt for food more efficiently and effectively protect themselves from predators."

O

"Obviously, humans had to become ever more violent and evil in order to survive in a wild environment as they found more ingenuous ways to defeat or hunt animals. For instance, they developed techniques to build traps that would ensnare an entire herd of animals, to quickly and efficiently kill them all in one fell swoop. As people began to become more creative with their weapons and strategies, they were able to become more successful at hunting and protecting themselves. But this was the start of a cycle of violence."

O

"Sometimes we go hungry for many days. Hunger compels us to use our resourcefulness to create new tools and weapons to hunt. Through trial and error, we develop ways to become more efficient and successful in our endeavors. For instance, we developed bows and arrows to kill larger animals from a distance and snares to capture small animals without expending too much energy. Over time, we will pass these skills and knowledge down through generations."

O

"I guess you could say we evolved to outwit, outplay, and outlast. We developed weapons and methods to catch prey, and our ingenuity provided us with the ability to create tools. We also developed strategies to stay safe from predators, such as forming packs and using distractions to create diversions. We had to be as cunning and crafty as the predators if we were going to survive, and it was through our own intelligence and perseverance that we succeeded. To fight predators, we learned to use fire, build fortifications, and create weapons to defend ourselves. We also developed ways to hunt in packs, and use tactics such as surprise and deception to outsmart our opponents. Before us, early humans banded together to use fire as a tool to protect themselves and ward off predators, giving them an edge over the competition."

O

"Some of the men are trying to domesticate wolves. They choose the most docile wolf cubs. I wish they would leave the animals alone. They are wild animals that need to be free."

O

 "Increasingly I feel like an outcast. Group members oust away anyone who is different. I know why they do this: when they are all alike they are better able to communicate and cooperate. This is essential for the survival of the community."

O

"It is time again for the ritual of human sacrifice. They offer something of great value to higher beings to ensure the success of hunters and to ward off disasters like earthquakes. They pick pure and innocent children or girls for sacrifice. This time it is the most beautiful girl in the tribe. From the time when I first saw her, I had planned to live with her in a distant cave, far from this tribe of fools. Here I draw her so you can see how beautiful she is."

O

"They are preparing the site for the ceremony. The wise old man says the victim is killed for the benefit of the tribe. She will sacrifice her life so that her people will be protected from disasters, disease and starvation.

I think it is the fear of death that makes them kill and eat their own kind. They think that consuming the brain and heart of the victim will make them immortal. Actually everyone knows this is not true."

O

"They placed the girl in a small chamber in the cave. It was an easy job for me to take her away after everyone slept, as they did not expect such an act. No one opposed human sacrifice before.

I hid the girl in a hollow among the rocks, quite far from the cave. I will bring her food tomorrow."

O

"Secretly I bring food to the girl every day. I am going to take her away to a much farther place where they can't find us. Tomorrow we will go."

O

"I found her dead body today. She was killed brutally. They had searched and found her among the rocks, and conducted the ritual of human sacrifice at the spot. Her skull was broken apart and her chest was ripped open.

Are we part of a cruel and savage nature? If we are, why do I have feelings that go against nature? If this is a world of carnage what is the place of love, mercy and compassion in it?"

O

"I am going away but I know they are going to find and kill me. They think I am a threat to their survival. I don't care anymore. So be it.

It was lonely and miserable to be wise among fools."

The drawings on the cave wall ended with these words. I don't know whether he got away or he was killed.

Sunset, Cold Season

Dear Cave wall,

I was shaken and intrigued by the sad story of the ancestor. I don’t know how long ago he lived. He was a young man, more intelligent and sensitive than his peers and he could not tolerate the violence of his era.

We don't do human sacrifice anymore. We have a ritual where we offer a part of the prey to a higher being that provides food and prosperity. Dancers mimic animals in the ceremony trying to increase their fertility.

Our life is a hard one of scavenging and hunting. We stick together to survive, but even then, life is often difficult. The first word we learned to speak was "Run!" The most pervasive feeling among us is fear.

