2020
Nothemba
Which of the four worlds do you believe that your character will be living in?
Carbon is Crime
Why?
The current (2010) crony capitalist system in '1st World' countries, hijacks the green paradigm as a new space to manifest. This plays out to 2020 as follows:-
Computer code for a Carbon Trading virtual market simulation programme (run by a US university in partnership with an NGO) is 'stolen' - and finds its way into the 'real world' of complex financial derivatives. This new created 'derivative-o-sphere' marketplace provides uncapped capital (i.e. fiat currency) to fund rapid advancement of green technology, incentivising these economies to a low-carbon scenario. This feeds the financial engineered model further, and is perpetuated by captured regulators/ government officials/ political parties and parliaments that launch mass propaganda campaigns, in co-hoots with media outlets, to gain popular acceptance of a low-carbon based society.
This has a positive effect on global warming, but an opposite reaction on 'Natural Resource Rich' countries (but populated mainly by poor people) which are penalised for high-carbon economies. A programme is devised to ‘offset’ by supplying minerals (e.g. platinum, uranium etc.) as input to the low carbon technologies with a return of Carbon Currency (or C). Government officials, rich private individuals and businesses thrive in 'Resource Rich' countries from bribes (as payment for their connivance in this system). The inequalities are blatently evident to the Carbon 'have-nots' and fuels extensive civil, and geo-political tensions at a 'grass roots' level. An underground African 9 movement of 'Eco-Terrorists' (called FREEDOM-NO-MORE) turns to a violent struggle.
Computer code for a Carbon Trading virtual market simulation programme (run by a US university in partnership with an NGO) is 'stolen' - and finds its way into the 'real world' of complex financial derivatives. This new created 'derivative-o-sphere' marketplace provides uncapped capital (i.e. fiat currency) to fund rapid advancement of green technology, incentivising these economies to a low-carbon scenario. This feeds the financial engineered model further, and is perpetuated by captured regulators/ government officials/ political parties and parliaments that launch mass propaganda campaigns, in co-hoots with media outlets, to gain popular acceptance of a low-carbon based society.
This has a positive effect on global warming, but an opposite reaction on 'Natural Resource Rich' countries (but populated mainly by poor people) which are penalised for high-carbon economies. A programme is devised to ‘offset’ by supplying minerals (e.g. platinum, uranium etc.) as input to the low carbon technologies with a return of Carbon Currency (or C). Government officials, rich private individuals and businesses thrive in 'Resource Rich' countries from bribes (as payment for their connivance in this system). The inequalities are blatently evident to the Carbon 'have-nots' and fuels extensive civil, and geo-political tensions at a 'grass roots' level. An underground African 9 movement of 'Eco-Terrorists' (called FREEDOM-NO-MORE) turns to a violent struggle.
What has been the most significant event in their life over the past 10 years?
Notemba has moved into a government RDP (reconstruction development plan) house with her mother after the birth of her now 18-month baby boy.
What is most different for the character in 2020 compared the way they lived in 2010?
1. Greater access to technology and information.
2. Her township has been improved with green spaces and sensitive inclusive urban planning.
3. Food has increased in price dramatically due to food taxes introduced by SA government to reduce 'food miles', and improve their dismal Carbon Credit rating on the world financial markets. Food shortages are rife.
4. She has started vertical farming, has a green roof on her RDP house for growing herbs and a micro-gardening site. All these need water which she harvests. There are severe water shortages and heavy penalties for excessive use.
2. Her township has been improved with green spaces and sensitive inclusive urban planning.
3. Food has increased in price dramatically due to food taxes introduced by SA government to reduce 'food miles', and improve their dismal Carbon Credit rating on the world financial markets. Food shortages are rife.
4. She has started vertical farming, has a green roof on her RDP house for growing herbs and a micro-gardening site. All these need water which she harvests. There are severe water shortages and heavy penalties for excessive use.
What has remained the same?
1. People are still hungry
2. Inequality, but not along racial lines, but now discrimination between low-carbon 'Haves' and 'Have-nots'
2. Inequality, but not along racial lines, but now discrimination between low-carbon 'Haves' and 'Have-nots'
What is their lifestyle now?
1. In an attempt to bring/ include 'have-nots' into a carbon based economy, the Government has rolled out a Micro-Carbon-Trading Programme, whereby a chip is inserted under the skin at the back of the right hand. The local people call this a Tokoloshe (a dwarf-like zombie considered a mischievous and evil spirit). This is loaded monthly with a carbon credit (via township Wi-Fi) and is used for purchase of food, water, electricity & goods. The people begrudge this method of payment - but without this chip - have to resort to black market and dangerous dealings.
