”Our priority is not to save the planet.” – Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, government official explaining Democratic Republic of Congo’s decision to auction areas of the rainforest for mining.
Such a story would be too scary for children and it should not be included in science textbooks. Besides, children are too dumb to get the concept. Instead, let’s talk about how cheap it is to produce the various types of energy.
So was the recommendation of the Texas Energy Commission to the Texas Board of Education which is the largest producer (and therefore cheapest) of school textbooks for the Nation.
Check out the article “Climate Miseducation” in the July issue of Scientific American.
30 years ago when the strip first ran, there wasn’t all this “us vs them”. It was just a comic noting obviously what was going on in the world. What the heck happened to us since then?
A science fiction rhyme is a challenge. Well done Calvin. The story is cool too. I makes me wonder, what are we going to do with all of the batteries we are going to be throwing away in the next 50 years? I hear they catch on fire a lot. Maybe they will self destruct?
Unfortunately, nobody heard them, becauze they had already removed the air that might otherwize have carried the sound waves. Also, the humans were too buzy suffocating to pay attention, anyway.
And even today, in what calls itself the most scientifically advanced and intelligent nation on Earth, we have people saying things like “I don’t believe in climate change because God wouldn’t let us ruin the planet”.
First Earth Day Was 1970. We were already divided long before that year. Carter installed solar panels; Reagan removed them. The GOP in Nixon’s admin. was already gearing up for what they’re undoing this year.
https://www.arcamax.com/politics/fromtheleft/leonardpittsjr/s-2706500?ezine=615&r=33BvYyGDvBUJEePf4VCRm15KiOt6ItdRA_5DPaVfSjpDOjI4NzU3NjY1MDpKOjIxMzE5NzE6TDo2MTU6UjozNzgzNzM6UzoyNzA2NTAwOlY6MzY "Sixteen years after Al Gore implored us to face “An Inconvenient Truth” and we didn’t, we have seen climate change mutate from a seemingly abstract threat against a theoretical future to a series of unsettling headlines charting an immediate crisis — a right here, right now danger — facing all 8 billion passengers on this spaceship. International weather maps over the past two weeks looked like the Shenandoah Valley in October — a vista of deep reds and golds signifying blazing heat pretty much everywhere. Great Britain — cool, damp Britain — sweltered through its hottest day, ever, triple digits Fahrenheit. Meantime, wildfires have blackened great swaths of Spain, Italy, Portugal and France.
Closer to home, the Colorado River, the artery of water that makes Los Angeles possible, has gone saltine dry. The Great Salt Lake is vanishing, two-thirds of it gone and still shrinking. California is burning — again. The cascade effect of all this, the impact on human and animal migration, on the extinction of bugs, birds and beasts, on weather patterns, on the economy, on air quality, on the habitability of the planet, cannot be overstated."
BE THIS GUY over 2 years ago
”Our priority is not to save the planet.” – Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, government official explaining Democratic Republic of Congo’s decision to auction areas of the rainforest for mining.
codycab over 2 years ago
I don’t think it’s hardly far-fetched.
Sugar Bombs 95 over 2 years ago
I love how this advanced alien spaceship has an old-timey radio speaker on it. I can picture the aliens talking like a thirties radio announcer.
Templo S.U.D. over 2 years ago
What was Calvin’s grade on that writing project? C-?
weatherford.joe Premium Member over 2 years ago
I’m agreeing with Hobbes here.
Richard S Russell Premium Member over 2 years ago
And this was 30 years ago, before it became widely known that the predatory aliens were actually Hòmó sapiens. (Ironically, “sapiens” means “wise”.)
RobinHood over 2 years ago
It was a Vogon Construction Ship.
eastern.woods.metal over 2 years ago
Who needs Aliens. We’re good at on our own
Robin Harwood over 2 years ago
An Alien’s gotta make a living.
GeorgeInAZ over 2 years ago
Wow! This was written in the 70s, well before the progs gained the upper hand and captured the air(waves) and use of resources. How prescient!
