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TheMiddleEasternBazaar
TheMiddleEasternbazaartakesyoubackhundreds-eventhousands-ofyears.
TheoneIamthinkingofparticularlyisenteredbyaGothic-archedgatewayofagedbrick
andstone.Youpassfromtheheatandglareofabig,opensquareintoacool,dark
cavernwhichextendsasfarastheeyecansee,losingitselfintheshadowydistance.Little
donkeyswithharmoniouslytinklingbellsthreadtheirwayamongthethrongsofpeople
enteringandleavingthebazaarTheroadwayisabouttwelvefeetwide,butitisnarrowed
everyfewyardsbylittlestallswheregoodsofeveryconceivablekindaresold.Thedinofthe
stall-holder;cryingtheirwares,ofdonkey-boysandportersclearingawayforthemselvesby
shoutingvigorously;andofwould-bepurchasersarguingandbargainingiscontinuousand
makesyoudizzy.
Thenasyoupenetratedeeperintothebazaai;thenoiseoftheentrancefadesawayand
youcometothemutedcloth-market.Theearthenfloor;beatenhardbycountlessfeet,
deadensthesoundoffootsteps,andthevaultedmud-brickwallsandroofhavehardlyany
soundstoecho.Theshop-keepersspeakinslow,measuredtones,andthebuyers,
overwhelmedbythesepulchralatmosphere,followsuit.
OneofthepeculiaritiesoftheEasternbazaaristhatshopkeepersdealinginthesame
kindofgoodsdonotscatterthemselvesoverthebazaaninordertoavoidcompetition,but
collectinthesamearea,sothatpurchaserscanknowwheretofindthem,andsothatthey
canformacloselyknitguildagainstinjusticeorpersecution.Inthecloth-market,for
instance,allthesellersofmaterialforclothes,curtains,chaircoversandsoonlinethe
roadwayonbothsides,eachopen-frontedshophavingatrestletrestletablefordisplayand
shelvesforstorage.Bargainingistheorderofthecay,andveiledwomenmoveataleisurely
pacefromshoptoshop,selecting,pricinganddoingalittlepreliminarybargainingbefore
theynarrowdowntheirchoiceandbeginthereallyseriousbusinessofbeatingtheprice
down.
Itisapointofhonourwiththecustomernottolettheshopkeeperguesswhatitisshe
reallylikesandwantsuntilthelastmoment.Ifhedoesguesscorrectly,hewillpricetheitem
high,andyieldlittleinthebargaining.Theseller;ontheotherhand,makesapointof
protestingthatthepriceheischargingisdeprivinghimofallprofit,andthatheissacrificing
thisbecauseofhispersonalregardforthecustomerBargainingcangoonthewholeday,or
evenseveraldays,withthecustomercomingandgoingatintervals.
Oneofthemostpicturesqueandimpressivepartsofthebazaaristhecopper-smiths'
market.Asyouapproachit,atinklingandbangingandclashingbeginstoimpingeonyour
ear.Itgrowslouderandmoredistinct,untilyouroundacornerandseeafairylandof
dancingflashes,astheburnishedcoppercatchesthelightofinnumerablelampsand
braziers.Ineachshopsittheapprentices-boysandyouths,someofthemincrediblyyoung
-hammeringawayatcoppervesselsofallshapesandsizes,whiletheshop-ownerinstructs,
andsometimestakesahandwithahammerhimself.Inthebackground,atinyapprentice
blowsabi-,charcoalfirewithahugeleatherbellowsworkedbyastringattachedtohisbig
toe—theredofthelivecoalsglowing,brightandthendimmingrhythmicallytothestrokesof
thebellows.
