Rabbit Island Supporting Material
The Cryophiles Dream
In 2096, the world had reached the peak of the climate crisis. Lake Superior, once a pristine and iconic Great Lake, was struggling. Jack, a man from the Great Lakes region, was determined to restore the lake to its historical form, a glacier. He knew that glaciers played a crucial role in regulating the planet's temperature and water cycle, but they were disappearing at an alarming rate. Jack developed a plan to create artificial glaciers using ice makers.
He assembled a team of like-minded individuals and developed a portable ice maker that produced ice blocks quickly and efficiently. The team transported the ice blocks to the lake and placed them in the water. As the blocks accumulated, they eventually formed an icefield akin to a glacier.
As the artificial glacier grew, wildlife from the far north returned to a facsimile of their habitat. Word of Jack's efforts spread, and he formed an organization called Glaciers for the Future. They produced ice blocks on a larger scale and placed them in bodies of water all over the world.
Despite opposition from those resistant to change, Glaciers for the Future continued to expand. They developed new technologies, like using drones to create and transport ice blocks. Funding increased, and they were able to restore entire glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctic.
As Jack looked out over the surface of the Glacier Superior, he felt a sense of pride and satisfaction. He had helped to restore a precious ecosystem and had inspired others to take action. The glaciers of the world were returning, and with them, a sense of hope for the future.
The Crocus Rebellion
In the early years of the twenty-first century, the world had changed in ways that no one had predicted. The year 2053 marked the last time that the crocus, a symbol of hope and renewal, would reliably bloom during the spring in the United States. Climate change had made the winters so warm that the ground no longer froze hard enough for the corms to sense the seasons.
In the heartland of America, a small group of dedicated crocus enthusiasts refused to let the precious flowers disappear. They began planting the corms in pots and every winter, they would bring them to industrial freezers for ten weeks to trick the crocuses into believing that the world still had a cold winter. This small act of defiance sparked something greater – a movement that would become a symbol of resistance against the climate crisis and the societal stratification that was tearing the country apart.
As the years went by, the practice of "crocus winterization" grew from a niche pastime into a major industry. But this burgeoning market only served to highlight the growing class divide, as only the upper class could afford the annual freezing of their corms. The irony was not lost on the masses: the very people who could afford to preserve this small reminder of a more stable climate were also those who contributed the most to the worsening of the crisis through their energy-intensive refrigeration methods.
Despite the growing resentment, the crocus winterization industry continued to expand, eventually becoming a standardized process. The corms were meticulously cared for and distributed to their wealthy owners in such a way that they would all bloom in time for the spring equinox. The crocus blooms, once a symbol of hope, now represented the stark divide between the haves and the have-nots. In response, families from less affluent backgrounds would travel around their local areas, visiting the gated communities and manicured estates of the rich, to catch a glimpse of the crocuses in bloom. These flowers served as a painful reminder of a climate that had once been safer for all.
As the years passed, the gap between the wealthy elite and the struggling masses grew wider. The crocus, once a humble herald of spring, had become a potent symbol of inequality and environmental neglect. Anger simmered beneath the surface, and it was only a matter of time before the people took matters into their own hands.
It began with small acts of defiance. Vandals scaled the walls of the privileged, stealing corms and distributing them to their communities. The spirit of the original crocus enthusiasts lived on in these rebels, who sought to reclaim the flowers as a symbol of hope and renewal for all. The movement gained momentum, and soon the crocus rebellion was in full bloom. People from all walks of life joined the cause, advocating for environmental and social change. They marched on the streets, demanding an end to the unsustainable practices that had led to the climate crisis and a redistribution of resources to those who needed them most.
As the pressure mounted, the elite could no longer ignore the cries of the people. The crocus winterization industry, once a symbol of wealth and privilege, now stood as a monument to the disastrous consequences of unchecked greed and shortsightedness. In a surprising turn of events, the upper class began to crumble, their power eroded by the populist uprisings that swept the nation.
The revolution was not without its sacrifices, but it led to monumental changes in society. The crocus winterization industry was dismantled, and new, more sustainable practices were put in place to ensure the preservation of the crocuses and other endangered flora. Resources were allocated to research and development of green technologies, and wealth was redistributed in a way that lessened the gap between the rich and the poor.
As the climate began to stabilize and communities started to heal, the crocus took on a new meaning. No longer a symbol of inequality and environmental degradation, it now stood as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of collective action. Families from all social backgrounds gathered each spring to celebrate the blooming of the crocuses.
Ice Hauling
In the year 2155, the industry of ice haulers had returned as a luxury service, much like it had been in the past. The job of ice hauling had a long and fascinating history, dating back to the 1800s and the heyday of the ice trade.
Back then, ice was a valuable commodity, especially in the summer months when refrigeration was not yet a common technology. Ice haulers would travel to remote locations, such as frozen lakes and rivers, and cut blocks of ice from the frozen water. These blocks were then transported to cities and towns, where they were sold to families and businesses.
The ice trade continued well into the 1900s, until the advent of modern refrigeration technology made it obsolete. But in the year 2155, the industry had returned, this time as a luxury service, due to the widespread pollution of the world's water sources with toxic chemicals.
Nate was a modern-day ice hauler, piloting his vehicle across the vast frozen tundra of the northern hemisphere. He knew the history of his job well, having studied the stories of the ice haulers of the past. He felt a connection to these brave men and women, who had braved the harsh conditions of the frozen north to provide a valuable service to their communities.
As he flew his vehicle across the frozen landscape, Nate thought about the changes that had led to the return of the ice hauling industry. The world had become industrialized and polluted, and the once-pristine water sources had become toxic and unusable. But there were still places where the water was clean and cold enough to freeze in the winter, and it was from these places that Nate harvested his ice.
Nate spent several days harvesting the ice and carefully packing it into his vehicle’s cargo hold. When he arrived at the client’s estate, he was amazed by the opulence and luxury of the place. The client was waiting for him and was pleased with the large blocks of ice. He thanked Nate and paid him handsomely.
As Nate left, he felt a sense of sadness. The fact that clean water had become such a luxury item was a stark reminder of how far the world had fallen. But he also felt a sense of pride in his job, knowing that he was helping to provide an essential service to those who had the means to pay. And he would continue to do so, for as long as he was able.