Question and Answer Key:

Eddie’s Home: Childhood (past)

1. Question: List the actions taken by Eddie’s family that conserve energy.
   
   Answer: Eddie is riding a bike; the family heats with wood; they grow their own food – potatoes and peas; they get other food from local sources – eggs; they make their own entertainment and food – Eddie’s mother baking pies for the community dance; they carpool.
   
   
2. Question: What statement by the Ghost describes best the way of life demonstrated in Eddie’s childhood home?
   
   Answer: At end of scene after “Pshaw…You didn’t have to go far to get everything you needed.”
   
   
3. Question: In the radio science broadcast, how is Dr. Noel Limit “selling” the idea of new technology?
   
   Answer: By promising more comfort, convenience, and leisure time – an easy life. Have science and technology fulfilled those promises? For better or worse?

Eddie’s Home: Present

1. Using chart paper, compare and contrast Eddie’s home, past and present, with regard to the following:
   
   
   • Source of food and other goods
   • Means of transportation
   • Entertainment
   • Degree of self-sufficiency
   • Actions that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions
   • Actions that contribute to a sustainable future

Polar Bear: Present

1. Question: What’s happening in this scene?
   
   Answer: Lack of ice is preventing the bear from hunting seals, its major food source.
   
   
2. Question: Why is the bear getting thinner?
   
   Answer: It’s starving because it’s not able to hunt seals.
   
   
3. Question: What else is getting thinner?
   
   Answer: the sea ice.

Inuit Home: Present

1. Using chart paper, compare and contrast the Inuit home, past and present, with regard to the following:
   
   
   • Source of food and other goods
   • Means of transportation
   • Entertainment
   • Degree of self-sufficiency
   • Actions that contribute greenhouse gas emissions

Scientists’ Press Conference

1. Using the information in the scientists’ press conference:
   
   
   • List the possible consequences of climate change in the north.
   • List several sources of CO₂ emissions.
   • List actions we can take to slow down the rate of climate change.
   • Explain what is happening to the polar bear in the previous scene.
   • How can the media influence the public’s opinion on climate change?

Inuit Community: Future

1. Question: What potential consequences of climate change are highlighted in this scene?
   
   Answer: The tree line has moved north; disappearance of caribou from former range; introduction of new species – a virus.

Polar Bear: Future

1. Discuss the statement: “We didn’t know as much about nature as we thought we did, and a lot of things happened that we didn’t count on. One thing led to another.”
   
   Question: What does this tell us about ecology and natural systems?
   
   Answer: Everything is interrelated; systems out of balance; cumulative effects.
   
   Question: If we can’t be sure of predictions about natural systems, how can we make decisions about the future?
   
   Answer: Act on the side of caution.
   
   
2. Question: Why don’t people change their behaviour, even when presented with evidence that their behaviour may cause serious problems? What does it take to get people to change?

Eddie’s Home: Future

1. Question: What actions does Eddie take that will help slow down the rate of climate change and contribute to a sustainable future?
   
   Answer: Recycling catalogues; decides not to order so much from catalogues; sells his big gas-guzzling vehicles; decides to sell extra “stuff”; finds his bike; decides to grow a garden.

ON THINNING ICE
Climate Change Skit
By Brenda Hans and Marianne Bromley
October 16, 2000

Opening scene

Eddie is asleep in his comfy chair, having dozed off reading a catalogue. Other catalogues surround his chair. Ghost enters dancing around Eddie who becomes disturbed in his sleep.

Eddie (mumbling in his sleep): Sale. Sale. Special bargain. Buy now. Save. Limited time offer. No down payment. No payments until... until...

Ghost: Until when Eddie? When do you start to make your payments? Do you remember where it all started Eddie? Do you know where it is all going?

Eddie: (wakes up frightened) Whoooo are you? I’m not over my limit on my credit cards am I?

Ghost: That all depends on what line of credit you are talking about. Get up and come with me, Eddie. There are a few things I want to show you. (Ghost twirls Eddie around and around, leading him to past scene, chanting) Spinning, spinning to an ancient rhyme, we travel back now to an earlier time.