Hereyoucanfindbeautifulpotsandbowlsengravewithdelicateandintricate
traditionaldesigns,orthesimple,everydaykitchenwareusedinthiscountry,pleasingin
form,butundecoratedandstrictlyfunctional.Elsewherethereisthecarpet-market,withits
profusionofrichcolours,variedtexturesandregionaldesigns-someboldandsimple,
othersunbelievablydetailedandyetharmonious.Thenthereisthespice-market,withits
pungentandexoticsmells;andthefood-market,whereyoucanbuyeverythingyouneedfor
themostsumptuousdinner;orsitinatinyrestaurantwithportersandapprenticesandeat
yourhumblebreadandcheese.Thedye-market,thepottery-marketandthecarpenters'
marketlieelsewhereinthemazeofvaultedstreetswhichhoneycombthisbazaar.Everyhere
andthere,adoorwaygivesaglimpseofasunlitcourtyard,perhapsbeforeamosqueora
caravanserai,wherecamelsliedisdainfullychewingtheirhaywhilethegreatbalesof
merchandisetheyhavecarriedhundredsofmilesacrossthedesertliebesidethem.
Perhapsthemostunforgettablethinginthebazaar;apartfromitsgeneralatmosphere,
istheplacewheretheymakelinseedoil.Itisavast,sombrecavernofaroom,somethirty
feethighandsixtyfeetsquare,andsothickwiththedustofcenturiesthatthemudbrick
wallsandvaultedroofareonlydimlyvisible.Inthiscavernarethreemassivestonewheels,
eachwithahugepolethroughitscentreasanaxle.Thepoleisattachedattheoneendtoan
uprightpost,aroundwhichitcanrevolve,andattheothertoablind-foldedcamel,which
walksconstantlyinacircle,providingthemotivepowertoturnthestonewheel.This
revolvesinacircularstonechannel,intowhichanattendantfeedslinseed.Thestonewheel
crushesittoapulp,whichisthenpressedtoextracttheoil.Thecamelsarethelargestand
finestIhaveeverseen,andinsuperbcondition-muscular;massiveandstately.
Thepressingofthelinseedpulptoextracttheoilisdonebyavastramshackle
apparatusofbeamsandropesandpulleyswhichtowerstothevaultedceilinganddwarfsthe
camelsandtheirstonewheels.Themachineisoperatedbyoneman,whoshovelsthelinseed
pulpintoastonevat,climbsupnimblytoadizzyheighttofastenropes,andthenthrowshis
weightontoagreatbeammadeoutofatreetrunktosettheropesandpulleysinmotion.
Ancientgirdersgirderscreakandgroan,ropestightenandthenatrickleofoiloozesoozes
downastonerunnelintoausedpetrolcan.Quicklythetricklebecomesafloodofglistening
linseedoilasthebeamsinksearthwards,tautandprotesting,itscreaksblendingwiththe
squeakingandrumblingofthegrinding-wheelsandtheoccasionalgruntsandsighsofthe
camels.
(fromAdvancedComprehensionandAppreciationpieces,1962)
NOTES
1)ThispieceistakenfromAdvancedComprehensionandAppreciationPieces,compiledfor
overseasstudentsbyL.A.HillandD.J.MaypublishedbyOxfordUniversityPress,HongKong,
1962.
2)MiddleEast:generallyreferringtotheareafromAfghanistantoEgypt,includingthe
ArabianPeninsula,Cyprus,andAsiaticTurkey.
3)Gothic:astyleofarchitectureoriginatedinN.Francein11thcentury,characterizedby
pointedarches,ribbedvaulting,steep,highroofs,etc.
4)veiledwomen:SomeMoslemsusetheveil-moreappropriatelythepurdahtoseclude
orhidetheirwomenfromtheeyesofstrangers.
5)caravanserai(caravansary):intheMiddleEast,akindofinnwithalargecentralcourt,
wherebandsofmerchantsorpilgrims,togetherwiththeircamelsorhorses,stayforshelter
andrefreshment
Hiroshima-the"Liveliest"
CityinJapan
JacquesDanvoir
“Hiroshima!Everybodyoff!”ThatmustbewhatthemanintheJapanese
stationmaster*suniformshouted,asthefastesttrainintheworldslippedtoastopin
HiroshimaStation.Ididnotunderstandwhathewassaying.Firstofall,becausehewas
shoutinginJapanese.Andsecondly;becauseIhadalumpinmythroatandalotofsad
thoughtsonmymindthathadlittletodowithanythingaNipponrailwaysofficialmightsay.
