If and Only If

Chapter 5 - Then

I saw the four Coordinators today for lunch. It took me a while to schedule an appointment, but I managed. I told them about the dying plants and the results of my research (or rather, the lack of results). And, luckily, they explained the situation to me.

They have had their top scientists working on possible outcomes of our actions for the past decade. So, basically as soon as the first reform projects turned out to be successful, they started researching possible consequences. Their research came up with many unwanted results. The scientists discovered that after a period of time, our system would start failing. The crops would drain the fields of natural resources, no matter how much we continue fertilizing and adding mineral supplements. The houses would eventually deteriorate and there won't be money to fix them. The ocean aquaponics will eventually fall apart, and possibly has been inhibiting the marine life's migrating patterns.

How long did the scientists think our current system would last?

Three more years. Our supposed 'solution' to poverty is falling apart and the system soon won't work. Our eco-friendly system is somehow destroying the environment.

So the scientists did not want to release any information on their results in order to avoid mass panic. They decided it would be better to let people enjoy their fruitful and easy lives while they can, and address the problems when the time comes.

At the time the Coordinators were telling me, it made sense. But now that I think back to it, that goes against our Law. It clearly states that what the government discovers, they cannot withhold it from the public for more than a month.

It has been five months.

But who prosecutes the government?

Apparently, it's going to be me.

I decided this for multiple reasons. I even wrote down a list of reasons to make sure I was not going completely insane.
1. The government broke the law. Therefore, the government must be prosecuted.
2. Information is being withheld from the public.
3. Our current system is slowly deteriorating and will fail soon.
4. The environment might be slowly dying. It most likely is dying. So...
5. The environment must be saved to prevent worldwide starvation, rebellions, etc.

Those five reasons seemed pretty solid. And I was positive that I would come up with more as I went. I convinced myself that I maintained at least a little bit of sanity.

This world will be saved, if and only if someone stepped up to do it.

So the research began again.