2. A black economy has developed in food, water, goods and precious metals. This is tightly controlled by FREEDOM-NO-MORE terrorists with party members active and very popular in the 'have-not' communities, including Gugulethu.
3. People are desperate, and is not un-common when walking alone late at night to be accosted by Tsotsi's (bandits) - who cut off the right hand.
2. A black economy has developed in food, water, goods and precious metals. This is tightly controlled by FREEDOM-NO-MORE terrorists with party members active and very popular in the 'have-not' communities, including Gugulethu.
3. People are desperate, and is not un-common when walking alone late at night to be accosted by Tsotsi's (bandits) - who cut off the right hand.
Where is your character living now?
Nothemba is still living in Gugulethu, but is now in a RDP house.
With whom are they living?
She lives with her ageing mother and baby boy.
What is their occupation now?
Nothemba is a very well known and successful social worker, and is still running her HIV orphans programme, although she has a number of overseas volunteers from Sweden assisting, and takes only a steering role.
The SA government launched a '3R' programme, and sponsored Nothemba who set up a business to provide employment for children who were part of her HIV/Aids orphans work 10 years ago. They separate rubbish out of landfill sites and are rewarded with carbon credits 'C' on their right hand chip. She is an exemplary leader of this scheme, is well known in Cape Town, and has regular contact and visits by government officials.
Nothemba more recently devised a programme to 'rehabilitate' young FREEDOM-NO-MORE recruits, who have seen serious action. These kids are serious and dangerous social problems and cause mayhem in the local communities. The main rehabilitation activity is using Art. The children paint, draw and scuplt with no technological stimulation allowed.
The SA government launched a '3R' programme, and sponsored Nothemba who set up a business to provide employment for children who were part of her HIV/Aids orphans work 10 years ago. They separate rubbish out of landfill sites and are rewarded with carbon credits 'C' on their right hand chip. She is an exemplary leader of this scheme, is well known in Cape Town, and has regular contact and visits by government officials.
Nothemba more recently devised a programme to 'rehabilitate' young FREEDOM-NO-MORE recruits, who have seen serious action. These kids are serious and dangerous social problems and cause mayhem in the local communities. The main rehabilitation activity is using Art. The children paint, draw and scuplt with no technological stimulation allowed.
How to they get there?
As payment for Nothembas '3R' programme, the government sponsored her with one of their fleet of Hyrdogen Fuel Cell vehicles. She is very happy, but is thinking of peeling off the large 'C' and Green Flower marketing sticker emblazoned along the side , and using it to tie her green roof herbs to a stick.
How does your character get around in general?
To get around Gugulethu she still uses Cockroaches (illegal taxis), although now these are no longer technically illegal. The Government managed to convince township Cockroach representatives that if they promised to pass a legal driving test - and have a police background check done - then they would be issued with a brand new Electric Vehicle for free. The representatives eventually agreed, and are given extra Carbon points 'C' to their right hand chip.
She still uses trains to get into Cape Town CBD. Metro Rail has signed up to green energy tariffs, although these are costly in terms of 'C' due to the SA governments reluctance to move from coal fire power station base load generation. IPP's have connected hydro, wind and solar technolofies to the grid, but not enough and payback has been slow due to corrupt 'feed-in' tarriff metering and administration.
She still uses trains to get into Cape Town CBD. Metro Rail has signed up to green energy tariffs, although these are costly in terms of 'C' due to the SA governments reluctance to move from coal fire power station base load generation. IPP's have connected hydro, wind and solar technolofies to the grid, but not enough and payback has been slow due to corrupt 'feed-in' tarriff metering and administration.
Do they travel?
Yes - to other African countries in the A9 (African 9). She presents at seminars relating to her '3R' Waste for Jobs and Carbon programme.
What is the furthest distance they have travelled?
To Algeria.
Air travel is now regulated and very expensive. It is not used for leisure travel (except for the extremely rich). Most aircraft flights are now for official government and business use only. Aircraft engine technology has advanced, and is now reverted to external propellers.
Air travel is now regulated and very expensive. It is not used for leisure travel (except for the extremely rich). Most aircraft flights are now for official government and business use only. Aircraft engine technology has advanced, and is now reverted to external propellers.
What is the one place they would like to visit?
New York
What is their favourite meal?
African Salad with Maas (oatmeal porridge but is made of corn with sour milk) and Umngqusho (samp and beans).
What is something they have never eaten but would like to try?
Lasagne
What do they purchase on a regular basis and where?
Milk and bread from the local Carbon Corner Shop.
What was their most expensive purchase?
