2543 by Emma C

To whom it may concern,

Hello. My name is Samuel Gyrdellis. There is no easy way to explain this, but I am from the future. Specifically, I am from the year 2543. The mechanics as to how this letter came to reach you are insignificant- you’ll figure it out soon enough. I have sent this message to warn you about the future. The following is a brief summation, with some personal details, about what has occurred between your time and mine:
As you know, the world is constantly changing- geologic forces changing the physical earth and humans advancing their technology in their never-ending quest for knowledge. It just so happens, that in the twenty-first century, these two specific branches of progress met head-on.
The earliest catastrophe occurred in 2028. A series of earthquakes occurred along several of the world’s tectonic fault lines. The consumption of nuclear power had grown by this time, and in order to meet the rising need, a number of nuclear plants were developed near these faults. When the quakes finally hit, a number of cracks developed in the plants. The resulting discharge of nuclear waste was widespread. Some of this fell into cracks in the earth formed by the same quake, allowing it to leach into the water system. Those who drank the contaminated waters developed numerous diseases, the like of which are produced by nuclear radiation. Those who grow up drinking this water often don’t live past their thirties. I was orphaned in this manner.
Over the next few hundred years, the remaining quantity of nuclear debris was blown into the atmosphere where it coalesced into an enormous nuclear cloud. Caught up in the jet stream, this cloud makes regular rounds across the planet, dispersing some of its heavier particles back down to earth. This cloud will remain until all of the radioactive materials have broken down. Along the cloud’s poisonous path, there still remain a few civilizations- both human and animal, but these people suffer from mutation as a result of the air they breathe. I’ve heard stories that some of these mutations ultimately lead to a fate worse than death, and their lives often end before anyone can find a humane way to help them.
In 2085, the use of fossil fuels finally took its toll. The prolonged release of ozone gases into the atmosphere increased the heat that was being trapped against the earth by the ozone’s natural process. Thus, over the next few years, the polar ice caps- along with much of the snow and ice on Greenland and Iceland- melted off into the oceans. In addition to terminating thousands of marine species, this caused immense flooding. Tsunamis became more frequent, and if a hurricane ever occurred, the storm surges were devastating. I lost my great-grandfather this way.
Please. The only people who can help us are you. Everything you do has an effect on how future generations will have to live. Some of these costs may come sooner than you think- as their contributing factors have been at work for many years already. Please, think of what you do and who it may end up hurting. Please help us.
- Sam