Setting: Kitchen of Eddie’s childhood home. Mother, at counter, is cooking. Father is practising fiddle while younger sibling, Jenny, watches him. Young Eddie comes in on bike, enters house, throws books on table and takes a cookie from a plate to eat.

Eddie: (to ghost) Gasp...that’s me!

Mother: Hi Eddie.

Young Eddie: Hi Mom. Shawn asked me over to his house to play. Can I go?

Mother: Sure... after your chores are done. The wood box is nearly empty and I need some potatoes dug for dinner. (Hands Eddie a bucket)

Young Eddie: But Mom... (under breath) How come I have to do everything?

Mother: Do you want to pick peas, too?

Young Eddie: No.

Mother: Jenny, go give him a hand with the potatoes, please.

(Jenny and Young Eddie do chores then re-enter kitchen)

Young Eddie: Now can I go?

Mother: Yes, but here. (Hands Young Eddie egg carton) Stop by Mrs. Gilbert’s and get a dozen eggs on your way home. I’m baking pies for the community dance tomorrow night. (Young Eddie gets on bike and goes to leave) ....and tell Shawn’s mother that I’ll be taking the car to town tomorrow. Georgia and Muriel are coming and there will be room for her and little Jeffery, too.

Young Eddie: (escaping) Bye Mother..

Mother: And... (to self) kids these days.

Father: Come on, let’s see if we can catch the latest news. (turns on radio)

Pre-taped Science broadcast: ...just another example of what science can do to make YOUR life easier. More and more, scientists are finding there is no end to the miracles of science and technology. Dr. Noel Limit claims that in the near future, we will all have many more things to make our lives more comfortable – things we can’t even imagine today. And thanks to revolutionary timesaving devices, we’ll all have more time for enjoying life – and all those new toys. Thanks to the wonders of science and technology! I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait. Let science forge ahead! Here’s to the easy life!

Father: Well what will they think of next?

(Young Eddie comes racing in waving a Sears catalogue, family crowds around)

Young Eddie: Look what Shawn lent me. It’s the latest. It’s full of all kinds of amazing new things we can buy.

Father: Look at that...

Mother: I’ve heard of those electric cake mixers.

Jenny: Maybe we can order an automatic potato digger!

(Young Eddie winks and does thumbs up sign at Jenny to end kitchen scene)

Ghost: Nice little homey group there.

Eddie: Easy for you to say. You weren’t the one doing all the chores.

Ghost: Pshaw - builds character. Besides you didn’t have to go far to get everything you needed. Now lets see what else was happening around the north. (Ghost takes Eddie to view scene of a polar bear hunting a seal on the ice.)

Eddie: Look, a polar bear. (fearfully ducking behind ghost) It doesn’t see me does it? (Ghost nods “no” and Eddie goes closer to the bear) What a beautiful animal. No wonder our government fought to keep it for our licence plate. What’s it doing?

Ghost: Hunting seals on the ice just like she has for thousands of years.

Eddie: Amazing... (Ghost pulls Eddie to next scene, a coastal village.)

Setting: Inside an igloo. There’s a seal oil lamp, a bench with caribou hides. Mother is sewing caribou or seal skin kamiks. Son, Junior, is playing with a hunting implement or toy. Father dressed in caribou-skin clothes walks in – just returned from a hunt.

Father: Junior, will you help me feed the dogs, please. It’s really cold and they worked hard today. I got three caribou.

Junior: (putting on warm clothes) Lots of meat!

Mother: The land is good to us.

(Junior and father go out to feed the dogs)

Eddie: Another kid getting stuck with chores. This is all very interesting but I don’t see why you brought me here. Can I go home now?

Ghost: Sure we’ll go there right now. (twirls Eddie around) Spinning and spinning to an ancient rhyme, take us back to the present time. ...Here we are home sweet home.

Setting: Eddie 2 (another adult Eddie standing in for this scene only) asleep in chair surrounded by catalogues. Teenage son, Jason, is on advertising website on computer. Eddie’s wife, Debbie, is in the kitchen making dinner. Three vehicles are parked outside.

Eddie: Phew, there’s my wife. Hey there’s some other guy sleeping in my chair. Debbie!

Ghost: Eddie, that’s you.

