[ACCEPTED] - Time To Dye

[Candensia]

Hello everyone! I may have taken a bit of a break from drafting, but I return to active drafting...with a draft! This one was developed with the intent to approach the Industry vs Environment struggle in a different, more thought provoking way. Thanks for all feedback, I truly appreciate it!

1st Draft

[DRAFT] - Time to Dye

[The Issue] - A major river alarmed residents when it took on a vibrant new color, and experts are saying synthetic dye effluent from a nearby plant is to blame. The incident has highlighted the area, placing the practices of the dye industry and the use of synthetic dyes squarely into the limelight.


[Option1] - "We can't let this stain our nation any further!" declares well-known tailor, @@RANDOMNAME@@, while touting an arsenal of hand-dyed fabrics. "This little "incident" right here is why @@NAME@@ should ban synthetic dyes, in favor of natural alternatives! Natural dyes, most of them at least, are inherently non-toxic and safer to produce and handle. I mean, all you'd need is plenty of cleared, arable land, which could be easily prepared. Any way you sew- I mean slice it, switching to natural dyes is the best solution to this polychromatic predicament."

[effect] - dye pollution fears fade with every wash


[Option2] - "Sure, natural dyes might sound great, but be sure to read between the linens," reminds @@RANDOMNAME@@, a dye industry spokesperson. "We would have to decimate our woodlands and wildlife to fit in dye plantations. Even then, our economy and its workers would be feeling blue if disaster struck the dye crop. I'm not saying we should do nothing, I simply think we should take an erudite approach towards resolving this. A little "business incentive" would go a long way towards developing safer synthetic dyes. @@LEADER@@, we can't simply leave this one to mother nature."

[effect] - the dye industry is seen as a leader in the fight against deforestation


[Option3] - "Lavender lagoons, scarlet streams; count me in!" chimes tourism and novelty museum tycoon, @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Finding chemicals in the water is anything but a problem, in fact, it's a prime opportunity! We should add a bit of color to our lackluster lakes, the oddly-colored oddities would become tourist magnets! Our nation would be known far and wide for its colorful waterways, flowing proudly in our national hues. This, right here, is what will attract more gold than @@NAME@@ has seen in ages. Let's dye ourselves into the next golden age, @@LEADER@@!"

[effect] - tourists look to the lakes to find out which colors are in style

Current Draft

[DRAFT] - Time To Dye SUBMITTED 6/3/18

[The Issue] - A major river alarmed residents when it took on a vibrant new color, and experts are saying synthetic dye effluent from a nearby plant is to blame. The incident has highlighted the area, placing the practices of the dye industry and the use of synthetic dyes squarely into the limelight.

[issuevalidity] - valid for all nations


[Option1] - "We can't let this stain our nation any further!" declares well-known tailor, @@RANDOMNAME@@, while touting an arsenal of hand-dyed fabrics. "This little "incident" right here is why @@NAME@@ should ban synthetic dyes, in favor of natural alternatives! Natural dyes, most of them at least, are inherently non-toxic and safer to produce and handle. I mean, all you'd need is plenty of cleared, arable land, which could be easily prepared. Any way you sew- I mean slice it, switching to natural dyes is the best solution to this polychromatic predicament."

[effect] - dye pollution fears have faded alongside pristine national forests


[Option2] - "Sure, natural dyes might sound great, but be sure to read between the linens," reminds @@RANDOMNAME@@, a dye industry spokesperson. "We would have to decimate our woodlands and wildlife to fit in dye plantations. Even then, our economy and its workers would be feeling blue if disaster struck the dye crop. I'm not saying we should do nothing, I simply think we should take an erudite approach towards resolving this. A little "financial incentive" would go a long way towards developing safer synthetic dyes. @@LEADER@@, we can't simply leave this one to mother nature."

[effect] - dye factories tint rivers green in opposition to deforestation


[Option3] - "Lavender lagoons, scarlet streams; count me in!" chimes tourism and novelty museum tycoon, @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Finding chemicals in the water is anything but a problem, in fact, it's a prime opportunity! We should add a bit of color to our lackluster lakes, the oddly-colored oddities would become tourist magnets! Our nation would be known far and wide for its colorful waterways, flowing proudly in our national hues. This, right here, is what will attract more gold than @@NAME@@ has seen in ages. Let's dye ourselves into the next golden age, @@LEADER@@!"

[effect] - tourists look to the lakes to find out which colors are in style

[Trotterdam]

Looking pretty good!

