In the 1980 musical comedy film classic “The Blues Brothers,” “Joliet” Jake and Elwood Blues are on a “mission from God” to save a Catholic orphanage. A woman stands in their way and threatens to destroy them.

She says: “You miserable slug! You think you can talk your way out of this? You betrayed me.”

Jake replies: “No, I didn’t. Honest … I ran out of gas! I – I had a flat tire! I didn’t have enough money for cab fare! My tux didn’t come back from the cleaners! An old friend came in from out of town! Someone stole my car! There was an earthquake! A terrible flood! Locusts! IT WASN’T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD!”

Global Cop-out

Consider this modernized version. The betrayed woman is Mother Earth. Twenty-first century humanity takes Jake’s place in trying to avoid responsibility for the betrayal.

Mother Earth says: “You miserable slug! You think you can talk your way out of this? You betrayed me.”

Humanity responds: “No, I didn’t. Honest … We needed the gas! The economy went flat! We didn’t have enough money for cleanup! Our research didn’t come back perfect! Powerful lobbyists came in from out of town; someone stole our convictions! There was an earthquake! A terrible flood! Foxes! IT WASN’T OUR FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD!”

Our Mission

Is it possible to betray a planet?

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