Rita Walker (Blog Thirty-one): By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris
Sustainable Management and Environmental Engineering are two careers that look for ways to have technology work a mutually beneficial way with the environment and nature. One are that needs to be researched and developed is what we eat. Environmental impact on a particular location may be the most important factor on whether omnivore, vegetarian, or veganism is the most appropriate eating habit. (References can be found at the bottom of the blog)
As they drive to the airport the driver puts on the news. Along with the unusual heatwave Rita hears about a disturbance along the Queen Charlotte Fault near Tasu.
The heat outside the airport is so hot Rita asks Marlo to help her carry Kanayago inside the arrival lobby. The girl’s skin feels hot and clammy.
Kanayago is able to walk on her own as the cooler air of the airport washes over them all. Rita notices that as they wait at Pier C to board Aella makes sure she is always between Ember and Kanayago. There’s no animosity it’s just an elemental thing. She listens in as the elementals discuss nutrition.
Aella is a vegan and explaining to the others that veganism is healthier for the body and environment. Marlo asks what will happen to the species of the animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens if humans no longer consume them. Ember says she is vegetarian and only eats fish. Kayango in a weak voice asks how someone who calls themselves an animal lover can be against eating meat. “Wolves, bears, cats, ravens, and even fish eat other creatures,” Rita hears Kayango say.
“Perhaps not one is better than the other,” Marlo suggests. “It may all depend on circumstances of survival. If there are too few cattle, pigs, chickens, fish, and so on, maybe it would be better to let them replenish.”
“And not simply replace them with other livestock or vegetable foods,” Ember adds.
Rita hopes some of the elementals will take Sustainable Management. Right now though she knows they have to get to the Haida Gwaii before the eclipse. That gives them one day to prepare to meet Kaneki.
A Haida Gwaii Elder meets them at Prince Rupert Airport. He wears a cedar cone shaped hat and a red blanket across his shoulder with the raven symbol on the back. “I will take you back on my boat,” he tells Rita in a solemn voice.
He leads her and the others to a white dugout longboat covered in Haida art. At the stern of the boat Rita sees a large electric outboard motor. The Elder must have noticed her surprise.
“We do not have time to paddle,” he says with a half-smile.
As the boat heads towards the Haida Gwaii she notices they are not going to Skidegate. “Where are we going?” she asks.
“Directly to Tasu. Do you notice the air is cooler here?” he asks.
She does. “Yes.”
“I must get you to the shore of Tasu before the moon blinds the sun. The cooler air tells me that time is soon.”
Rita glances at the others. They are all staring into the distance. “What preparations have you done?” she asks the Elder.
“None,” he replies with a shrug. “If Kaneki is successful the Earth will crack open. He and Rae will be together once again but the rest of us will be devoured in lava. Tasu has been abandoned. You and…” he sweeps his arm at the others, “…will be the only ones there.”
Rita gulps. Failure is not an option than.
https://www.hellobc.com/places-to-go/haida-gwaii
https://spiritsofthewestcoast.com/collections/haida-art
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest_canoes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_management
https://www.plantbasednews.org/news/vegan-mentor-program-challenge-22-seeks-volunteers
https://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=907
https://www.eco.ca/career-profiles/environmental-engineer/