TampaFanatic1 over 2 years ago
Makes me think of the Zone’s “To Serve Man”:
“Don’t Go! Its a Cookbook!”……Bilan over 2 years ago
Can you blame them? They get thirsty traveling thousands of light years.
rentier over 2 years ago
It’s not so much science fiction!
sandpiper over 2 years ago
Looking at many comics now 50 years old, we had no idea just how prescient some of them were.
Scorpio Premium Member over 2 years ago
Given the work ethic certain corporations expect, I see this happening on Earth too against other countries, cities, etc.
in-dubio-pro-rainbow over 2 years ago
That’s why I always plead for an air shield like Druidia’s in “Spaceballs” protected by a combination consisting of the numbers 1…..2…..3…..4…..5.
Who, me? over 2 years ago
Trying to figure out how they got all the ocean’s water in that saucer. Looks like a few whales would about fill it.
Snolep over 2 years ago
Excellent rhymes by Watterson.
dflak over 2 years ago
Such a story would be too scary for children and it should not be included in science textbooks. Besides, children are too dumb to get the concept. Instead, let’s talk about how cheap it is to produce the various types of energy.
So was the recommendation of the Texas Energy Commission to the Texas Board of Education which is the largest producer (and therefore cheapest) of school textbooks for the Nation.
Check out the article “Climate Miseducation” in the July issue of Scientific American.
Teach your children well.
Bittermelon of Truth over 2 years ago
If only climate change could be blamed on malevolent aliens. We could just nuke them and … tah-dah, the problem is solved.
rossevrymn over 2 years ago
opspecial, ultra ammosexual, kat and alfred brown, Calvin politicized his toon. Isn’t that just awful?:
bbbmorrell over 2 years ago
Sadly, this still resonates. Indeed, resonate is too subtle. It is dead on.
zosnerd over 2 years ago
sounds like the GOP on climate change
uniquename over 2 years ago
Watterson must have been an Adams fan.
Redd Panda over 2 years ago
Wow! Deja Vu. I was hoping for a Spaceman Spiff and we got this. Close enough for me.
Kiss July goodbye and brace yourself, August is here t-morrow.
?? Sounds like lyrics from A Chorus Line, a little bit, maybe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TbUl9dhTRg
I know, a head full of music, can’t be helped.
donut reply over 2 years ago
Standard business policy.
Susan00100 over 2 years ago
Sorry, but today’s strip isn’t very good.
Well, even the best cartoonists have their off days.
mizdurble over 2 years ago
All too realistic.
Squoop over 2 years ago
Clearly those aliens are Republicans.
John Leonard Premium Member over 2 years ago
Nowhere near enough.
RadioDial Premium Member over 2 years ago
30 years ago when the strip first ran, there wasn’t all this “us vs them”. It was just a comic noting obviously what was going on in the world. What the heck happened to us since then?
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 2 years ago
This may be Watterson’s most cynical late period strip. That is saying something.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 2 years ago
A science fiction rhyme is a challenge. Well done Calvin. The story is cool too. I makes me wonder, what are we going to do with all of the batteries we are going to be throwing away in the next 50 years? I hear they catch on fire a lot. Maybe they will self destruct?
Twelve Badgers in a Suit Premium Member over 2 years ago
Unfortunately, nobody heard them, becauze they had already removed the air that might otherwize have carried the sound waves. Also, the humans were too buzy suffocating to pay attention, anyway.
jrankin1959 over 2 years ago
Maybe this is where Hollywood got the idea for Independence Day…
Publius10608218 over 2 years ago
If you had just seen the proper forms to file a compliant we have you plenty of time
hk Premium Member over 2 years ago
Aliens must work for FB and MS.
ChessPirate over 2 years ago
“Of course we realize we’ve doomed you this day, but for your past acts, you’d be gone anyway…”
JosephShriver over 2 years ago
So long and thanks for all the fish
The Wolf In Your Midst over 2 years ago
And even today, in what calls itself the most scientifically advanced and intelligent nation on Earth, we have people saying things like “I don’t believe in climate change because God wouldn’t let us ruin the planet”.
mistercatworks over 2 years ago
“If it doesn’t happen before I retire, it’s not my problem.”
Motto found on gravestone of extinct civilization. Believed to be some kind of religious quotation, as it makes no sense in any other context.
