Nexus News - Issue 5 

Siren Makes Historic Speech At United Nations 

Supermodel / superhero Siren made an historic speech at the United Nations this week, urging environmental reforms. Here is a complete transcript:

Honourable delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I have come before you today to add my voice to the thousands of voices who have presented the truth to you. Those of you who know me may be surprised that I have chosen this cause above all others to speak for. Why, you may wonder, would this person select such an unglamorous duty as spokesperson for the environment? The environmentalist image being one of half-crazed, unwashed, unshaven activist who chain themselves to trees, why would this woman chose to be a part of it.

Having lived on this planet for many years, I have always exercised the option of avoiding situations. Rather than becoming involved, I would leave and wait for it to find it’s own solution, believing that it had little to do with me. However, there is no longer any place to run to, any safe haven where the effect will not be felt. We know now that we are not alone in the universe - that there are many worlds out there, inhabited by many beings of all descriptions. But none is like this one that we call home. It remains a jewel of a planet, a special, even magical place in the universe. But there is a threat to our home so vast, that even I cannot escape its impact.

The planet is dying of a cancer so powerful only extreme measures can save the Earth from destruction. We are that cancer. With our irresponsible and careless use of the bounty provided by the Earth, we have wasted in a few short decades what should have sustained our species and all other life for eternity.

The signs are all around us, yet we have ignored them in pursuit of our own reckless pleasure and indulgence In pursuit of money and glory, we have sacrificed our children’s lives.

Once upon a time, saving the environment was fashionable. Big business and public relations saw a profit in using the preservation instincts of the populous to sell product. Eventually, the fad passed and we moved on to the next thing that caught our fancy.

This blind and hedonistic approach to life is nothing more than suicide for every human being on the Earth.

I have lent my voice, such as it is, to this cause above all others for a reason. This is my home. There is no lunar base to flee to when we have contaminated the Earth beyond habitation. There is no other place where we might run. I and all my friends and family, everyone I have ever met, or hope to meet, must live here forever. This is not sentimental environmentalism – this is selfish self-preservation.

We have no more excuses. We have the technology and resources to build a sustainable relationship with our world; to be the stewards of our planet.

To this end, I have been called upon to chair GAIA, an international consortium of the world’s leading scientists, who as we speak, are researching and developing new technologies to provide the people of the Earth with the power required to sustain us with no harm to the environment as well as advanced clean-up technology

I call upon the honourable delegates before me to instate these policies of self-preservation. You have all been presented with the documentation and have had time to review it. I ask that you now raise your hands to vote for the immediate implementation of this treatise. All efforts will be made by GAIA to assist those countries that need it to make these changes with the least amount of disruption. I will continue to lend whatever support I can, wherever it is needed.

Please take this opportunity to rescue your citizens, your neighbours, yourself and your children from destruction. Please vote yes.

A Canadian geological survey team are attempting to drill through the East Antarctic Ice Sheet - over 3KM thick - to study the composition of the land frozen beneath it. With the discovery of a Martian meteor containing microscopic fossils two years ago, there has been a renewed interest in Antarctica and its key to understanding how life on Earth began. It's an exciting time for all. Said one member of the team, "We're exploring a land that no man has ever been to; it's the last frontier on Earth. We'll be examining soil that's millions of years old - before the last ice age and beyond. It's a great adventure." An adventure, no doubt that will change how we see the world forever.

The TSE, NYSE and the Nikkei were buzzing today with the news that Alex Harris, inventor of the CANFU fusion reactor and D.A.V.E. artificial intelligence system has offered a new breakthrough in microprocessor technology to Sun Microsystems to develop. Harris was in a secret meeting earlier today with officials from S.M. in Taipei and was on his way through the airport heading home when he was cornered by reporters. "I developed the chip and now I am handing it over to Sun. I don't have the resources or the time or the staff to mass produce this thing yet, but they have all the infrastructure already in place. They produce 90% of the world's microprocessors anyway, so they can handle the demand. Once I have enough of the chips for myself, I plan on building the next generation of D.A.V.E. computers, although I haven't picked a name yet. After that, Sun can sell the chips to the public and I'll keep a percentage to continue to fund the Institute." Harris had handed a copy of the design over to the Sun team, keeping the original to himself in his briefcase, chained to his wrist for safekeeping. With him was Canadian Shield alumnus Chinook, here in her role as his personal bodyguard, but their relationship goes beyond that, as Chinook - now going by her given name of Shalla Whitefeather - revealed their engagement, "We plan on marrying in the spring," she said proudly. Asked why he chose to develop the chip in Taiwan when the situation is so dangerous, Harris quipped "I'm in safe hands here," adding "I have every confidence in the men and women of our armed forces and their abilities to avert a disaster. Canada, the US and Britain have already committed troops to the region and more are on the way. There's no way they'll let such an important resource fall into the hands of communists. Taiwan must stay safe and free!" and with that, the crowd broke into ecstatic cheering.

Prime Minster John Cockburn announced today that he was modifying his prior plan of dismantling the Canadian Shield and the CSF program. "I can see a definate need for the continued safety and security of the Canadian people. If we want to encourage foreign investment to keep our economy moving - as we do - then we have to ensure that it is safe to do business here in Canada. Most assuredly, it is." Instead of a complete cancellation, Canadian Shield will be centralized, with the coastal teams reduced to a reserve, rather than a full-time force. Salaries will be trimmed across the board and equipment will be pooled and modified to meet the demands of a large diverse population. In addition, the organization will work towards self-sufficiency with spin-off products such as calendars, comic books, movies, novels and action-figures. "There is enough fan interest now to sustain this organization if it's done right. We have a hot property here and we can make it work." The modifications to the program will be made effective immediately. "People hate uncertainty; we want to show them we're all set and ready to go."