Theveryactofsteppingonthissoil,inbreathingthisairofHiroshima,wasformeafar
greateradventurethananytriporanyreportorialassignmentTdpreviouslytaken.WasInot
atthesceneofthecrime?
TheJapanesecrowddidnotappeartohavethesamepreoccupationsthatIhad.From
thesidewalkoutsidethestation,thingsseemedmuchthesameasinotherJapanesecities.
Littlegirlsandelderlyladiesinkimonosrubbedshoulderswithteenagersandwomenin
westerndress.Seriouslookingmenspoketooneanotherasiftheywereobliviousofthe
crowdsaboutthem,andbobbedupanddownre-heatedlyinlittlebows,astheyexchanged
theritualformulaofgratitudeandrespect:"Tomoaligatogozayimas."Otherswereusing
littleredtelephonesthathungonthefacadesofgrocerystoresandtobaccoshops.
"Hi!Hi!"saidthecabdriver;whosedoorpoppedopenattheverysightofatraveler"Hi",
orsomethingthatsoundsverymuchlikeit,means"yes"."CanyoutakemetoCityHall?"He
grinnedatmeintherear-viewmirrorandrepeated"Hi!""Hi!'Wesetoffattopspeed
throughthenarrowstreetsofHiroshima.Thetallbuildingsofthemartyredcityflashedbyas
welurchedfromsidetosideinresponsetothedriver'ssharptwistsofthewheel.
JustasIwasbeginningtofindtheridelong,thetaxiscreechedtoahalt,andthedriver
gotoutandwentovertoapolicemantoasktheway.AsinTokyo,taxidriversinHiroshima
oftenknowlittleoftheircitybuttoavoidlossoffacebeforeforeigners,willnotadmittheir
ignorance,andwillacceptanydestinationwithoutconcernforhowlongitmaytakethemto
findit.
Atlastthisintermezzocametoanend,andIfoundmyselfinfrontofthegiganticCity
Hall.Theusherboweddeeplyandheavedalong,almostmusicalsigh,whenIshowedhim
theinvitationwhichthemayorhadsentmeinresponsetomyrequestforaninterview."That
isnothere,sir;"hesaidinEnglish.nThemayorexpectsyoutonightfordinnerwithother
foreignersor;therestaurantboat.See?Thisiswhereitis."Hesketchedalittlemapformeon
thebackofmyinvitation.
Thankstohismap,Iwasabletofindataxidriverwhocouldtakemestraighttothe
canalembankment,whereasortofbargewitharooflikeoneonaJapanesehousewas
moored.TheJapanesebuildtheirtraditionalhousesonboatswhenlandbecomestoo
expensive.TheratherarrestingspectacleoflittleoldJapanadriftadriftamidbeigeconcrete
skyscrapersistheverysymboloftheincessantstrugglebetweenthekimonoandthe
miniskirt.
Atthedoortotherestaurant,astunning,porcelain-facedwomanintraditionalcostume
askedmetoremovemyshoes.Thisdone,Ienteredoneofthelow-ceilingedroomsofthe
littlefloatinghouse,treadingcautiouslyonthesoftmattingandexperiencingatwingeof
embarrassmentattheprospectofmeetingthemayorofHiroshimainmysocks.
Hewasatall,thinman,sad-eyedandserious.Quiteunexpectedly;thestrangeemotion
whichhadoverwhelmedmeatthestationreturned,andIwasagaincrushedbythethought
thatInowstoodonthesiteofthefirstatomicbombardment,wherethousandsupon
thousandsofpeoplehadbeenslaininonesecond,wherethousandsuponthousandsof
othershadlingeredontodieinslowagony.
Theintroductionsweremade.MostoftheguestswereJapanese,anditwasdifficultfor
metoaskthemjustwhyweweregatheredhere.ThefewAmericansandGermansseemed
justasinhibitedasIwas."Gentlemen/'saidthemayor;"Iamhappytowelcomeyouto
Hiroshima."
Everyonebowed,includingtheWesterners.AfterthreedaysinJapan,thespinalcolumn
becomesextraordinarilyflexible.