We use our wits and creativity to survive in a harsh and hostile environment. Most of our children die because of hunger or wild animals, so we try to have as many children as possible to keep our numbers constant. This is a natural way of ensuring that our species will survive through generations as we pass on our knowledge and wisdom. By having more children, we increase the chances of at least some of them surviving to adulthood. We live and raise our children in tree hollows or caves, wherever it is safe.

The human instinct for survival has been ingrained in our species since the beginning of time. This instinct is stronger in the face of the dangers of the wild. We live in constant fear of predators, who are relentless and have an unquenchable thirst for flesh. Monstrous predators such as the saber tooth tiger, the big cave bear, giant birds, hyenas and crocodiles prey on us.

A while ago, as we were gathering food and participating in everyday activities, a pack of wolves descended upon us. We lost many women, children and older people. We were terrified and began to panic as we knew the animals would come back for more. We had been taken aback because we had no weapons or tools to use against a large pack of wild animals. A wise old man, however, thought of an innovative way to fight back. He shouted instructions on how to set up traps using rocks and sticks.

We followed his directions and set up several traps all around the cave before retreating to safety. When the wild animals arrived the next day, they got caught in the traps one by one until eventually, there were none left. So we kept the traps always ready for other attacks. This approach protected us from future attacks. Also, by covering some pits with branches and leaves, we created an additional layer of protection that could prevent any remaining animals from entering the cave.

It was in one of these pit traps that I saw the tiger. She was trying desperately to get out of the deep pit, to no avail. Her front limbs had been broken when she fell, and she looked weak and small. I felt sorry for a moment because I could feel her agony but I left her there to die and I returned to the cave, her cries of distress echoing in my ears as I walked away. I didn't tell anyone. But I keep thinking about her.

Sunset, Cold Season

Dear Cave Wall,

I went to the pit in the morning. The tiger was there, still trying to get out and crying. This was not the fierce roar of a formidable tiger, it was rather the begging wail of a suffering creature. Then I heard shrill squeaks and I saw three little cubs who had come near the pit to their mother's voice; they were also crying, looking down into the pit. It was a heartbreaking scene. The mother tiger was obviously desperate to find a way to get to her cubs and was using her cries as a way to call them to her. The cubs responded to their mother's calls, but were unable to help her as they were too small. I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the cubs as they desperately sought their mother's comfort. They were crying out of worry, fear and confusion, trying to understand why their mother wouldn't come to them.

Initially I didn't think about helping the mother crawl up. She might hurt me. Even if she didn't hurt me now, these animals would come back in the future to attack our people. I was worried about the safety of my tribe and the potential for retribution. It seemed better to let the mother and her cubs continue on their own so I collected the little cubs and threw them into the pit one by one. They quickly snuggled up against the mother and she stopped crying. She licked them and she tried to embrace them with her broken limbs. The reunion of mother and cubs was an emotional scene and being a woman myself, I could almost feel the same sentiments that the animal felt. With a heavy heart, I had to turn away and leave the family together, knowing I had done the right thing. Tears came to my eyes but at least I had reunited mother and cubs before they all died in the pit.

Sunset, Cold Season

Dear Cave Wall,

I thought the tiger must be very hungry by now as she is nursing three cubs in the pit, with no food or water. So today I took her a piece of meat from yesterday's hunt. Of course I was very careful not to show anyone.

The tiger devoured the meat and continued to nurse her babies. As I watched her I felt a mutual understanding of one another's feelings: A strange bond had arisen between us. I could see the interconnectedness of all living beings and that we are all part of the same world.

I wish we didn't have to kill this family. The needs of animals are understandable to me, and I can empathize with them. They seem to experience the same emotions as we do: fear, pain, love…

I have always been drawn to animals, and it feels natural to me to nurture them. It is in my nature to care for and protect creatures that are weaker than myself. I believe that humans have a unique innate capacity for empathy and compassion, which easily extends to non-human animals. This, I believe, is an essential part of being human. But my kindness and empathy towards animals is a revolutionary idea for the Stone Age. I go against the generally accepted rule that animals are to be feared and killed because they are dangerous. This sets me apart from the rest of the tribe and their traditional beliefs.

