One Home

One Home

One home, this home…

One home, this home…

Satomi:         This is my lunch. I mean inside is my lunch. I put it in the center of the cloth. Fold this over, and this over. Take the corners. Tie them like this.

Keisha:           That’s beautiful, Satomi.

Shumi:           I love the fabric, too.

Satomi:         You have amazing fabrics from Bangladesh that you can use.

Shumi:           Yes! And we also have a stackable container for food with a handle, so you can take it anywhere. You don’t need a bag.

Satomi:         Think about how many bags we can save from throwing out if we use these sustainable methods.

Paco:              They save money, too. In Latin America, many people use and reuse woven bags.

Keisha:           I love all of these ideas. This is exactly why I invited members of sustainability clubs at CUNY on the show today – to share with our local audience their global knowledge about the climate crisis, and what we can do to protect the environment. Our world is in crisis. Rising temperatures, droughts, floods, fires, people forced from their homes. What’s happening is heartbreaking.

Shumi:           Yes, it is, Keisha. But by taking small steps, we can limit waste and reduce the carbon emissions that are causing the climate crisis.

Paco:              I think we need to talk about sustainability within our families as well.

Shumi:           I agree with Paco. Some eco-friendly, sustainable things we used to do in our cultures, we just don’t do anymore.

Paco:              And there are new methods to teach our families, too.

Shumi:           There’s a whole new vocabulary.

Satomi:          Yeah, we say sustainable this, sustainable that all the time. Why do we even use the word?

Keisha:           If you know anyone who can explain it, let me know. I want to invite that person on my show.

***

Paco:              These are things we can do to reduce global warming and protect the environment.

Jojo:                Shorter showers?! I sing in the shower.

Juli:                 Don’t you like your sister’s singing?

Felix:              I do.

Paco:              I like it, too.

Felix:              If we do these things, we save money, too.

Juli:                 And save energy.

Paco:              And if the energy were clean, renewable – solar, wind power – instead of coal, gas and oil, we wouldn’t have a climate crisis.

Jojo:                Papi, this is the car that I want to buy.

Paco:              Car?!

Juli:                 Let me see.

Felix:              How will you pay for it?

Jojo:                I’ve been saving. It’s a used car. It belongs to a friend of a friend. He’s giving me a good deal.

Juli:                 Do you really need it?

Paco:              You don’t need it for your job. And we have subways, buses, bicycles… How about Citi Bike? They just opened one nearby.

Jojo:                You ride them. I’ve worked hard to buy this car.

Paco:              That is not an electric car. What about the fumes? Those are greenhouse gases. They make the city hotter. It is not sustainable.

Juli:                 What do you mean by sustainable? You use that word a lot.

Jojo:                It comes from music. You know, you sustaaiiinnnn… a note.

Felix:              Beautiful, Jojo! But how is music related to the environment?

Paco:              Jojo is right. We want the song of life to last, to go on forever.

***

Ushi:               I think this is the neighbor’s. It was in our mailbox.

Bao:                From the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Ushi:               Maybe it’s important. I think we should bring it to them.

***

Paco:              I don’t want to live in the past. I want to learn from the past.

Jojo:                Good! Want a ride in my car? I’m moving forward.

Felix:              This is for you, Jojo. It was in the neighbor’s box by mistake.

Jojo:                This is it! Beep, beep. Out of my way. Hop in, Paco!

***

Shumi:           Where did you get the idea for this?

Paco:              Never mind that. Do you like it?

Shumi:           Yeah, but how did you come up with it?

Paco:              Actually, it was my sister’s idea. She had the idea about sustainability… why we use the word. She says it comes from music. You know, you sustain a note.

Shumi:           Enough, please! I get the idea. But, she’s right. We want to make things last. Like it says in the song… We want to learn from the past. No more disposable, yes to renewable.

Paco:              Exactly!

Shumi:           This is a really good song. It talks about so many important issues. Environmental justice, too. Maybe you should show this to Keisha Khan.

Paco:              Really? But it is only words. There is no music.

Shumi:           Yeah, that’s too bad.

Paco:              But my sister is going to write the music.

Shumi:           That’s fantastic. Let’s call Keisha and let her know.

Paco:              Are you sure?

***

Paco:              Can I come in?

Jojo:                Come on in. I’m looking into insurance.

