People from the Future

I’ve been thinking about how life will be for people in the future, many generations from now when the earth’s resources have been depleted.

Early in the autumn last year we had a blackout in our area, a very rare happening. It was a strange experience - when I looked out through the windows it was completely dark all around accompanied by an eerie silence.

Made me wonder how the people of the future will live without any electricity, gas and petrol. I’m trying to picture life without cookers, fridges and washing machines, heating and cooling systems, PCs, TVs, phones, cars, trains and planes. How will people cook their food, how will they keep warm, how will they earn a living? What will happen to shops, offices, schools and hospitals?

I’m reminded that some people already live life with very little use of electricity. People like some relatives I have in India. The few days I spent with them last year in their village opened my eyes to a different way of life. Practically everything was home grown, from the wheat to rice and even spices like turmeric. They have their own water supply and milk. Cooking is over a clay stove using fire wood from the fields. The crops they grow are also their source of income. Sure, things would change for them too, they wouldn’t be able to use their tractors if there were no diesel, but then they already know how to farm without one and are happy to get around by bicycle. They have a very independent and self-sufficient way of life. Things don’t grind to a halt when there’s no electricity, they can still cook food, keep warm, wash and earn a living. I wonder if they are the people from the future …