Eddie: Oh, yes – of course.

(Teenage daughter, Charlene, enters, throws books down on table and picks up some heavily packaged snack, starts unwrapping it)

Charlene: Hi Mom.

Debbie: Hi Charlene.

(Charlene sits down in front of TV and starts watching commercials.)

(The doorbell rings.)

Jason: Your turn Charlene.

Charlene: But I just got home.

Jason: All the more reason. This is the third delivery in the past half hour.

(Charlene reluctantly goes to the door.)

Delivery person: Eddie Buyer live here?

Charlene: Yeah, thanks. (She takes 3 catalogues, goes over to Eddie, shakes him awake and hands him the catalogues. Eddie starts reading them.)

Debbie: Oh wouldn’t you know it. This recipe calls for an ingredient I don’t have, lettuga, fresh from the shores of the Nile. Now where am I going to get that? (No one responds) (Louder) I said where am I going to get that?

Charlene: Get what Mom?

Debbie: Something called lettuga, fresh from the shores of the Nile.

Charlene: Try the SuperDuper Store. I just saw an ad. They guarantee there is no place in the world too far to go to get you something you want. You imagine it. They’ve got it.

Debbie: That’s all the way across town. I suppose I can get there and back in an hour. (Goes out the door then returns and speaks to Eddie) You’ve blocked me in again dear. (Eddie fumbles in his pocket and gives her his keys. She moves Eddie’s vehicle returns keys to table then drives away but has to stop for gas four times enroute.)

Eddie 2: Jason, please go check the mailbox for me. I’m expecting some slippers from Argentina.

Jason: Do I have to Dad?

Eddie 2: Of course you have to. Doing chores builds character.

(Jason reluctantly goes out, reaching in pocket for his keys, sees his vehicle is blocked, goes back to house to get Eddie’s keys, then drives Eddie’s to the mailbox and back, and gives a package to Eddie when he returns.)

Debbie: (coming in frazzled) You wouldn’t believe the traffic. I’m sure I could have walked faster. And the exhaust fumes were almost overpowering. I don’t know why more of those people don’t take the bus. At least my trip was worthwhile. I got my lettuga and the grocer assured me it was picked fresh yesterday and flown straight here. (She removes a small bundle of green leaves, looking very much like lettuce, from a layer of plastic and doubled plastic bags.)

Charlene: Oh Mom, I forgot to tell you, I’ve applied for a part time job. I’ll need my own vehicle to get there.

Eddie: (looking on) Oh you will, will you! And who do you think is going to pay for it?

Ghost: That’s a very good question, Eddie. Who really is going to pay for it all? Come with me.

(Ghost leads Eddie back to polar bear scene. One half of the ice has been removed. The bear paces along the shore several times then very tentatively walks out onto the ice. Doesn’t get the seal.)

Eddie: Hey there’s the polar bear. Oh she looks a little thinner than the last time we saw her. Seems a little reluctant to go out on the ice.

Ghost: It’s not only the bear that’s thinner. Come on this way.

Eddie: But our bear hasn’t got its seal yet.... (Ghost pulls Eddie along to the coastal village scene)

Setting: Family home in modern northern coastal community. Daughter is listening to a Discman and playing with a Game boy. Mother is watching TV. Father comes in, takes magazines and catalogues off the chair and sprawls in the chair. He’s wearing a skidoo suit and boots and a light modern parka. No one pays any attention to him.

Father: Boy, I went a long way. Still no caribou. There should be lots and nobody’s seeing any. And my darn skidoo overheated again. Simon says the weather’s just too warm for skidoos.

Mother: Talk to me later, OK? It’s the last episode of Survivor. I have to see who survives. It’s OK for tonight – the kids want chicken fingers anyway.

Father: I’ll keep trying, but I go back to work tomorrow.

(Kid keeps on listening to music, playing game-boy, paying no attention.)

Eddie: Well that looks pretty familiar.