"Gentlemen,itisaverygreathonortohaveyouhereinHiroshima.'*
Therewerefreshbows,andthefacesgrewmoreandmoreseriouseachtimethename
Hiroshimawasrepeated.
"Hiroshima,asyouknow,isacityfamiliartoeveryone/continuedthemayor.
"Yes,yes,ofcourse/murmuredthecompanymoreandmoreagitated.
"Seldomhasacitygainedsuchworldrenown,andIamproudandhappytowelcome
youtoHiroshima,atownknownthroughouttheworldforits—oysters".
Iwasjustabouttomakemylittlebowofassent,whenthemeaningoftheselastwords
sankinJoltingmeoutofmysadreverie.
"Hiroshima-oysters?Whataboutthebombandthemiseryandhumanity'smost
heinouscrime?'*WhilethemayorwentonwithhisspeechinpraiseofsouthernJapanesesea
food,Icautiouslybackedawayandheadedtowardthefarsideoftheroom,whereafewmen
weretalkingamongthemselvesandpayinglittleattentiontothemayor'sspeech."Youlook
puzzled/'saidasmallJapanesemanwithverylargeeye-glasses.
"Well,ImustconfessthatIdidnotexpectaspeechaboutoystershere.Ithoughtthat
Hiroshimastillfelttheimpactoftheatomicimpact
"Noonetalksaboutitanymore,andnoonewantsto,especiallythepeoplewhowere
bornhereorwholivedthroughit."Doyoufeelthesamewaytoo?"
"Iwashere,butIwasnotinthecenteroftown.ItellyouthisbecauseIamalmostanold
man.Therearetwodifferentschoolsofthoughtinthiscityofoysters,onethatwouldliketo
preservetracesofthebomb,andtheotherthatwouldliketogetridofeverything,eventhe
monumentthatwaserectedatthepointofimpact.Theywouldalsoliketodemolishthe
atomicmuseum."
"Whywouldtheywanttodothat?"
"Becauseithurtseverybodyandbecausetimemarcheson.Thatiswhy."Thesmall
Japanesemansmiled,hiseyesnearlyclosedbehindtheirthicklenses."Ifyouwriteabout
thiscity,donotforgettosaythatitisthegayestcityinJapan,evenitmanyofthetown's
peoplestillbearhiddenwounds,andburns."
Likeanyother;thehospitalsmelledofformaldehydeandethere.Stretchersand
wheelchairslinedthewallsofendlesscorridors,andnurseswalkedbycarryingStretchers
instruments,theverysightofwhichwouldsendshiversdownthespineofanyhealthy
visitor.Theso-calledatomicsectionwaslocatedonthethirdfloor.Itconsistedof17beds.
"Iamafishermanbytrade.Ihavebeenhereaverylongtime,morethantwentyyears,
"saidanoldmaninJapanesepajamas.°Whatiswrongwithyou?"
"Somethinginside.IwasinHiroshimawhenithappened.Isawthefireball.ButIhadno
burnsonmyfaceorbody.Iranalloverthecitylookingformissingfriendsandrelatives.I
thoughtsomehowIhadbeenspared.Butlatermyhairbegantofallout,andmybellyturned
towaterIfeltsick,andeversincethentheyhavebeentestingandtreatingme.nThedoctor
atmysideexplainedandcommentedupontheoldman'sstory"Westillhareahandfulof
patientsherewhoarebeingkeptalivebyconstantcare.Theothersdiedasaresultoftheir
injuries,orelsecommittedsuicide.
"Whydidtheycommitsuicide?"
"Itishumiliatingtosurviveinthiscity.Ifyoubearanyvisiblescarsofatomicburns,
yourchildrenwillencounterprejudiceonthepartofthosewhodonot.Noonewillmarry
thedaughterorthenieceofanatomicbombvictim.Peopleareafraidofgeneticdamagefrom
theradiation."Theoldfishermangazedatmepolitelyandwithinterest.
Hangingoverthepatientwasabigballmadeofbitsofbrightlycoloredpaper;folded
intotheshapeoftinybirds."What'sthat?"Iasked.