BiggerNate91 over 2 years ago
If anyone brings up the writing assignment storyline where Calvin says he can’t write:
1. This strip doesn’t share continuity a lot. It does sometimes, but not often.
2. Calvin doesn’t like to do things that are forced upon him.
willie_mctell over 2 years ago
Macabre and job is a half rhyme in my book.
Malph over 2 years ago
Neat how they are able to compress all the water and air for transport in that small ship!
snoopyfan104 over 2 years ago
Didn’t understand this particular strip as a kid. Only as an adult did I realize it was talking about the environment.
Realimaginary1 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Yet another one of the Fractured Tales of Suspense publications!
tony_n_jen2003 over 2 years ago
Dr Suess off of his anti depressants.
Ka`ōnōhi`ula`okahōkūmiomio`ehiku Premium Member over 2 years ago
True story (poem) that is in the process of happening due to our own short-sightedness.
Ka`ōnōhi`ula`okahōkūmiomio`ehiku Premium Member over 2 years ago
Compressed O², H, and N would fit just fine.
g04922 over 2 years ago
Calvin’s flight of fantasy unlimited today. Where is Hobbes when he needs him?
Omniman over 2 years ago
How terrifying, to think aliens from another planet might be just like us!
mindjob over 2 years ago
On the bright side, the aliens are using ocean water for fusion power. They break the molecules apart then fuse them back together to make new water
MFRXIM Premium Member over 2 years ago
First Earth Day Was 1970. We were already divided long before that year. Carter installed solar panels; Reagan removed them. The GOP in Nixon’s admin. was already gearing up for what they’re undoing this year.
MFRXIM Premium Member over 2 years ago
https://www.arcamax.com/politics/fromtheleft/leonardpittsjr/s-2706500?ezine=615&r=33BvYyGDvBUJEePf4VCRm15KiOt6ItdRA_5DPaVfSjpDOjI4NzU3NjY1MDpKOjIxMzE5NzE6TDo2MTU6UjozNzgzNzM6UzoyNzA2NTAwOlY6MzY "Sixteen years after Al Gore implored us to face “An Inconvenient Truth” and we didn’t, we have seen climate change mutate from a seemingly abstract threat against a theoretical future to a series of unsettling headlines charting an immediate crisis — a right here, right now danger — facing all 8 billion passengers on this spaceship. International weather maps over the past two weeks looked like the Shenandoah Valley in October — a vista of deep reds and golds signifying blazing heat pretty much everywhere. Great Britain — cool, damp Britain — sweltered through its hottest day, ever, triple digits Fahrenheit. Meantime, wildfires have blackened great swaths of Spain, Italy, Portugal and France.
Closer to home, the Colorado River, the artery of water that makes Los Angeles possible, has gone saltine dry. The Great Salt Lake is vanishing, two-thirds of it gone and still shrinking. California is burning — again. The cascade effect of all this, the impact on human and animal migration, on the extinction of bugs, birds and beasts, on weather patterns, on the economy, on air quality, on the habitability of the planet, cannot be overstated."
Kilrwat Premium Member over 2 years ago
“We have met the enemy and he is us.”
josh_bisbee over 2 years ago
When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realize That You Cannot Eat Money
PaulLeckner over 2 years ago
I expected the yellow ship to be a school bus to take Calvin to school.
WCraft Premium Member over 2 years ago
Aliens sucking our oceans dry and killing the inhabitants of earth? Great idea for a movie! Maybe have Tom Cruise star in it?
lindz.coop Premium Member over 2 years ago
Amen
blindavocado Premium Member over 2 years ago
This was written 30 years ago and yet we are still here. It’s almost like hysterical predictions of the world ending are always wrong
johnec over 2 years ago
To Serve Man
But that described a utopia where the aliens provided technology to solve all of humanity’s problems, end war, unlimited power and food, etc.
Making the whole earth paradise.
(And encouraging tourism to the alien’s home planet, on a one-way visa).
Romeo2Delta2 about 2 months ago
“Of all the races that could have come and said a big hello to planet Earth, didn’t it just have to be the Vogons.”