THE SPACESHIP

The earthspaceship moves at about 100,000 kilometres per hour around the Sun. There is a problem- the spaceship is overheating and the carbon dioxide inside the ship is increasing.  Food is running out.  In order to avert catastrophe the passengers must cooperate.

However inside the craft there are passengers from over 200 nations and there are different cabin class categories: 5% are in first class, 10% in business class and the rest in economy. The captain tells the passengers that to survive they must ration the food and eat less and cease unnecessary activity.  However the first class and busness class passenger are attempting to build a barrier between their section of the craft and the rest of the passengers.
Some of the first class passenger greet the captain’s assessment with disbelief and state firmly that there can be no heating problem that the craft is simply flying closer to the sun.
They have built a wall using first class seats and are guarding the entrance with the security guards weapons.
Inside the cabin various groups are fighting amongst themselves over the remaining food.  A group of Arabs is attacking a group of Jews. Both are manufacturing weapons from whatever is at hand. Some of the business passengers are handing weapons to both groups hoping to prevent them unifying against them.  The Arabs have accused the Jews of causing the situation.  They are convinced that the Jewish passengers have influenced the Captain to spread lies about the craft’s danger.  They think if they kill the Jews this will solve their problems.
The Jewish group, which includes several scientists, is making superior weapons from the metal in their briefcases mobile phones and watches.  Already they have a small-guided rocket, which they shout they will use if the Arabs threaten their existence. Indeed throughout the craft the same petty earthbound squabbles erupt. Indians and Pakistanis are wrestling in the isles. Both accusing the other of inciting dangerous behaviour. Most, but not all, passengers are trying to keep the declining resources to themselves by barricading themselves in or attacking other groups of passengers. Some groups are calling for calm but their voices are rarely heard above the hubbub.  If they , remain calm and reduce the internal stress and ration the food they might survive long enough to solve the problem and land the ship. It is up to the passengers to realise before it is too late.