My compassion towards animals is seen as a threat to the way of life in the Stone Age, which is largely based on hunting and gathering. I sometimes hear the tribe's elders muttering about how strange I am.

The traditional attitude towards animals is best reflected in the words of the wise old man: "We are able to fight off bigger and faster predator animals only because we behave as savagely as they do. Our fight-or-flight instinct has helped us survive in the wilderness. We have to match the ferocity of predators to protect ourselves. This speaks to our primal nature. Without our primal instinct and violence we would have been vulnerable to the threats of a hostile environment."

Sunset, Cold Season

Dear cave wall,

Today I did something that went against all tradition and put my own life in danger, too. The hunting group was going after a group of deer and I followed them. I saw the beautiful animals that were a wonder of nature: the big, strong males with magnificent antlers, the elegant, graceful females and the little fawns - with their red coats, huge brown eyes and long lashes they were the loveliest creatures on Earth! It was the sweet innocence of the little ones that knocked my brain off and as soon as the hunt began, I hastily screamed and made loud noises with rocks and sticks. I scared off all of the deer and let them escape uninjured. I had acted instinctively to protect animals from harm. Ultimately, I had helped save many deer from being killed.

But the men were mad at me for spoiling their hunt. They almost killled me. In the Stone Age, violence towards women is routine behavior among men: many women are brutally killed in caves as a result of daily violence. Low-intelligence people resort to violence because they lack problem-solving abilities; they simply destroy the troublemaker. But when they were about to kill me, the wise old man stopped them and said, "Don't kill her. We need women to make children."

Sunrise, Cold Season

Dear Cave Wall,

I don't know what to do to help the little tiger family. The cubs are so cute. I wish there was a way to let them out. They could then go away and live in the deep forest. How can I help the tiger and its cubs climb up the pit? I must find a way.

Last night I asked my older brother who is in the hunting group to tell me about their hunting methods so that I could learn how they take out large animals from pits. He told me how they hunt mammoths in detail and I listened patiently.

"The most successful hunters use tools like spears and snares to trap mammoths and then use clubs to kill them. This technique is cruel but it allows us to hunt mammoths with much greater success and reduces the chances of attack. It also allows us to carry the mammoth meat back home with greater ease.

With increasing experience, we were able to create weapons such as spears and bows. This gave us the ability to hunt animals from a distance and with a greater degree of precision and safety. As we became more adept at hunting, we also developed more effective ways to trap and kill animals such as building pits, snares and deadfalls. This allowed us to kill large animals such as mammoths with minimal risk. As our hunting and trapping skills improved, so did our ability to stay safe from wild animals and provide for our families and communities.

Another technique that we use is to drive a herd of mammoths off a cliff. This allows us to quickly kill a large number of mammoths with minimal risk. This technique enables us to feed our communities more efficiently and effectively than ever before."

My brother told me several hunting stories, but, he said they never take out an animal live from a pit. They kill them with clubs and spears first.

Sunset, Warm Season

Dear Cave Wall,

Today I found the solution. When I woke up it suddenly dawned upon me that I could place big rocks and stones in the pit, so as to make a kind of ramp. This would create a gradual pathway that the animals could easily climb up without any help. Also I could descend a log into the pit so that the tigers could crawl up. This way, I could save them without having to get into the pit myself. The mother would not attack me because she was too weak by now. She could hardly walk with broken limbs. She would probably try to escape, crawling into the forest where she would recover and her legs would heal. She could raise her cubs in a safe resort inside the forest.

So I happily ran along with a big piece of meat. But when I approached the place where the pit had been, I saw that the landscape had been totally changed. It was now a flat area. Rocks had been rolled down and soil had been filled into the pit so that earth and rocks covered the tiger and her cubs. No more voices were heard. It was clear that the men of the tribe had been working together to make sure the tiger and her cubs were trapped beneath the rocks and soil. This was likely done to protect the tribe from any potential danger that the tigers might pose.