Ghost: Yes I thought that you would identify with that one. Now come along. (pulls Eddie to scientists’ press conference where they take a seat in the front row of the audience)

Setting: Three scientists are sitting at a long table. Name cards on the table read: Dr. Vera N. Troobel, Dr. Jess DaFacts and Dr. Warren Ing-Yu. A sign on the table says “International Association of Concerned Scientists.” Two reporters are sitting in chairs slightly to the side. One has a tape-recorder; the other has a note pad and pen. Scientist with a large name tag, Dr. Thomas Doubting, International Association of Very Concerned Corporations is in the audience. During the press conference, the reporters look bored.

First Scientist, Dr. Vera N. Troobel: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Dr. Vera N. Troobel. My colleagues and I are here today representing the International Association of Concerned Scientists. What we are concerned about is climate change. What we know is that levels of CO₂, carbon dioxide, are rising rapidly, causing significant long-term warming on a global scale. We are seeing a lot of changes in patterns and amounts of rainfall, and everywhere, extreme weather events are happening more often. The arctic ice sheet is 40% thinner than in the 1950s, and the ice season is several weeks shorter.

Second Scientist, Dr. Jess DaFacks: By the end of this century, global warming could seriously change one third of the Earth’s existing natural habitats, and up to 60% of the habitats in Canada’s north. Such extreme changes could affect the food, migration patterns, and habitats of wildlife such as caribou, seals, and polar bears. The tree line could move as far as 700 km north, shrinking the tundra. Muskoxen, high arctic caribou, and tundra-nesting birds would be seriously affected, possibly to the point of extinction.

Reporter 2: You gotta story yet?

Reporter 1: I dunno. My editor wants something upbeat to balance the federal election stuff. I don’t think our readers will want to hear about this.

Third Scientist, Dr. Warren Ing-Yu: (clears throat to get attention of reporters) At the rate we’re going, we could have a doubling of CO₂ emissions by the year 2060. But we can change that rate. Most CO₂ is from the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, for heating and especially for transportation of food and material goods of all kinds all over the world. Cutting down forests, and industrial pollution, also cause high levels of CO₂. We can make a difference, slow down the rate of climate change, by changing our habits. By using renewable energy – sun, wind, muscle power. By eating local food. By using things that are made from local renewable resources, made by local people, before importing things from far away.

(Reporters begin to interview audience members)

Reporter 2: (to prepped audience member 1) How do you feel about climate change? Do you think it will affect your life?

Audience member 1: This sounds pretty serious to me. I think I’ll start walking to work. It’s not that far.

Reporter 1: (to prepped audience member 2) What do you think about the scientists’ message?

Audience member 2: Pretty hot stuff. Maybe I shouldn’t leave my car running all winter.

(Both reporters go up to Dr. Thomas Doubting)

Reporter 2: (puts tape-recorder up to him -- other reporter takes lots of notes) Dr. Thomas Doubting, I see you’re with the International Association of Very Concerned Corporations.

Dr. Doubting: Yes, that’s right.

Reporter 2: What are your thoughts about climate change?

Dr. Doubting: It’s all a lot of hot air.

Reporter 2: But what about the evidence presented by your fellow scientists?

Dr. Doubting: Agh, don’t listen to those messengers of doom and gloom. A few floods, a storm or two, a coupl’a forest fires and they think the world’s coming to an end. The world’s always had disasters – we’ve all managed to survive and drive SUVs. Weather changes. Besides, don’t you find it a bit cold up here anyway?

Reporter 2: Thank you Dr. Doubting.

(Reporters walk off, chatting. Other scientists cannot get their attention)

Reporter 1: Boy, am I ever glad there’s nothing to worry about. My editor will like this.

Reporter 2: Yeah, and I bet the public will be happy to hear it, too.

Eddie: I agree, I’d much rather listen to what that Dr. Doubting has to say.

Ghost: He does paint a pretty rosy picture of the present, doesn’t he? But what picture might he be painting of the future? Shall we take a look? (starts twirling Eddie, leading him toward the coastal village) Spinning and spinning our ancient rhyme, show us a possible future time.

Setting: A sparsely furnished room. Grandfather is in bed, dying. He’s very weak, hardly able to talk. Family is gathered around him. Two audience members carrying spruce boughs for trees have made their way up to stand beside the house. A neighbour steps in, bringing muffins.

