The Nightmare Life Without Fuel – Isaac Asimov
“The
Nightmare Life Without Fuel” is an essay, which depicts the life of this
world in coming future when the fuel resources will have reduced from their source.
The main thrust of this essay is: what is going to happen if we do not conserve
the world’s natural resources. Asimov focuses on a specific problem that will
arise by the lack of fuels. This whole world is run by different resources such
as petrol, diesel, water, wood, etc. We cannot imagine this world without the
use of fuel. In comparison to the past days, we are now facing the problem of
scarcity of fuel resources. Earlier these resources were found in large
quantity and life style was easier.
As the fuel resources were abundantly
found, every sector was found running successfully and easily. Factories,
industries, transportation, great organizations, etc. were in proper condition.
People didn’t have problem of scarcity of fuel resources. But slowly and
gradually population growth increased and brought bad consequences.
Agricultural lands occupied by huge buildings and industries. Also, the number
of vehicles also increased. Due to the maximum use of the resources, human life
has been in discomfort. Human beings feel that their lives are really
unsecured. They always have fear that they will lose work and food. They think
that they are themselves responsible for causing scarcity of resources. As they
are less conscious of their future, they suffer because of the destruction of
the resources. Most of them claim that they will have new resources invented.
Of course, new resources such as nuclear energy and solar power have been
discovered but they are very dangerous and also expensive in use. People know
that their pleasures are in danger and also their future is dark. Coming
generations will suffer more than us.
Asimov focuses on the decreasing
resources of fuel in the world. The life will be full of struggle without fuel
resources. This world will slowly go dark, as less lighting bulbs will be there
in the streets. Electrical appliances will be used less as there will also be
scarcity of electricity. Even luxurious provisions and equipments will be
impossible. More time will be taken to do simple work also as there won’t be
any vehicle running in the streets. There will be difficulty in transportation
and accumulation of required foodstuffs. Due to the shortage of food, people
will die due to starvation and malnutrition. Due to lack of proper balanced
diet, there will be problem in human brains. Child death rate will increase, as
children will be deprived of proper nutritious and body building food.
Specially, simple towns, suburbs will be affected much. These areas depend upon
transportation for all kinds of things. They will be in danger of extinction.
Every human activity will be minimized due to less light, heat, and less
comfort.
Security forces will also be affected
badly. Without the use of weapons, military forces will be purposeless. Their
work will end because they can’t work without fuel. They use scientific
weapons, which are operate with fuel and are very expensive. Only the
technically strong countries will be able to exercise their military power if
fuel is saved in time. Factory workers will be jobless as industries and
factories will be closed. So, it will be very difficult for them to provide
basic needs to their family also.
Only small benefits will be there due to
lack of fuel. The environment will be fresh, cool and pure. Crime rates will
decrease. People will understand the importance of nature and will go attached
with it. People will be cooperative, as all of them will be facing same
problem. They will keep themselves warm using sweaters and other thick clothes
only.
The writer tries to warn us from the
devastating situation of this world in the coming future. If we are not serious
at present only, we have to suffer a lot in the future. We must t understand
the importance of the nature and try to conserve it. The world is depending upon
the trade and because of trade the environment is being neglected. People are
living in the cities and the environment of the cities is polluted. Major
population of world should be engaged to plant the trees to make a better world
in future. We cannot use the solar easily and even if we use, it cannot
naturally help us. But if we preserve the jungle, our environment and energy
will be improved.
Questions
Answers:
1.
According to the author, what will be the advantage of the fuel crisis?
To begin with it should be very clear
that there’s no advantage at all of fuel crisis. Still, however, the writer has
mentioned some advantages of it. But, they are mentioned ironically.
The first advantage of fuel crisis is that the
air will be cleaner and there will be no air pollution. People will have fewer
colds. People will walk freely in the streets and there will be no danger of
accidents. The parks will be full. On the top of everything, people will
communicate with each other freely and more frequently. There will be fewer
crimes and the policemen will be back to their beats.
On the other hand, there will be peace in
the world. Only the United States and the Soviet Union will have some aero
planes, ships and tankers. Even these countries will not be able to use such
things. People will use things like sweaters, blankets and they will have fresh
air in summer. People will complete their daily activities by the evening and
will go to beds early at nights.
There are many disadvantages of fuel
crisis. All the scientific progress will come to a stop. The factories will be
closed and there will be full unemployment. At the same time, there will be a
total lack of different products in the market.
Due to the lack of transportation, people
of one end of the world will die out of hunger whereas there will be food
supply in the other part of the world. Similarly, medicines also cannot be sent
from one part of the world to another. In those countries where there will be
lack of food, thousands of people will suffer from malnutrition and brain
damage. All the activities will come to an end. Machines will be replaced by
physical labour of human muscles and animals. In short, all the scientific
progress will stop and human civilization will go back to the time before the industrial
revolution or Stone Age.
2.
In Asimov’s essay, what is happening in the rest of the world as America
struggles without fuel?
The writer
shows a very dismal picture of the rest of the world as America struggles
without fuel. People will be starving in many parts of the world. Perhaps, not
more than one in five will have enough to eat. There will be a high rate of
infant mortality. Due to the lack of food, there will be many cases of
permanent brain damage by under nutrition. So much so, many such people will
have to be killed out of mercy.
3. What does the author mean when he says,
“the suburbs were born with the auto, lived with the auto, and are dying with
the auto.”
Ans: People who live in suburbs have many
problems. In one word, we can say that their entire life depends upon autos.
For every little thing, may it be food or medicines, books or other
commodities, they depend on autos. They carry all these things from the nearby
towns by autos. In that case, it will be quite difficult for them to carry the
things, particularly food from towns. Otherwise, they will be almost on the
verge / threshold / entrance of death.
4.
What kinds of serious problems could a fuel shortage cause?
- No normal life
- No food
- No transportation
- No industries
- No production
- No employment
- No civilization
- Malnutrition
- Brain damage
- No Medicines
- Difficult to sustain our life
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