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Putting the Planet Back Together

We'll get by with a little help from my friends!

By John Oliver SmithPublished 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 19 min read
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Putting the Planet Back Together
Photo by 愚木混株 cdd20 on Unsplash

I had some time to myself the other day, and I was thinking. Let’s say that someone, like God maybe, gave me a job to select a committee of all-star individuals that would put their heads together and come up with a plan of action to save the Planet. Who would I pick, living or dead, to serve on that committee? And, what would be my reasons for selecting the chosen few? Well, I thought about it and I came up with a list of 30 people (past and present) whom I think would do a pretty good job of “gettin’ ‘er done”. The people I have chosen to be on this hypothetical committee are listed in no particular order of importance. They simply need to be sitting somewhere around the table when the process starts. I have also included a short present-tense selection rationale for each candidate along with a photo to remind us all of their strength and character.

I informally challenge other VOCAL writers to compose similar lists. I would be very interested to read those lists assembled by other authors. We do need to save the planet. Nobody seems to be on the same page anymore, about anything, and it’s getting sort of scary. So maybe, if enough of us vote informally on those we would like to be on the revival team, and if enough people read our stories, it will “be out there” in the universe and maybe it will start to happen for real.

So much more than just a regular person!!

Michelle Obama – Ms. Obama needs to be on the team because she is bright, intelligent and courageous. For eight years, she was as close as one can get to the decision making process necessary to keep the world, it's people and it's economy working. She knows what it takes to get things done and she knows who to talk too to get the ball rolling. I look forward to her views on potential solutions to planetary discord and to her energy and commitment in making earth a better place for all who live here. I also hear that she is married to a guy that might be able to lend a hand here and there, now that he isn't so busy!!

He can sing a song twice - at the same time!

Pete Seeger – Pete has been selected to this prestigious committee because of his political astuteness. He speaks for the trees and the workers of the globe. He has been influenced by some of the great working-class minds of our time and previously. He ultimately knows ‘right’ from ‘wrong’ and ‘left’. His interpretation of the world’s problems and his calm and relaxed take on important things will allow him to contribute valuable insight into a list of solutions. He is also a poet and a songwriter which makes him a strong candidate for group recorder and spokesperson.

What the world needs now . . .

Tommy Douglas – was once voted by Canadians, as the greatest Canadian to have ever lived. He fathered political integrity in Canada and fought for the farmer, the fisherman, the forestry worker and the businessman alike. He pioneered the idea of universal Medi-care on the premise that if a country devises social programs that look after those most in need of being looked after, everyone’s needs will just naturally be looked after as a result. For those reasons alone, he deserves a spot on the committee. As well, he adds a much-respected old-school discipline and cohesiveness to the conduct of the group. When I was a child, my family had a framed picture of Tommy Douglas on a shelf in the living room, right there beside our school pictures and other photos of Grandpa and Grandma and my cousins. Until I was about 10 years old, I thought Tommy Douglas was my uncle!

By his own account - 'Born a crime'

Trevor Noah – Trevor has himself suffered the affects of racism. His birth was a “crime” as he has describes it in his writings and live performances. He is more than stellar at exposing the hypocrisies and atrocities in existence in the world today. He would add an extremely entertaining and articulate voice to the collective speak of the table. I look forward to the manner in which he expresses his own views and in the interpretation of other views around the table.

Just a kid!

Patti Smith – Not only is Patti Smith a talented musician and a poetic songwriter, but she is a brilliant writer of prose. She has a pension for being able to see the world in a way that no other is able to. To see the same things that everyone else sees, but to think thoughts about those things that have never been thought by anyone. She has the ability to put into words, the most important personal and social issues of our time. I think it would be so cool if her chair at the table was in between Tommy Douglas and Rosa Parks.

Don't fool yourself - he's really, really intelligent too!

Bill Gates – Bill Gates has been accused of having too much money. He has been called to task, for spending only billions of dollars on global and social issues when he should have spent billions and billions and billions of dollars. He has been further criticized for only spending money on problems that end up benefitting him in the long run. All of that may or may not be true. However, the reason I would include Bill Gates on this committee is because he is a forward-thinking businessman with enough intelligence and character to match wits with anyone else in the world. If a goal-scorer had to be selected from this committee to notch the final shoot-out tally in the world championship, Bill Gates would be the guy. Also, yeh, he’s got a ton of money. If he had others like Tommy Douglas and Princess Diana persuading him to put it in the right direction, he would definitely be a game-breaker.

