DeweyDevil's Blog

This weeks business week reviewed a new book out....

Its called " The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman. No this is not so much a tree hugger save the planet type book. Its actually a what if doomsday book.

The premise is what if all humans disappeared off the planet tomorrow. What would be our legacy?

How would our "civilization" break down? What would be left?

He took one of our most symbolic "landmarks" manhattan as an example.

If we disappeared tomorrow, within a week the subway system would be flooded because we have people constantly fixing the pump systems down there.... Within a month a river would be flowing down broadway. Within a year buildings would start collapsing in new york city due to the flooding and rust.

The same would hold true in most major cities. Smaller more isolated towns would last a few years maybe a decade or two....

Within 50-100 years most buildings would be reduced to rubble. Nature would once again claim what always was its rightful claim.

Dams would stop functioning, flooding of plains would occur.

Wildlife would creep back or more likely flood back into once densly populated areas using the rubble as nesting or den material...

It is very provactive in its premise and  makes you realize...

With all our advancements and wonderous things we do.... Our legacy? The only thing that will survive?

Plastic. It does not break down.

In a million years if aliens were to come and start digging into the ground.... What will they think of the barbie doll and its creators?

The book can be found here

http://www.amazon.com/World-Without-Us-Alan-Weisman
/dp/0312347294