At first I wasn't impressed because the description looks like a generic "industrial pollution, oh no, panic!" issue, of which we already have several. However, the options are pretty fun to read, and manage to avoid falling into the "ban everything synthetic, it's the only way" Luddite trap.

[Jutsa]

I love this. An opportunity to paint the town rainbow.

[Chan Island]

OK, this is good. This is really good.

Literally nothing but bravo.

I particularly like how the pro-industry option, for once, is actually the more environmentally friendly approach. In particular with dyes, many natural shades are actually the product of huge time, effort and resources. Famously for example, in ancient Europe purple was only available by crushing hundreds of a specific species of snail around the city of Type. Red too, in 'natural' methods actually calls for crushing millions of a specific species of beetle.

EDIT: Researched this. Turns out it was a shellfish, not a snail, that had to be crushed to get purple.

[Candensia]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

With regards to the pro-industry option being, sneakily, the better environmental choice, this was done on purpose. I wanted to write an issue where the usual trade-off wasn’t present.

[The Official United Nations]

The effects seem to ignore the problems described in the issue. Hence, perhaps something like 'in the battle against deforestation, despite...' or 'look into the allegedly safe lakes' (or something implying suspicious-looking lakes, or potentially unsafe ones, or fashionably polluted ones, etc.).

The second option seems slightly vague about what it is calling for. Perhaps they should explicitly say that they want investment towards synthetic dyes, instead of replacing them.

[Baggieland]

This is very good.

[Australian rePublic]

Excellent. Maybe describe what natural and synthetic dyes are

[The Margaritas]

Hello everyone! I may have taken a bit of a break from drafting, but I return to active drafting...with a draft! This one was developed with the intent to approach the Industry vs Environment struggle in a different, more thought provoking way. Thanks for all feedback, I truly appreciate it!

[DRAFT] - Time to Dye

[The Issue] - A major river alarmed residents when it took on a vibrant new color, and experts are saying synthetic dye effluent from a nearby plant is to blame. The incident has highlighted the area, placing the practices of the dye industry and the use of synthetic dyes squarely into the limelight.


[Option1] - "We can't let this stain our nation any further!" declares well-known tailor, @@RANDOMNAME@@, while touting an arsenal of hand-dyed fabrics. "This little "incident" right here is why @@NAME@@ should ban synthetic dyes, in favor of natural alternatives! Natural dyes, most of them at least, are inherently non-toxic and safer to produce and handle. I mean, all you'd need is plenty of cleared, arable land, which could be easily prepared. Any way you sew- I mean slice it, switching to natural dyes is the best solution to this polychromatic predicament."

[effect] - dye pollution fears are fading with every wash


[Option2] - "Sure, natural dyes might sound great, but be sure to read between the linens," reminds @@RANDOMNAME@@, a dye industry spokesperson. "We would have to decimate our woodlands and wildlife to fit in dye plantations. Even then, our economy and its workers would be feeling blue if disaster struck the dye crop. I'm not saying we should do nothing, I simply think we should take an erudite approach towards resolving this. A little "business incentive" would go a long way towards developing safer synthetic dyes. @@LEADER@@, we can't simply leave this one to mother nature."

[effect] - the dye industry is seen as a leader in the fight against deforestation


[Option3] - "Lavender lagoons, scarlet streams; count me in!" chimes tourism and novelty museum tycoon, @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Finding chemicals in the water is anything but a problem, in fact, it's a prime opportunity! We should add a bit of color to our lackluster lakes, the oddly-colored oddities would become tourist magnets! Our nation would be known far and wide for its colorful waterways, flowing proudly in our national hues. This, right here, is what will attract more gold than @@NAME@@ has seen in ages. Let's dye ourselves into the next golden age, @@LEADER@@!"

[effect] - tourists look to the lakes to find out which colors are in style

Is good. you are getting really good at this Candensia!

[Trotterdam]

Though it's not necessarily something worth mentioning in the issue, I feel like pointing out that not all "natural" dyes are biological in nature. Mineral-based dyes like ochre have been in use since prehistoric times.

Certainly some of these minerals were dangerous. Vermilion, for example, contains mercury, and so is highly toxic ("a term in the mines was a virtual death sentence"). However, other minerals, both natural and synthetic, are perfectly safe. The advantage of modern chemistry is that we actually understand what our stuff is made of and so can check which ones are toxic and which aren't.

Most legal food colorants (which is a pretty good indication that something is considered extremely nontoxic) are organic (though not necessarily biological - many of them are synthetically-made carbon-based molecules) in nature, but there are a few inorganic ones near the end of the list.