Adds a force and presence to any group

Dwayne Johnson – Dwayne Johnson has the attitude of a winner. There is nothing in the world he would not be able to do if he put his mind to it. Because of his constant 120% effort, he has been successful in every venture he has ever attempted in his life. Professional wrestling, acting and family life all require dedication, long hours and commitment. He is the poster child for all of it. I think that Dwayne Johnson could add the 'rah-rah' and motivation needed to keep the group going through some difficult times of indecision. He has the ability to focus himself and to keep a group focused on the tasks at hand. Through size and personality alone, he exhibits a presence like no other. He could definitely lead the charge when it comes time to present the final results to the world. He would also be very handy to have around if the heavy oak meeting-table and/or other furniture had to be rearranged.

Every planet-saving group needs an Oprah!!

Oprah Winfrey – Nobody pushes Oprah Winfrey around. She has her own television show and her own magazine so, she alone could be the conduit to the rest of the world regarding promotion for the ideas drummed up by our committee. She, like Bill Gates, has a shit-load of money so, she could change the world, all by her lonesome if she chose to do that. Oprah also has a heart and she knows how to ask a question. In fact she knows how to ask a difficult question – one that requires a lot of thought before it can be answered properly. I think Oprah could be one of the navigational compasses of conscience in the group. I think that after this committee is finished saving the planet, Oprah Winfrey should then run for the President of the United States.

. . . working on the soundtrack for the committee as we speak!

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – I like the idea of having a creative genius like Mozart on the Planet-Saving Committee. He would play a huge roll in helping others to see things in a way that no one else is capable of. If we had Mozart on one side of the table and sitting across from Patti Smith and Richard Feynman on the other side, I think the group would be encouraged to consider things that might otherwise escape them. Mozart would also be responsible for writing and arranging the movie score and soundtrack for the proceedings of the meeting sessions.

"Everything that has happened, happened because of me."

Arthur Miller – Arthur Miller has a keen eye for seeing exactly what is going on in the world at any particular moment. He is able to then describe, in layman’s terms, the issues troubling each and every one of us. In saving the planet, it is necessary to consider the character of man and what makes him tick. Arthur Miller is the perfect man for the job. He is courageous and not prone to caving to the outside pressures of higher authority. He will speak his mind and tell it like it is. Miller is also a self-starter and able to take responsibility for getting things done. He does not pass the buck. He once said, “Around here, everything that has happened, happened because of me!” He is of the ilk that – IF IT IS TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME and will take full responsibility for what has happened. That sort of attitude is important on a team of superstars. It would be so easy to let someone else carry the load, when each and every person on the team is certainly capable of doing just that.

All we are saying is give peace a chance.

Aung San Suu Kyi – As a political leader in Myanmar, she exhibits tremendous courage in standing up to the brutality of the military Junta of her day. She stands for what she believes and was imprisoned and/or confined to house arrest for doing so. She has shown her commitment and dedication to her beliefs and principles and has spent nearly 20 years of her life in confinement because of it. She has survived assassination attempts and the unwarranted ridicule of foreign governments and journalists the world over. She merely did what she had to do so that elections would not be nullified and she would be allowed to rule the country. It didn’t work though – they saw through it and she was again imprisoned. She is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and certainly deserves a chair at our committee table, if for no other reason - for her courage and her conviction to peace in her own country and around the world.

It's a good day to solve a problem . . .

Chief Dan George – He is a truly non-militant spokesperson for the indigenous american people. His calm and soft-spoken demeanor is an attribute that would contribute greatly to the discussions at our committee table. He is a deep-thinking intelligent philosopher, capable of conversing with anyone, regardless of age, gender, nationality, socio-economic status or ethnic background. His insights into the workings of mankind and the world are far beyond that of most, and he would be a spiritual leader for everyone sitting at our table. When Chief Dan George speaks, everyone listens.

A genuinely happy guy.

Dalai Lama – This man is perhaps the epitome of peace and love. We all live our lives within one of two possible matrices. One matrix is love, the other is fear. If we base all of what we do in our lives, on love, our path will always be a path with heart. If we base our actions on fear then we end up hating, and when we end up hating, the world becomes a miserable place in which to live. Having Dalai Lama on the Saving-the-Planet team will be a positive feature, because he will insist on each decision and resolution made, being made with love. No fear allowed.

Now a team doctor with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL

Hayley Wickenheiser – Hayley has worked tremendously hard through her entire life as a student, a world-class athlete, a coach and a doctor, to become the best of what she does. She is capable of so much and is the perfect strong spokesperson for athletes, and indeed women around the world. Her inclusion on the team will bring with it a sense of strength and determination. She is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and get to work.

