Forever Earthbound
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Grandpa's Ghost

10/8/2018

0 Comments

 
        “What the…?!?   Grandpa Tennessen?  It’s great to see you!  What’s it been, almost 50 years?  What’s that…go for a ride?  You bet!

       “Yep, you don’t hear the engine because we’re riding in a hybrid car.  The electric motor is powering the car with batteries charged by the solar panels alongside our house. 

        “You won’t believe the changes in transportation since you’ve been around!  Back then the dream was two cars in the garage with V-8 engines under their hoods.  Today, my three children’s families (your great-grands, all successful and in their 30s) own just 2 cars altogether!  And people in their 20s these days, drive about 20% less than their parents did when they were that age.

        “Part of the reason is that the population is shifting more and more to urban areas.  Now, about 4 of every 5 Americans live in cities.  We rural folks in Iowa County don’t notice some of the many transportation changes taking place in the cities.  But many city folks are tired of fighting traffic, paying for parking and owning an expensive piece of equipment that sits idle perhaps more than 90% of the time.  One estimation predicts that in 10 years U.S. car sales will fall about 12 percent. 

        “For many folks, a new option called ‘ride-sharing’ through companies like Uber and Lyft is easier and less expensive than owning a car.  Worldwide, nearly a billion people are choosing these types of services.  Many car companies are anticipating declining vehicle sales, so they’re investing in ride-share and similar alternative ways of providing transportation.

        “And those of us who still need to own vehicles have cool options like this hybrid car we’re riding in.  Before long fully electric cars will be commonplace.  By 2020 GM plans to produce more than 20 different electric vehicle models; Ford will have 40 by 2022!

       “These are good trends, Grandpa.  You see, we’ve learned that we can’t keep pouring combustion engine fumes into the air we breathe.  It makes us sick and even affects weather patterns.  Using clean energy sources and reducing the number of all types of vehicles will help.  Someday, when I come back to visit my retirement-aged grandchildren like you have, I hope to find them living healthy lives on a vibrant planet.  After all, this is the only home they’ll ever have.  We’re all here forever…Earthbound.”  
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm interested in the topics of sustainability and climate change especially in regards to our local area in southwest Wisconsin.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

    Categories

    All
    Carbon Fee And Dividend
    Carbon Sequestration
    Climate Change
    Extreme Weather
    Health
    Local Food
    Lymes Disease
    Mercury Pollution
    Renewable Energy

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.