Under the Mango Tree: 101 Tales (3)

AGAIN

Challenge No.56 - Earth Day.

Write a scene or story set in a universe in which the inhabitants take good care of their planet.

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It is believed by many that a name has the ability to dictate one's destiny, at least that's what the people of the planets Jukihú and Juracán believe.

Jukihú and Juracán were the twin planets that traversed a path around the star Atabex. All were references from the Taíno Nation of ancient Earth, where Jukihú and Juracán were the twin sons of Atabex*.

In the mythology, Jukihú represented order and Juracán chaos*. Both planets were inhabited over a millennia ago as humans ran from the hell they had made on the home planet. The planets were terraformed and followed the same path of industrialization as before.

With one exception.

Almost in keeping with belief in names, planet Jukihú followed a path of sustainable development while Juracán followed a path of wanton consumption.

Over the centuries the divergent paths of the planets widened. History proceeded to repeat itself as Juracán, not learning the lessons of Earth, was on its way to becoming uninhabitable.

Environmental refugees began to show up in Jukihú. Something needed to be done swiftly. The human race could not continue on this path of planetary disposal.

A coup took place in Juracán and together with Jukihú the people came up with the 'JJ FOR LIFE' program. The planets twinned and the first wave of scientists arrived planetside.

At the spaceport, Da'an stood with a sign with the name Mar'Cel written on it.

"I'm Mar'Cel." The man instantly began to cough.

"I'm Da'an. Take it easy. Slow breaths. Your body is not used to clean air. It's a shock, it will adapt."

Mar'Cel nodded.

"Come." Da'an led his colleague to the parking lot.

Mar'Cel hesitated. "But Jukihú is as industrialized as Juracán! How?"

"Oh yes! But whereas Juracán continued with fossil fuels, we on Jukihú did not. We use renewable energy every step of the way. Every vehicle you see on this planet is electric."

"All of them?"

"Every last one."

"What is the energy source to charge the batteries?"

"Solar. The top of the vehicle is just one large solar panel. Homes, offices, business, industry, all run on some form of renewable energy, like solar, wind, hydro, geothermal we tap everything."

"How will Juracán ever be this way?"

"We are no utopia; we have crime and corruption just like you. I understand there was a coup in Juracán?"

"Yes. We grew up with stories of what happened on Earth when the ninety-nine percent allowed the one percent to get control."

"Yep. We grew up on those stories too. Wanna hear our theory?"

"Sure."

"Look around. The people of Jukihú are descended from the First Nation Peoples of Earth, Aboriginals, Rastas and tree huggers. The people of Juracán are the descendants of industrialists and imperialists. When our ancestors arrived in this solar system they split along those lines."

"You can't believe that!" Mar'Cel was amused.

"Think about it. Not many people of colour over there. Not many white people over here. Whose planet is dying... again."

© 25 April 2022

* True Taíno legend

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