More than just a baseball player

Jackie Robinson – To say that Jackie Robinson knows what it takes to perform brilliantly at the highest possible level while fighting against the greatest imaginable barriers to success in the process, is an understatement. Mr. Robinson has seen the brutality of racism and has, in spite of what he's been through, gone courageously forward in his life with great flare. He knows what it takes to accomplish that and he knows what needs to be done to provide equality for all of humankind. As a bonus, if the committee ever decides to put together a celebrity baseball team, this guy will be a great asset!

How could you not want her as your Prime-minister?

Jacinda Ardern – The world of politics is not always kind to those who work within its confines. Many of those who work as politicians may finesse their way through all of the political minefields but they are not leaders by any stretch of the imagination. Jacinda Ardern is not only a politician but she is a leader, and a fearless one at that. She has a plan and she plans with love and conviction. The decisions she makes are based solely on love and what is right. She will never be criticized by those she leads. As testimony to her work as a world leader, just check her track record in New Zealand's fight to end the Covid pandemic. She is definitely the type of person needed to put the planet back together.

. . . and he's still smiling

Nelson Mandela – Having spent so many years of his life in prison as a result of standing up for what he so courageously and rightfully believes, is a true indication of his commitment to the better good. He believes, not only in his country and his people but in all people world-wide. His conviction and dedication to freeing mankind from the cruelties of racism is exactly what our Saving-the-Planet team needs. He is definitely not afraid of anything and is willing to sacrifice his own freedom for that of others. We will gladly trade years of first-round draft picks and hefty cash settlements, to get him on the team.

A great guy to have in the neighbourhood!

Tom Hanks - Tom Hanks could write volumes on what it means to walk in someone else’s shoes. He knows what it feels like to be rich, poor, lonely, disease-ridden, in love, heart-broken, sick, dying, lost and everything in between. He is selected to this team, not only for his intelligence and insight but for his empathy and for the creative manner in which he is able to articulate the problems in the world. The team will look to him when it comes time to evaluate the decisions they make regarding the welfare of man. He also adds value to the team because of the familiarity the movie-goers of the world have with him. If he is not the face of the team, he is at least a smile on that face.

Rosy

Rosalind Franklin – She will put in the hours. She will do the work and check the figures and she will make sure that everything makes sense. She is the kind of individual who is willing to do more than her share and receive less than her share of credit for what has been accomplished. She is an example to the rest of the team members of what sort of effort and humility is needed to put the planet back together. She is indeed a team player, capable of carrying the ball and capable of designing and presenting the next play. Along with Oprah Winfrey and Richard Feynman, she may be one of the greatest question-posers on the team.

A true hero

Rosa Parks – This woman is chosen to be on the team because of her courage and dedication to do what needs to be done. Like so many others on the committee, Rosa Parks will not take the wrong answer for an answer and she will not let the world walk over her. She not only knows what is right, but she is peacefully determined to do what is right and courageous enough to persist in the quest. Rosa - we want YOU!!

Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman!!!

Richard Feynman – With Richard Feynman at the table, there will never be a shortage of ideas - brilliant ideas!! Ideas are always the starting point when it comes to solving any problem. Feynman is so well-versed in the world of theoretical physics that he is easily able to construct theoretical models and analogies for almost any phenomenon known to man. What he can dream and theorize, Patti Smith can interpret and Tom Hanks can act out, with the understanding, of course, that Bill Gates will always have the money to pay for it.

Natural Historian Extraordinaire

Sir David Attenborough – He arguably possesses the greatest off-the-top-of-your-head knowledge of natural history ever known to man. He has likely forgotten more about the ecology and interconnectedness of the non-human species on the planet than most will ever know. One of his many contributions to the workings of the committee will be to represent the global collection of plant and animal species. He, will indeed, speak for the trees, and birds, and fish, and jaguars. What is not right for them, is just not right for anyone. Without the non-human element on earth, humankind would be quickly reduced to a shallow and meager existence.

. . . and it is the most dangerous one you'll ever see . . .

Steve Irwin – If Sir David Attenborough is the BRAIN of the body that speaks for the plants and animals and their various ecosystems and biomes around the planet, then Steve Irwin is the HEART & SOUL of that body. Steve Irwin encompasses all of the love and passion for the living organisms on this planet, a thousand times over. If every one of us had just one single drop of the enthusiasm that Steve Irwin possesses for the creatures of this world, no human action would ever take place that didn’t first consider the welfare of our feathered and furry and not-so-furry friends. Steve would not only bring that spirit to the committee table for all to feed off of, but he would bring a general inoculation of enthusiasm for life that would spread to everyone in the group. Crikey! - That’s just the kind of guy he is.

