I don’t think Solarpunk has normalised the idea that we could just routinely talk to animals.
Allow me to put a bit of perspective on this topic,
First up whale song. Yes humans hearing whale song did help to end whaling but it was mostly due to the fact that the main product of whaling, Whale Oil, could now be replaced with oil out of the ground.
Another thing to note. While whale numbers are increasing (which is wonderful) they can no longer hear each other.
When Moby Dick was written in the age of sail, whale songs could travel and be heard across thousands of km of oceans and possibly even cross half the planet in the pacific ocean to be heard and responded to by other whales.
Now that are drowned out by the sounds of marine diesel engines housed in the thousands of cargo ships that ply the worlds water ways.
Imagine the reaction we would receive if we proposed that humans should go back to sail to allow the whales to hear each other again.
On the topic of talking to animals…
Humans have been talking to and understanding each other for thousands of years and look at what we still do to each other despite this level of communication…
If thanks to AI we decrypted every single whisteld word they pronounce, they would probably reveal that a kind of YRR project is truly in progress, just like in’ the fifth day’.
YRR project is truly in progress, just like in’ the fifth day’.
What is a YRR project and what is the fifth day?
Sorry, the original title is different https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swarm_(Schätzing_novel)
It’s all right dude just think solarpunk thoughts. We are going to be ok.
Uh we are proposing we go back to sail power.
The Pyxis Ocean has set sail to test EU-funded WindWings technology that will bring cutting edge wind propulsion to commercial shipping for the first time.
https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/new-wind-powered-cargo-ship-sets-sail-2023-08-22_en
https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/sailing-cargo-ships-are-making-a-genuine-comeback
Edit: Also really EU? The first time? You think this is the first time wind powered sailing was cutting edge? Not for the thousands of years before modern engines?
Cargo ships with marine diesel engines that are aided with a few sails is not, going back to sail.
The noise will still be there.
They mention a 30% fuel saving. This is not about reducing sea trade it is about cost savings, making sea trade cheaper and likely leading to more ships, not less on the oceans,
Even it it lead to 30% less ships, this would only take the world back to about 2010 as sea trade had grown by more than 30% since then.
“Please stop torturing us to death.” - 2 trillion fish per year.
“Please stop enslaving us in torturous conditions.” - hundred of billions of factory farmed animals per year.
Imagine their reaction when they find out who’s responsible for heating up the oceans.
I also wonder what animals think of how they are depicted in culture.
The nature documentaries would have to be censored, or inaccessible to children. :)
Would depend on which animals are uplifted
Whales or elephants would probably be some deep and meaningful communication
Horses would probably be slightly awkward but hey maybe it’ll turn into a dragon riders kinda deal
Penguins and Dolphins would lead to the kind of abject terror normally experienced by the victims of online sexual harassment