I realized then that the males of the tribe must have been secretly following me for days. Males are excessively preoccupied with security. All they think about are threats and dangers. I don't blame them because it is in their nature to safeguard their community. It is instinctive for males to take the lead in protecting their family and tribe. This is why they are more vigilant and alert to potential dangers. So they had been keeping an eye on me for the past few days.

They probably did what was best for the safety of the community. But still I am very sad.

Sunset, Warm Season

Dear Cave Wall,

As an afterthought, I came to the conclusion that humans are simply selfish creatures who survive at the expense of other living things.

It is true that we protect and help each other in times of need. Yes, it's a good thing we've evolved into a tribal society capable of solidarity and cooperation or else we'd all be eating each other! One would think that we have managed to rise above our animalistic instincts, allowing us to build relationships with each other and form a well-mannered community. One would think that we genuinely love and respect each other. Actually, it is for security reasons that we have good relations with each other in our own community. We can stand against a predator or against starvation only collectively. We need each other. This is why we protect each other. We regard all foreigners and all animals as threats to our own tribe and we join forces to fight against them.

Whatever the reason, our capacity for kindness and compassion, in spite of our animalistic past, is a testament to our ability to overcome our instincts and choose paths of cooperation and understanding. This is a remarkable achievement but it should not be taken for granted. Our kindness disappears when times are tough, and we become more vicious than wild animals. We can even sacrifice some among us for the good of the larger community, as shown by the ceremonies of human sacrifice. In times of stress, fear, and scarcity, we tend to become even more selfish and are willing to do whatever it takes to survive. This can lead to a disregard for individual rights and even a willingness to put others at risk to ensure our own safety. Humans can violate each other's right to life in dire times. They show no respect for other humans, let alone animals.

I am sorry that it was not possible to be kind to the tiger family in this age of violence. This is a wild world. I tried to show you the brutal environment in which kindness tries to flourish. Ahead of my time, I am like the tiger in the pit trap, caught in the ruthless web of idiocy, unable to escape the primitive cruelty that surrounds me, but I believe that one day human ingenuity will find a way to accomplish its goals without harming other living things. Humans are part of nature so they act like animals. If times change in the future and people rise above nature, they can be humane. But they must free themselves from the patterns of behavior set in our age.

Our age is the Stone Age. We think we need to be strong and dominant to survive. Our intellect has made us find ever more efficient methods of dominating animals and controlling natural forces. Dominating and controlling others is evil and disrespectful. If the environment had been a peaceful place where all living things respected each other and lived in harmony, we would have been a kind, humble and gentle species. Our need to survive and thrive in a hostile environment meant that we had to outsmart and overpower animals and nature. This often involved cruel and violent tactics and ever more fierce weapons to ensure our success. We were forced to become evil by the harshness of the surrounding environment.

What gave us a huge advantage over other species was our intelligence which enabled us to create tools and weapons to hunt and to protect ourselves more efficiently. We were able to think ahead, plan, and strategize. This is what made us the apex predator on the planet, giving us dominion over all the other species that were not as intelligent or creative.

In the future people can create a world where everyone's rights and interests are protected, including animals. A world where everyone is respected and valued. But this is only possible if fears are eliminated.

Fear is the root of all evil. Our lives were spent in constant fear, we were always on guard, terrified of starvation or of freezing to death and petrified in shock and horror when confronted by gigantic monsters. Therefore, our need for security eventually outweighed our capacity for kindness, leading to a culture of violence and dominance. We needed to assert dominance to protect ourselves which led to further violence and aggression. The general acceptance of violence as a means of protection led to humans perpetuating and normalizing violence in their social interactions as well. Violence has been ingrained in our culture and has shaped our behavior. Our need for security was the root cause of our culture of violence. This is our story.