Waiting for the Zephyr...And Wind Power

In the twenty-first century, one would expect to ponder about energy alternatives to fossil fuels. "Waiting for the Zephyr" by Tobias Buckell answers this question by taking a familiar theme of a kid wanting to leave her parents' farm to work in a flourishing city. The city may not offer any better alternatives to life but it could be better than nothing with the farms dying out in a world that has officially run out of conventional fuel.

So would "Waiting for the Zephyr" be based on possibilities for wind power, that we should stop using fossil fuels and start searching for alternatives? I would believe that would be the case. You already have examples of wind power through wind mills. Wind power is considered to be "renewable" because wind will continue to blow as long as the sun shines on Earth's surface. The ancient Egyptians and other cultures used sails to power their vessels with wind. The wind mills were constructed to grind wheat and other crops, not to mention pumping water. In the 1970s, due to concern of oil shortages, wind power was explored as an energy alternative. The 1990s also saw exploration of wind power for concerns of the environment. Today, wind power and other sources of energy, such as biofuel, are being explored as possible replacements for fossil fuels. Most wind programs are based on the United States and Europe, where governments place most support in wind production. The United States is rated as number six in terms of wind power in the world. Holland, of course, is best known for its windmills.

There are even projects related to wind generators, with websites like this one here that details research and construction of wind power devices. People can gather some materials to make their own wind powered instruments! It goes so far that people are responsible for the world around them and that they should do their best to make it as less polluted as possible.

The Chinese proverb "May you live in interesting times" has never been so revelant. Humanity is threatened by nuclear weaponry, biological armaments and the possibility of its resources being used up. "Waiting for the Zephyr" offers a future where there is doom, but not so much gloom that there are wind-powered devices moving around. Perhaps one day we will rely on not only alternate fuels, but alternate vehicles that take advantage of the sky's versatility and grandeur.

- Kristopher