"Thosearemyluckybirds.EachdaythatIescapedeath,eachdayofsufferingthathelps
tofreemefromearthlycares,Imakeanewlittlepaperbird,andaddittotheothers.This
wayIlookatthemandcongratulatemyselfofthegoodfortunethatmyillnesshasbrought
me.Because,thankstoit,Ihavetheopportunitytoimprovemycharacter."
Onceagain,outsideintheopenaii;Itoreintolittlepiecesasmallnotebookwith
questionsthatI'dpreparedinadvanceforinterviewswiththepatientsoftheatomicward.
Amongthemwasthequestion:DoyoureallythinkthatHiroshimaistheliveliestcityin
Japan?Ineveraskedit.ButIcouldreadtheanswerineveryeye.
(fromanAmericanradioprogrampresentedbyEdKay]
NOTES
1)Hiroshima:aseaport,capitalofHiroshimaprefectureinsouthwestJapan.Population
(1970)54,834.OnAug.6,1945,Hiroshimawasthefirstcitytobestruckbyanatomicbomb,
droppedbytheU.S,airforce.Almost130000peoplewerekilled,injured,ormissing,and90%
ofthecitywasleveled.Muchofthecityhasbeenreconstructed,butaguttedsectionofthe
cityhasbeensetasideasa"PeaceCity"toillustratetheeffectofanatomicbomb.Since1955,
anannualworldconferenceagainstnuclearweaponshasmetinHiroshima.
2)Nippon:(Japanese)Japan
3)Tomoaligatogozayimas:(Japanese)Thankyouverymuch.
4)Hi:(Japanese)yes
5)kimono:(Japanese)alooserobewithwidesleevesandabroadsashtraditionallywornas
anoutergarmentbytheJapanese
6)tatami:(Japanese)strawmattingusedasafloorcoveringinaJapanesehome.Itisa
customoftheJapanesetoremovetheirshoesoncetheygoindoors,walkingonthetatami
mattingintheirsocks.
ShipsintheDesert
ALGore
Iwasstandinginthesunonthehotsteeldeckofafishingshipcapableofprocessinga
fifty-toncatchonagoodday.Butitwasn'tagoodday.Wewereanchoredinwhatusedtobe
themostproductivefishingsiteinallofcentralAsia,butasIlookedoutoverthebow,the
prospectsofagoodcatchlookedbleak.Wherethereshouldhavebeengentleblue-green
waveslappingagainstthesideoftheship,therewasnothingbuthotdrysand-asfarasI
couldseeinalldirections.Theothershipsofthefleetwerealsoatrestinthesand,scattered
inthedunesthatstretchedallthewaytothehorizon.TenyearsagotheAralwasthe
fourth-largestinlandseaintheworld,comparabletothelargestofNorthAmerica'sGreat
Lakes.Nowitisdisappearingbecausethewaterthatusedtofeedithasbeendivertedinan
ill-consideredirrigationschemetogrowcottonIntheusert.Thenewshorelinewasalmost
fortykilometersacrossthesandfromwherethefishingfleetwasnowpermanentlydocked.
Meanwhile,inthenearbytownofMuynakthepeoplewerestillcanningfish-broughtnot
fromtheAralSeabutshippedbyrailthroughSiberiafromthePacificOcean,morethana
thousandmilesaway.
Mysearchfortheunderlyingcausesoftheenvironmentalcrisishasledmetotravel
aroundtheworldtoexamineandstudymanyoftheseimagesofdestruction.Atthevery
bottomoftheearth,highintheTrans-AntarcticMountains,withthesunglaringatmidnight
throughaholeinthesky,Istoodintheunbelievablecoldnessandtalkedwithascientistin
thelatetallof1988aboutthetunnelhewasdiggingthroughtime.Slippinghisparkabackto
revealabadlyburnedfacethatwascrackedandpeeling,hepointedtotheannuallayersof
iceinacoresampledugfromtheglacieronwhichwewerestanding.Hemovedhisfinger
backintimetotheiceoftwodecadesago,"Here'swheretheU.SCongresspassedtheClean
AirAct,“hesaid.Atthebottomoftheworld,twocontinentsawayfromWashington,D.C,,
evenasmallreductioninonecountry*semissionshadchangedtheamountofpollution
foundintheremotestendleastaccessibleplaceonearth.
