What do you think happens when an alien monitoring officer is tasked with judging our planet’s full potential? You get The 100 day report, by Richards TV of 2023 batch, the winning short story of Hridaya 2026.
With the 100 day report, Richards takes us on an intergalactic journey through the eyes of Glorp. Combining science fiction, satire, environmental awareness and social commentary with a hint of humour, this story gives us something to think about.
If we could see the health of our planet, ticking down in real time,
would we finally change?
Well, fellow ‘Earthlings’, Read on to find out. The winning entry begins below.
To whomsoever it may concern within the superior council of the intergalactic federation:
I am Glorp, galactic monitoring officer, Andromeda galaxy’s, and here is my report after observing planet Earth in the milky way galaxy nearby, for the purpose of inducting them into our intergalactic federation.
As you know, a planet within the intergalactic federation is a planet that shows promise, and every planet we have inducted has become prosperous. However, on a personal note, I was not sure if Earth was the right choice for our federation.
They have not even reached type-I civilization status, and are unaware of the full potential of their resources.
They waste time in pointless battles and choose leaders based on popularity over rationality. I really don’t understand what you see in them.
However, their planet is warming up a lot due to intense fossil fuel usage, something which many planets have graduated from using. They have figured out Thermonuclear fission, a cleaner alternative, and still refuse to use it to its fullest.
To borrow a term from the Earthlings, their planet and species are an “epic fail”. Nevertheless, to test their response to crisis, we decided to use their climate change as a tactic. They are neither aware nor do not care about their slow apocalypse.
So, we decided to make them aware.
We put up a “health bar” above Earth in a way everyone can see it. As their planet gets warmer, the health of the planet lowers.
This is my account of what happened afterwards.
Day 0
The health bar appeared. Everyone was panicking and it was then replaced by curiosity. It became a hot topic of discussion in their planet. Scientists of all paths researched to figure out what was going on, and the mechanics of the health bar. And they found out immediately after a country-sized glacier fell apart in the arctic, and the bar went down.
Day 10
Once everyone knew that climate change and global warming contributed to the lowering of the bar, many global leaders and industrialists decided to meet up and discuss further.
These so called leaders arrived in private jets fueled with a blend of fossil fuels and added to the Earth getting warmer. As the days passed, the bar lowered significantly and people found out it was because of the capitalists who destroyed their planet for their profits.
Protests emerged. Some took advantage and tried to sell houseboats and aquatic technologies for a “submerged planet” in the future.
Day 20
Several people who lived simple lives as ascetics and minimalists advocated a simpler life. Their voices became popular.
Many sold their homes and other assets and decided to live more frugal simpler lives.
Everyone decided to do their part to ensure the bar does not lower further.
Day 30
While many chose to help by peaceful means, others showed drastic measures, sometimes outright stupid in nature.
One disrupted a football finals match to make people aware of the bar. One did skydiving without a parachute to show that time was running out and the death of Earth was near; unfortunately his was much closer than Earth.
Many blocked traffic, and some politicians enforced regulations to make people comply.
It was a spectrum of different things that humans did to prevent their health bar from lowering.
Day 40
There was a great revelation. People saw that their efforts did not bring any positive effects. Fossil fuels were still being burned. Trees were still felled. Companies ran production at top capacity.
They all understood their efforts were futile because the work done by millions who cared were neutralized by billions who didn’t bother along with companies driven by greed to protect their profits. All hope was lost for a while.
Day 50
Something miraculous happened. The heat generated over Earth helped develop a mutation in a seawater dwelling algae microorganism. Due to this mutation, it had enhanced reproduction and photosynthesis, which it used to spread throughout all the seas of the planet. Its photosynthesis was better than trees of their planet, and just like that their CO₂ levels went down drastically. It however gave the seas a green tinge. Earth has truly now become a green planet. No thanks to humans.
Day 100
Crisis averted. Life has gone back to normal. The health bar has gone back to normal. Everything is fine for now. I have removed the bar display.
But I’m not sure how it will be in the future.
Concluding remarks
Humans got a real close call with their harmful situation, but it looks like they still have not changed at all!
They still burn fossil fuels, pollute their air and are making the same old mistakes.
A brainless microbe saved the day, and it is still smarter and more sympathetic to their planet than all the humans combined.
Nevertheless, I still think humanity has promise and some time in the future, they might be worthy to be a part of our federation. Just not now.
This concludes my report on planet Earth.
My final verdict: Has potential.