Neighbour: (calls in) Hello! (Father comes to greet her). I thought your family could use these right now. I’m so sorry to hear about your father. What did the doctors decide?

Father: They say he has some strange virus. I don’t remember the name right now. They’re worried because it’s never been seen this far north before.

Neighbour: Oh, dear. Well you take care of yourselves, and let me know if you need anything. (leaves)

Father: (calls after her) Thanks for the muffins, Liz. (Father returns to bed side)

Son: Grandpa, tell us about a caribou hunt, one more time.

Daughter: Tell us about the last caribou you saw. What was it like?

Grandfather: (in a very weak voice) Caribou, does someone have caribou? I need some caribou.

Mother: He’s too tired, I’m afraid. Let’s sit quietly.

Eddie: Oh dear, oh dear....(Ghost drags Eddie on to the place where they have seen the polar bear in the past. Ice and bear are gone, only the rock remains)

Eddie: I don’t think I recognize this place. Wait... this rock is familiar. This is where we’ve seen the polar bear. But where’s the ice and where’s the bear? (The ghost of the bear comes up from behind Eddie and frightens him. Eddie tries to scramble away as the ghost comes forward pointing to a plaque.)

Eddie: (reading the plaque, shakily) “In memory of the last polar bear known to exist on this planet. Unable to adapt to the loss of sea ice, this bear died of starvation.” Oh this is awful, such a magnificent animal...

(As Eddie and Ghost are walking away from the memorial, a scientist, without seeing them, walks up and lays a flower on the memorial and sighs. Eddie watches, and runs back, upset.)

Eddie: (addressing scientist) Why didn’t you warn us?! Why didn’t you tell us this would happen?!!

Scientist: (frustrated, talking to plaque, not seeing Eddie) We tried so hard!! But so many people wouldn’t listen. And you know, we were wrong. It was worse than we thought it would be, and it happened faster than we predicted. We didn’t know as much about nature as we thought we did, and a lot of things happened that we didn’t count on. One thing led to another. We thought more people would do things differently when they heard our warnings, but I guess there weren’t enough people who were willing to change.

Ghost: (pulling Eddie away from the scientist) Come on Eddie, its time to meet yourself in the future.

Eddie: (desperate) No, no, don’t take me there, I don’t want to go to a future that looks like this. Isn’t there something I can do? Isn’t there still time? Please ... your, your spinning chant, you said this was one possible future. You made it sound like there could be a different one. What can I do to make it different? There must be something I can do...

Ghost: Sounds like it’s time to take you home Eddie. (Twirls Eddie, leading him back to his chair in his present home and placing a catalogue on his lap) Spinning and spinning to an ancient rhyme, to the place where you can act in the present time. (Ghost leaves Eddie and whirls through the audience to exit, musing) Hmmm, who shall I visit next?

Eddie: (as if waking up from a dream, mumbles) There must be something I can do. What were those other scientists saying? (Sits up with a start) Where am I? (looks around room and sighs) Oh… there is still time, phew.

(Eddie starts sorting through catalogues, stacking ones to recycle, setting aside seed catalogue from pile. Doorbell rings.)

Delivery person: Delivery for Eddie Buyer. (Eddie sees it is a catalogue)

Eddie: I’m not interested (cover catches his eye and he reads title) “Renewable Energy” ...well, maybe I am interested. Thank you.

(Eddie takes out markers and scrap papers and makes 2 “For Sale” signs and a “Recycle” sign and puts them on the 2 biggest vehicles and the pile of catalogues. He picks up the seed catalogue and then the phone)

Eddie: Hello, Mom. It’s me, Eddie. Can you recommend a kind of potato for me to plant? Hello... ? Hello... ? Mom, are you still there? Yes, you heard me right. I’ve had a bit of a change of heart. You’ve got some I can try? Great. I’ll be right over to get some. Oh, and Mom, do you know what happened to that old bicycle of mine? Oh yeah, I guess I vaguely remember the movers bringing it here. It must be in the garage. See you soon. Bye.

(Eddie goes out, crashes around in the garage and comes back with his bike and a pitch fork. Goes back into house to make one more sign “Garage Sale, Saturday,” posts the sign then rides off smiling and whistling.)