Time Capsule Found on the Dead Planet

For this activity, students will write a utopian counter to Atwood’s dystopia.

Contemplate an alternative future to the dystopia Atwood invents in her text. Whereas Atwood’s narrative is pessimistic, you will be solution-oriented for this writing assignment. Remember that Atwood wrote her poem in 2009, and even though the issues she raises continue, more people are now conscious of the threats posed by climate change.

• First, instead of writing a parable about greed, think of a value or principle you believe humans must adopt to fight climate change together. This could be something like altruism, collectivism, sacrifice, empathy, or education.
• Once you have selected a value, identify a physical object for people to rally behind. Whereas Atwood uses money as the manifestation of greed, your object should symbolize how humanity comes together. This could be something like a piece of technology, a group of people, or a natural object.
• Next, write the story of how humans united to fight against greed and climate change. Tell the story in the first person plural, from the perspective of people living in the future, after the climate crisis has been defeated. Your story can start at any point between the Industrial Revolution and the present day, but it must include four distinct ages, and at least two of them must be in a speculative future.