Could we survive without electricity? Yesterday I read in the news that the Japanese government is having to cut the electricity periodically for three hours at a time because there currently isn’t enough energy to go around. After all the atrocities that have gone on in their country during the last week, it is going to be a long and difficult road back to stability for the Japanese. Loss of power, as well as even portable water in some areas, means that the direct effects of the crisis are far from over.
The article made me reflect on just how dependant we are in the 21st Century on electricity in every part of our daily lives. It started me thinking about how much would be different:
- No lights- so you couldn’t carry on normal life after dusk
- No phone – so you would be unable to contact people
- No computers – offices would have to shut down
- No internet or television – for news, entertainment, etc.
- No street lights or security cameras – it would no longer be safe at night.
- No trains or traffic lights - so your travel would be effected.
- No microwave/toaster/kettle or possibly even cooker – so you would have to eat cold food.
- Freezers and fridges would defrost so food would go off.
- Automatic doors/cash registers/ in shops or public buildings would not work.
- For hospitals... I don’t know where to begin.
The list goes on and on and it is amazing to realise just how powerless we would be!
A power cut can be troublesome and awkward, or maybe even quite fun depending on your situation. But I imagine the fun would soon wear out and ultimately our society today would fall into chaos after a prolonged lack of electricity. So... I hope they find an adequate replacement by the time the world’s crude oil supply runs out! Otherwise, I guess we really should at least start buying energy saving light bulbs...
No comments:
Post a Comment