A carbon calculator - which uses real-time data loaded from the township Wi-Fi and provides a more accurate pricing structure for optimising the time of day or night to make a purchase.
The device is linked directly to high-speed quantative trading models (run on super computers at the local South African derivatives trading desks at Johannesburg Stock Exchange). The signal is broadcast over township Wi-Fi.
This market intervention helps to bring real-time carbon pricing to the 'have-nots' - a Private Banking intiative. Many of the 'haves' are of the opinion that it costs more 'C' than it was worth.
The device is linked directly to high-speed quantative trading models (run on super computers at the local South African derivatives trading desks at Johannesburg Stock Exchange). The signal is broadcast over township Wi-Fi.
This market intervention helps to bring real-time carbon pricing to the 'have-nots' - a Private Banking intiative. Many of the 'haves' are of the opinion that it costs more 'C' than it was worth.
What technology could they not live without? Has this changed over time?
Her laptop with township Wi-Fi access. Most media content is streamed via the internet.
Traditional analogue and digital TV channels have shut down, and frequency spectrums sold-off by the Government for real-time pricing Carbon Calculator systems, Wi-Fi internet, but mostly Military use.
Traditional analogue and digital TV channels have shut down, and frequency spectrums sold-off by the Government for real-time pricing Carbon Calculator systems, Wi-Fi internet, but mostly Military use.
What was the last book/website they read/perused?
Theory of the HIV virus and mutation to an airborne state of transference (by Dr. P.D. Mzolo) ISBN0092953672212 (C23 rated)
How does the character socially interact now?
She spends less time with friends and more time with her baby son. She likes to video chat via a site called CARBONLIFE (i.e. sold to the Microsoft Corporation by Facebook once they had perfected advertising algorithms with ad. clicks instantly converted into 'C').
How do they relax?
Nothemba goes to the beach.
What is their next big life event?
Her boyfriend is being released from Prison next year January, after being jailed for carrying out a FREEDOM-NO-MORE mission that went wrong. His gang had a failed hijack attempt on a Platinum truck - destined for a Hydrogen cell manufacturing facility.
Precious metals carry extremely high value on the black market, and also used as ransom. This model was inherited from Somalia Pirates in the year 2010 (i.e if you remember back - the ones that were disgruntled fisherman whose fishing stock had been depleted and turned to piracy for survival of their communities)
Precious metals carry extremely high value on the black market, and also used as ransom. This model was inherited from Somalia Pirates in the year 2010 (i.e if you remember back - the ones that were disgruntled fisherman whose fishing stock had been depleted and turned to piracy for survival of their communities)
What do they care most about now?
Teaching young teenages how to start, run and manage their own '3R' programmes.
What is a headline from their local paper now?
MINI-ROBOTS HARVEST CARROTS IN GUGULETHU, AND
WIRELESS HACKER APREHENDED AFTER LAUNCHING ATTACK ON CARBON CALCULATOR NETWORK FROM GUGLETHU
WIRELESS HACKER APREHENDED AFTER LAUNCHING ATTACK ON CARBON CALCULATOR NETWORK FROM GUGLETHU
In a paragraph describe a typical day in the life for your character from the moment they wake up until they go to bed.
- Wake up at 5:30am.
- Eat porridge with milk and sugar
- Brush teeth with solar powered toothbrush (it charges in the window during the day)
- Collect water from above ground rain harvest tank. Insert bio-chemical to remove heavy-metal content present in all rainfall.
- Drive to work in new car (contemplate if Cockroaches really do have a driving license)
- Visit AIDS orphans and then to the Refuse Site for the latest '3R' programme. Inspect carbon credit spreadsheets with Accountant, and allocations to various participants.
- Moves on after lunch time to the Eco-terrorist Rehabilitation School, to do some non-technical Art and healing therapy.
- Goes home at 17:00 to play with her son, eat dinner and relax later on with chatting to her friend in the corner Shebeen.
- Eat porridge with milk and sugar
- Brush teeth with solar powered toothbrush (it charges in the window during the day)
- Collect water from above ground rain harvest tank. Insert bio-chemical to remove heavy-metal content present in all rainfall.
- Drive to work in new car (contemplate if Cockroaches really do have a driving license)
- Visit AIDS orphans and then to the Refuse Site for the latest '3R' programme. Inspect carbon credit spreadsheets with Accountant, and allocations to various participants.
- Moves on after lunch time to the Eco-terrorist Rehabilitation School, to do some non-technical Art and healing therapy.
- Goes home at 17:00 to play with her son, eat dinner and relax later on with chatting to her friend in the corner Shebeen.