Butthemostsignificantchangethusfarintheearth*satmosphereistheonethatbegan
withtheindustrialrevolutionearlyinthelastcenturyandhaspickedupspeedeversince.
Industrymeantcoal,andlateroil,andwebegantoburnlotsofit-bringingrisinglevelsof
carbondioxide(CO2J,withitsabilitytotrapmoreheatintheatmosphereandslowlywarm
theearth.FewerthanahundredyardsfromtheSouthPole,upwindfromtheicerunway
wheretheskiplanelandsandkeepsitsenginesrunningtopreventthemetalpartsfrom
freeze-lockingtogether;scientistsmonitortheairseveraltimeseverydaytochartthe
courseofthatinexorablechange.Duringmyvisit,Iwatchedonescientistdrawtheresultsof
thatday'smeasurements,pushingtheendofasteeplinestillhigheronthegraph.Hetoldme
howeasyitis-thereattheendoftheearth-toseethatthisenormouschangeintheglobal
atmosphereisstillpickingupspeed.
TwoandahalfyearslaterIsleptunderthemidnightsunattheotherendofourplanet,
inasmalltentpitchedonatwelve-toot-thickslaboficefloatinginthefrigidArcticOcean.
Afteraheartybreakfast,mycompanionsandItraveledbysnowmobilesafewmilesfarther
northtoarendezvouspointwheretheicewasthinner-onlythreeandahalffeetthick-and
anuclearsubmarinehoveredinthewaterbelow.Afteritcrashedthroughtheice,tookonits
newpassengers,andresubmerged,Italkedwithscientistswhoweretryingtomeasuremore
accuratelythethicknessofthepolaricecap,whichmanybelieveisthinningasare-suitof
globalwarming.IhadjustnegotiatedanagreementbetweenicescientistsandtheU.S.Navy
tosecurethere-leaseofpreviouslytopsecretdatafromsubmarinesonartracks,datathat
couldhelpthemlearnwhatishappeningtothenorthpolarcap.Now,Iwantedtoseethe
poleit-self,andsomeeighthoursafterwemetthesubmarine,wewerecrashingthroughthat
ice,surfacing,andthenIwasstandinginaneerilybeautifulsnowcape,windsweptand
sparklingwhite,withthehorizondefinedbylittlehummocks,or“pressureridges"ofice
thatarepushedupliketinymountainrangeswhenseparatesheetscollide.Butheretoo,CD,
levelsarerisingjustasrapidly,andultimatelytemperaturewillrisewiththem-indeed,
globalwarmingisexpectedtopushtemperaturesupmuchmorerapidlyinthepolarregions
thanintherestoftheworld.Asthepolarairwarms,theiceherewillthin;andsincethe
polarcapplayssuchacrucialroleintheworld'sweathersystem,theconsequencesofa
thinningcapcouldbedisastrous.
Consideringsuchscenariosisnotapurelyspeculativeexercise.SixmonthsafterI
returnedfromtheNorthPole,ateamofscientistsreporteddramaticchangesinthepattern
oficedistributionintheArctic,andasecondteamreportedastillcontroversialclaim(which
avarietyofdatanowsuggest)that,overall,thenorthpolarcaphasthinnedby2percentin
justthelastdecade.Moreover;scientistsestablishedseveralyearsagothatinmanyland
areasnorthoftheArcticCircle,thespringsnowmeltnowcomesearliereveryyear;anddeep
inthetundrabelow,thetemperatureeoftheearthissteadilyrising.
Asithappens,someofthemostdisturbingimagesofenvironmentaldestructioncanbe
foundexactlyhalfwaybetweentheNorthandSouthpoles-preciselyattheequatorinBrazil
-wherebillowingcloudsofsmokeregularlyblack-entheskyabovetheimmensebutnow
threatenedAmazonrainforest.Acrebyacre,therainforestisbeingburnedtocreatefast
pastureforfast-foodbeef;asIlearnedwhenIwentthereinearly1989,thefiresareset
earlierandearlierinthedryseasonnow,withmorethanoneTennessee'sworthofrain
forestbeingslashedandburnedeachyear.Accordingtoourguide,thebiologistTomLovejoy,
therearemoredifferentspeciesofbirdsineachsquaremileoftheAmazonthanexistinall
ofNorthAmerica-whichmeanswearesilencingthousandsofsongswehavenevereven
heard.