[Candensia]

Though it's not necessarily something worth mentioning in the issue, I feel like pointing out that not all "natural" dyes are biological in nature. Mineral-based dyes like ochre have been in use since prehistoric times.

Certainly some of these minerals were dangerous. Vermilion, for example, contains mercury, and so is highly toxic ("a term in the mines was a virtual death sentence"). However, other minerals, both natural and synthetic, are perfectly safe. The advantage of modern chemistry is that we actually understand what our stuff is made of and so can check which ones are toxic and which aren't.

Most legal food colorants (which is a pretty good indication that something is considered extremely nontoxic) are organic (though not necessarily biological - many of them are synthetically-made carbon-based molecules) in nature, but there are a few inorganic ones near the end of the list.

Precisely, Trotterdam.

I'm planning to set the validity of this issue as "valid for all nations", because I don't think this topic runs afoul with any. Seem appropriate?

[Garden at 6th Mile Road]

Oooh, looks good! But I just have one idea for this effect line:
[effect] - the dye industry is seen as a leader in the fight against deforestation

I'm thinking of "timber industries are dyed red to indicate their demolition"

Just a suggestion, really.

[Palos Heights]

This draft is straight poop.


I'm kidding. Candensia, once again you knock it out of the park. Only thing I might suggest is more humor in your effect lines. The one regarding the dye industry being pro-environment could have something about every new sapling planted wears a tie-dye t-shirt. Something silly like that. Otherwise, good job!!!!!

[Candensia]

Hmm. Yes, effect lines can always be funnier.


How about this for option 2.

[effect] - dye factories tint rivers green in opposition to deforestation

Better?

EDIT: Sending more thank-yous for the kind words.

[Garden at 6th Mile Road]

How about this for option 2.

[effect] - dye factories tint rivers green in opposition to deforestation

Better?

EDIT: Sending more thank-yous for the kind words.

Ooh, looks better. Hahah, nice one as always!

[Palos Heights]

Hmm. Yes, effect lines can always be funnier.


How about this for option 2.

[effect] - dye factories tint rivers green in opposition to deforestation

Better?

EDIT: Sending more thank-yous for the kind words.

If you think that you can pander to my roots and our tradition of dye-ing rivers green, well gosh darnit, you are right.

I love it.

[Candensia]

Thanks to a plethora of great suggestions, I've flashed out the next version of "Time To Dye"!

Two notable things have been implemented;

The validity has been set to "all nations".

Option 2 has had its effect replaced.

[The Margaritas]

Thanks to a plethora of great suggestions, I've flashed out the next version of "Time To Dye"!

Two notable things have been implemented;

The validity has been set to "all nations".

Option 2 has had its effect replaced.

I think the new effect for issue 2 is better. go with that one.

[The Margaritas]

Thanks to a plethora of great suggestions, I've flashed out the next version of "Time To Dye"!

Two notable things have been implemented;

The validity has been set to "all nations".

Option 2 has had its effect replaced.

I think the new effect for issue 2 is better. go with that one. It's looking good Candensia.

[Valentine Z]

I’m still not very sure about Option 2 effect though. Option 2 is on deforestation as far as I have read. Then wouldn’t the factories be dying them green in opposition to reforestation instead of opposition to deforestation? Or did I just read wrongly?

Sorry, just wondering this one out loud.

[Candensia]

Hmm, I think the effect works, because option 2 is advocating for synthetic dyes by arguing that they would, in fact, be net neutral or better for the environment. (Due to the environmental costs associated with using natural dyes)

[Chan Island]

I’m still not very sure about Option 2 effect though. Option 2 is on deforestation as far as I have read. Then wouldn’t the factories be dying them green in opposition to reforestation instead of opposition to deforestation? Or did I just read wrongly?

Sorry, just wondering this one out loud.

Deforestation is correct, because in this issue unusually the pro-industry option is also the one better, in aggregate, for the environment. The anti-industry one being instead a choice that favours safety (and incidentally culture and tradition, but that's not directly discussed here).

[Candensia]

I've twisted the effect for option 1, better or worse?

the new effect is this;

[effect] - dye pollution fears have faded, along with pristine national forests

for reference, the effect used to be this;

[effect] - dye pollution fears are fading with every wash, along with pristine national forests

[Jutsa]

eh, small problem with both of them: commas really shouldn't appear in effect lines, particularly when used like this.

[Candensia]

eh, small problem with both of them: commas really shouldn't appear in effect lines, particularly when used like this.

All well and good, the comma can be removed without a significant loss to humor, I think. Is it better though?