. . . I wonder if . . .

Thomas Edison – Inventors are a mixture of creativity and science – a mixture of design and determination. They see the need for something to be done in the world and they have all the genius and imagination it takes to come up with something that satisfies that need. Thomas Edison imagined the idea of using reflective surfaces to increase the volume of light produced by a single candle in order that a doctor could perform a life-saving surgery on Edison’s mother. He went on to invent the light bulb and all the off-shoots of that. I vote that we hand Thomas a few of the world’s problems to mull over and, see what he comes up with.

She can definitely make it happen.

Princess Diana – Lady Diana is naturally of a helpful bent. She is arguably the most popular and recognizable person in the world – ever. She would not only be the face of the Saving-the-Planet committee, along with Tom Hanks perhaps, but she has already networked much of the groundwork for doing important work to help the cause. Her position of power and her popularity and personality bring a tremendous amount of effectiveness to the table when it comes to lobbying world leaders for support and action.

Beautiful Mind

David Suzuki – He is perhaps one of the greatest pop-culture, social scientists of our time. He not only understands his field of expertise (zoology & genetics), but he is able to relate that body of knowledge to it’s human history and to the social fabric of the world today. He is also a question asker and can direct a study or investigation of a problem-solving group, just by phrasing a question in the right way. He will definitely be an important asset to our team for both his background in science and his familiarity with media and journalism. And being Canadian, he can likely play hockey. So between him and Hayley Wickenheiser, the committee could probably field a pretty good Rec-Hockey team!!

Fearless Artist

Frida Kahlo – Frida Kahlo is not simply another creative mind which adds to the imaginative brain power of the committee. She is an artist, but also an activist and a person of the people. She has the ability to strive for fairness and what is right with never-ending persistence. She has an intensity and a vibrant personality which is more than important during the long sessions of problem-solving which will, no doubt arise from time to time. I would love to sit her at the committee table between Steve Irwin and Dwayne Johnson, just to see the electricity generated by them.

"Not one of your pertinent ancestors was squashed, devoured, drowned or starved . . ."

Bill Bryson – He is our man when it comes to the translation of the world. The volumes of research he has amassed in the writing of his many books, puts him in a position to be like an instant Google App, sitting right at the table. Bryson is a witty intelligent writer, totally capable of taking the most intellectual of topics and filtering out the extraneous language and providing the bones and meat, in layman’s terms, to the man on the street. His background in writing on such a wide variety of topics, puts him in an excellent position to transcribe from the group, its findings and solutions, and translate for the many, many users of the committee’s work.

Definitely one of the bravest

Amelia Earhart – What sort of confidence and courage does it take to fly a plane? Especially a plane manufactured in the adolescent stages of aviation. What sort of personal drive and fortitude does it take to up those qualities a notch, and fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean? Amelia is one tough adventurous woman who will add a spark and a drive to this team that could help to see this project through any sort of rough weather. Having her in the room will serve as an inspiration and a constant reminder of what is possible if we believe. And, if the group needs to hop and skip around the globe to meet in other locations - we already have someone to fly the team airplane.

My favorite Canadian Governor General

Adrienne Clarkson – A former Canadian broadcaster and journalist, who also served time as the Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson is one who knows so many different sides of the world and at so many different levels. She is well-versed it what effort and determination is required to gather information and then present it to the public. She can ask tough questions with the best of them and she knows the law and she knows the ins and outs of government. She will be such a valuable resource and go-to person on our team whenever there is a need for hard work and valuable information.

So, there are the 30 members of my Planet-Saving team. Characteristics they all have in common are courage, dedication, intelligence and brilliance. Again, I have visited the case of their inclusion on the team as if they were all, in fact, still with us and capable of fighting the good fights of their primes. If that were indeed the case, we could just hand it all over to them and wait for good things to happen. I realize, however, that it is not the case. So, we may have to use their strength and courage as the inspiration to carry on the good fight for ourselves and in their names.

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About the Creator

John Oliver Smith

Baby, son, brother, child, student, collector, farmer, photographer, player, uncle, coach, husband, student, writer, teacher, father, science guy, fan, coach, grandfather, comedian, traveler, chef, story-teller, driver, regular guy!!

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