Impoverished women all over Africa who walk miles every day just to feed their families are demanding that everyone on the continent immediately and completely stop using all fossil fuels and save the planet.
“My entire country uses about as much oil today as it did in the year 1974, and I don’t use any,” said a woman walking down a dirt road in rural Nigeria. “I live on less than $2.50 a day. What kind of shape would I be in if I drove a car instead of walking everywhere? So why would I want the modern conveniences made possible by gasoline, coal, or natural gas?”
“We understand and know very well that the world is complicated and that what we are asking for may not be easy,” said the friend, adjusting the heavy basket on her head. “But the climate crisis is also extremely complicated, and this is an emergency. We want this done now – as in right now.”
“Yes,” said the first woman. “Who cares if one in three Africans live below the global poverty line? That just means 422 million people can be in great shape like us.”
“I’m in the best shape of my life even without a functioning national healthcare system,” said her friend. “I’m happy we’re not participating in the orgy of fossil-energy consumption and the suicidal consumption of landscape.”
The first woman nodded solemnly.
“Just like all those white liberals in the West, I think we’ve become a plague upon ourselves and upon the Earth,” she said. “We’ve been waiting for the right virus to come along and wipe us out. I just hope the coronavirus is it for us.”
