I can dream, can’t I?

Listening to reports about the United Nations Climate Change Conference last month, my frustration mounted. 2007 temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were the hottest ever recorded and the amount of melting ice in the Arctic shattered records. But the decision-makers are like children squabbling over where to put home plate while the woods behind the outfield are on fire.

Marathon discussions, endless negotiations and talk, talk, talk. Science Daily reported that more than 200 leading climate scientists warned those at the conference “that if immediate action is not taken [to reduce greenhouse gas emissions], many millions of people will be at risk from extreme events such as heat waves, drought, floods and storms, with coasts and cities threatened by rising sea levels, and many ecosystems, plants and animal species in serious danger of extinction.”

We are out of time.

So I started to dream. In many of my dreams I have been appointed supreme ruler of the world. This dream is no exception. In my capacity as benevolent dictator, a responsibility which I do not take lightly, I hereby issue the following decrees to help rescue the living beings on planet Earth:

In order to drastically reduce CO2 emissions and immediately end our addiction to petroleum, the manufacture of all vehicles propelled by the combustion engine is outlawed. Factories will be refitted and employees retrained to produce only cars fueled by alternative, renewable energy.

In addition, all recreational vehicles, including ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, motorcycles and jet skis, will be banned.

To further economize, the personal car will be banished from all major cities. A convenient and complex network of electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles will be designed to transport no fewer than 10 passengers at a nominal fee.

The construction of new roads and parking lots will be abolished. Instead, all new housing construction must be done in conservation subdivisions, with houses no larger than 1200 square feet. Each subdivision must include a “town center” comprised of a small school, a library, a coffee shop, a computer center and convenience shopping within a 15-minute walk from any home. Bicycles will be available for public use at no cost.

All interstate highways will be transformed to accommodate monorail service. No one will have to wait more than 10 minutes for a ride. One car per family will not burden anyone because of this resurgence of readily available, inexpensive public transportation. In fact, people will willingly abandon vehicle ownership altogether, especially given the generous tax credit I am about to enact.

No new power plants or transmission lines will be built. Manufacturers will now create energy efficient appliances, and electricity will be generated at point of use. This means that NYRI will manufacture, deliver and install solar panels, small windmills and generators in all homes.

My dream and I get carried away, intoxicated with our imaginary power. Pesticides and herbicides will be outlawed. Monsanto will become an organic farming think tank, whose employees teach farmers how to grow organic produce and grass-fed beef.

As benevolent dictator, I will grant massive tax credits to small, sustainable organic farms and establish farm centers within a 100-mile radius of every town in the world. These small farms will specialize in growing produce and ethically raised animals (for those who have not converted to vegetarianism) and will ship food only within the 100-mile radius. One farmers market in each subdivision, open daily, will sell organic fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, cheeses and meats.

My dream goes on and on. Like all dreams, it isn’t necessarily logical, but like all dreams, it is something to strive for. What’s your dream for the future?

- Marcia Nehemiah