Butonedoesn'thavetotravelaroundtheworldtowit-nesshumankind'sassaultonthe
earth.Imagesthatsignalthedistressofourglobalenvironmentarenowcommonlyseen
almostanywhere.Onsomenights,inhighnorthernlatitudes,theskyitselfoffersanother
ghostlyimagethatsignalsthelossofecologicalbalancenowinprogress.Iftheskyisclear
aftersunset-andityouarewatchingfromaplacewherepollutionhasn'tblottedoutthe
nightskyaltogether-youcansometimesseeastrangekindofcloudhighinthesky.This
Hnoctilucentcloud'1occasionallyappearswhentheearthisfirstcloakedintheevening
dark-ness;shimmeringaboveuswithatranslucentwhiteness,thesecloudsseemquite
unnatural.Andtheyshould:noctilucentcloudshavebeguntoappearmoreoftenbecauseofa
hugebuildupofmethanegasintheatmosphere.(Alsocallednaturalgas,methaneisreleased
fromlandfills,fromcoalminesandricepaddies,frombillionsoftermitesthatswarm
throughthefreshlycutforestland,fromtheburningofbiomassandfromavarietyofother
humanactivities.)Eventhoughnoctilucentcloudsweresometimesseeninthepast.,allthis
extramethanecarriesmorewatervaporintotheupperatmosphere,whereitcondensesat
muchhigheraltitudestoformmorecloudsthatthesun'sraysstillstrikelongaftersunset
hasbroughtthebeginningofnighttothesurfacefarbeneaththem.
Whatshouldwefeeltowardtheseghostsinthesky?Simplewonderorthemixof
emotionswefeelatthezoo?Perhapsweshouldfeelaweforourownpower:justasmen”ear
tusksfromelephants'headsinsuchquantityastothreatenthebeastwithextinction,weare
rippingmatterfromitsplaceintheearthinsuchvolumeastoupsetthebalancebetween
daylightanddarkness.Intheprocess,weareonceagainaddingtothethreatofglobal
warming,be-causemethanehasbeenoneofthefastest-growinggreen-housegases,andis
thirdonlytocarbondioxideandwatervaporintotalvolume,changingthechemistryofthe
upperatmosphere.But,withoutevenconsideringthatthreat,shouldn*titstartleusthatwe
havenowputthesecloudsintheeveningskywhichglistenwithaspectrallight?Orhaveour
eyesadjustedsocompletelytothebrightlightsofcivilizationthatwecan'tseetheseclouds
forwhattheyare-aphysicalmanifestationoftheviolentcollisionbetweenhuman
civilizationandtheearth?
Eventhoughitissometimeshardtoseetheirmeaning,wehavebynowallwitnessed
surprisingexperiencesthatsignalthedamagefromourassaultontheenvironment
-whetherit'sthenewfrequencyofdayswhenthetemperatureexceeds100degrees,the
newspeedwithwhichthe-unburnsourskin,orthenewconstancyofpublicdebateover
whattodowithgrowingmountainsofwaste.Butourresponsetothesesignalsispuzzling.
Whyhaven'twelaunchedamassiveefforttosaveourenvironment?Tocomeatthequestion
anotherway'Whydosomeimagesstartleusintoimmediateactionandfocusourattention
orwaystorespondeffectively?Andwhydootherimages,thoughsometimesequally
dramatic,produceinsteadaKin.ofparalysis,focusingourattentionnotonwaystorespond
butratheronsomeconvenient,lesspainfuldistraction?
Still,therearesomanydistressingimagesofenviron-mentaldestructionthat
sometimesitseemsimpossibletoknowhowtoabsorborcomprehendthem.Before
consideringthethreatsthemselves,itmaybehelpfultoclassifythemandthusbeginto
organizeourthoughts
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