Paco:              Jojo, I need your help. I told Keisha Khan you wrote a song about sustainability, and you are going to sing it to her.

Jojo:                You did what?! What song?

Paco:              I wrote the words. I just need you to write the music. It was your idea.

Jojo:                My idea?

Paco:              Sustainability… sustaining a note. It comes from music, remember?

Jojo:                Paco, you can’t be serious. Why would I do that? I don’t care about sustainability, at least not as much as you. I have more important things to deal with.

Paco:              This can be your big break. You can go on TV and play your music for the world to hear.

Jojo:                I’m not ready for that. Leave me alone.

***

Juli:                 You okay, Paco?

Paco:              I’m okay, maybe.

Juli:                 What’s the matter?

Jojo:                I know what’s the matter? Paco got himself in trouble.

Juli:                 What is it?

Paco:              I wrote the words for a song about the environment. I promised Keisha Khan that Jojo would sing it. Ms. Khan said that if she liked it, maybe she would show it on her program.

Felix:              That sounds wonderful.

Juli:                 Sounds like an opportunity.

Paco:              Yeah, but… there is no song.

Jojo:                Paco, I have something for you. I wrote a little tune for those words of yours. I don’t think I want to sing it on TV, but do you want to hear it?

Paco:              Yes, please!

Juli:                 I want to hear it.

Felix:              Me, too.

Jojo:                One home, our home… One home, our home… Is our home one home?…

***

Jojo:                One home, this home… One home, this home… One home, our home.

Keisha:           That was very beautiful.

Jojo:                Thank you, Ms. Khan.

Keisha:           Thank you. I would like you to perform it on my program. After the song, I will ask you a few questions, like what inspired you. Both of you.

Paco:              That’s great. What do you think, Jojo?

Jojo:                Well, to tell you the truth, I…

Keisha:           Gosh, I didn’t look at the time. Please tell me more in the interview. I have to run to a meeting. Let’s record the show on Saturday.

***

Frantz:           Right. Things for recycling go in a clear bag – plastic, glass, metal. There’s also composting now.

Ushi:               Composting… that’s organic trash, right?

Frantz:           Yeah! Banana peels, food scraps – things that can be broken down for gardens, that turn into fertilizer.

Ushi:               For growing food?

Frantz:           Right. Instead of growing landfills.

Ushi:               I like the way you post this info here.

Frantz:           We have some very responsible tenants who make sure we do the right thing. Hello, Jojo.

Jojo:                Hi, Frantz. Frantz is talking about my brother, Paco. He’s the environmentalist. He cares about the planet and how we take care of it.

Frantz:           He sure does. He wants me to convince the landlord to put solar panels on the roof and to change the heating system – make it more efficient.

Ushi:               What a great idea! Is the landlord going to do it?

Frantz:           I don’t know yet. She hasn’t responded.

Ushi:               We need clean energy!

Frantz:           Right. Fossil fuels – coal, gas, oil – all make the temperature rise.

Ushi:               Solar energy doesn’t. It can save her and all of us money, too.

Jojo:                Are you guys going up?

Frantz:           No, I have something to fix in the basement.

Ushi:               I’m going up. I’ll go with you.

Jojo:                So, how are you settling in? I hope you like it here.

Ushi:               I like it. The only thing is the exhaust from all those cars on the big road out there.

Jojo:                It gets really loud sometimes, too.

Ushi:               The drivers all have car insurance, but I wonder if they all have health insurance. Sometimes I think society is more for cars than for people. Do you have a car?

***

Jojo:                Yes, I want the car, but I need a little more time to get the insurance. I know there’s another guy that wants the car, too. But please, I need a little more time.

***

Paco:              Come in.

Jojo:                I’m sorry, Paco. I can’t do it. I’m very glad that you, mami and papi like the song. And I’m honored that Keisha wants me to perform it on the TV show. But, my heart’s not in it. It’s just not me. I’m not an environmentalist like you. Maybe you can find someone else to sing the song.

Paco:              Find someone else. Who?

Jojo:                I don’t know. I’m sorry.

***

Paco:              Do you know anyone who can sing the song? You’re right, Shumi. I don’t have a choice. I have to tell Keisha Khan the truth.

***

Juli:                 Paco! Get some water, please. There’s no rush.

