etirement gives one time to contemplate where the years have gone and marvel at the changes in our lifetime. The population of the world rose from 3 billion in 1960 to 7 billion today. This is more population growth in the last 50 years than the previous 2 million years of human existence. Our generations have been so industrious and tenacious across the world, that most of the planet has been adjusted by humans.
Sixty years ago in 1955 many of us were in our late teens or early 20’s. Jobs were scarce, experience none, education minimal for many, with minimum wage less than a $1.00 per hour. Gas was 25 cents a gallon though few could afford a car. We could not wait to experience life on our own. I was paid $15 a week at a job I felt lucky to have. The world opened up for those in the cities who could watch Ed Sullivan and I love Lucy on the new black & white TV’s. The remote came later. Fifty years ago in 1965 wages had not improved much and good jobs always seemed hard to find. Most of us were adjusting to marriage, budgeting and babies while we were still stumbling from childhood to adulthood. The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins were magic in cinemascope. Tom Jones, the Beatles and Elvis Presley’s music and movies added an exciting naughty sexiness to entertainment. This caused the world’s saintly to huff and puff. That was the real beginning of “freedom of speech.” The world was changed and all that they feared has come true – innocence lost in ways they could not have imagined.
Technology and development has surpassed our wildest dreams. Our grandparents and parents would not believe the luxuries we have today. Most had neither electricity or a phone. In 2015 the great grand kids can use a Smart Phone/computer before grade school. There have been many accomplishments in 50 years, with growth that we will never see again.
The planet has suffered unrepairable damage. In December 2014 environmental scientists from around the world met in Lima, Peru for a conference to let the world know that the planet is in great danger. The Arctic ice is melting so fast that if nothing is done it could be gone as early as September this year. It seems big oil and governments of the world can only cheer and compete over who gets the biggest pot of the resources under the ice. The scientists insist that this could make the planet uninhabitable for human existence because of rising temperature.
The media has been slack and much too quiet about this danger. Our governments are not listening. There are some ideas of what can be done to save the ice but governments must spend the money – Now. Space exploration can wait if they would just please save our planet Earth!
Shirley Lowe