Ushi:               This sometimes happens. I get dizzy, especially the last few weeks. It’s our first child. Thank you. I think I can get up now.

Paco:              Let me help you.

Juli:                 Paco, take Ushi’s bag. Why aren’t you at school?

***

Juli:                 So you decided not to do the song on the show. I’m sorry to hear that. It’s a beautiful song and full of meaning.

Jojo:                It’s a sweet song, but I don’t know. I’m a little sorry that I went to the TV station.

Juli:                 Well, I’m a little responsible. I encouraged you. I still think it’s a great opportunity for you.

Jojo:                Maybe, but it just doesn’t feel right for me.

Juli:                 Well, everyone is different. But think about it a little more. You have so much talent, cariño (darling). I know you can do it beautifully. I know you can. Oh, I hope she likes them.

Jojo:                She will. Thanks, mom.

***

Ushi:               It’s so nice to have neighbors like your family. Please thank your mother for today.

Jojo:                I will, and I’m so glad you’re feeling better.

Ushi:               You had a guitar yesterday. Are you a musician?

Jojo:                That’s my hobby. I work at an air conditioning repair shop. That’s my job. That’s a kind of traditional air conditioning. We have them, too, but people don’t use them as much anymore.

Ushi:               Modern air conditioners are a necessity, especially with global warming.

Jojo:                My brother Paco is always reminding us to use energy-efficient models.

Ushi:               If we move to solar energy, that will help, too.

Jojo:                You’re right. Would you like me to close the window?

Ushi:               Yes, please. I think more about the next generation than I used to. I have relatives in China who lost their home because of rising sea level caused by the climate crisis. I hope electric vehicles can be cheaper, so people can afford them.

Jojo:                I hope so, too. My brother is always saying if all of us make small changes now, together it will have a big impact.

Ushi:               He’s right.

Jojo:                Would you like to hear a lullaby in Spanish? I used to sing it to my baby brother. He’s not a baby anymore.

Ushi:               I would love to.

Jojo:                (Jojo sings a Spanish lullabye.) You have an amazing voice. Can I hear you sing in Chinese?

Ushi:               (Ushi sings a Chinese lullabye.) I can teach it to you.

Jojo:                Can you do it with me?

Ushi:               Yes! Beautiful. I love it!

***

Kesha:            Good evening and welcome to the show. We have been talking about the climate crisis and sustainability. A couple of weeks ago, members of sustainability clubs at CUNY were on the show to talk about sustainable living. In our discussion, the question came up. Where does the word “sustainability” come from? Why do we use that word? Well, I’ve invited Paco Jiménez back on the show today, and his sister, Jojo, to sing about it. They brought a friend, too. Welcome, Ushi. Whenever you’re ready.

Jojo:                One home, this home… One home, this home… Is our home this home?

Ushi:               One home, our home… One home, our home… Is our home one home?

Jojo:                Some are born to sweet delight… clean water, clear air.

Ushi:               Some are born to endless night on a hungry planet, dying right here.

Jojo:                We’ve got to cool it down. Our world is overheating.

Ushi:               We’ve got to cool it down. People are overheating.

Jojo and Ushi:          We’ve got to come together… We’ve got to build on common ground… One home, this home… One home, this home

Jojo:                We’ve got to sustain…

Ushi:               Got to sustain…

Jojo:                To sing the refrain…

Ushi:               Sing the refrain…

Jojo:                To learn from the past…

Ushi:               To make the song last…

Jojo:                Of humanity…

Jojo and Ushi:                      For you and me…

Jojo:                Of… One home, nuestra hogar

Ushi:               One home, 一家人 (yī jiā rén)

Jojo and Ushi:                      One home, our home

***

Jojo:                Paco… Oh, it’s the guy with the car. I’m not sure what I’m going to say.

Paco:              It’s your decision.

Jojo:                Hi, Mario. I was going to call you. I have to let you know… Right, I know it’s a great deal. Honestly, I may want to get something electric. Sorry I took so long to make my decision. Yes. Yes. Bye.

Paco:              Did you say electric car?

Jojo:                I said electric, but I didn’t say car. I’m thinking more like an electric bike. Maybe Citi Bike.

Paco:              Awesome. I’m even more proud.

Jojo:                You got to be proud. I put up with you!