The Dola Project: An offbeat and creative approach to environmental challenges

By Cecil Thomas

A wealthy woman named Dola decided to address some larger problems faced by the US. She knew she could not work alone on such big issues, so she recruited a group of seven young people in their late twenties. The group became known as Team Dola. She explained that the group of seven would not do all the work on a selected project. Instead, the group would recruit experts who could do most of the work. In other words, Team Dola would initiate a project that others would implement.

Their first of four projects involved desalinating Pacific Ocean water and pumping the fresh water into rivers to supplement irrigation. The second project addressed the problem of wildfires by replacing traditional controlled burning with mulching. A third project arose from their concern for missing persons. The fourth project addressed the problem of sinking cities, with focus on New Orleans.

The young members of Team Dola approach their tasks using unconventional and offbeat methods with surprising successes. They engage allies from multiple government agencies, members of the Navajo Nation, California farmers, and even Louisiana politicians. They also manage to have fun and experience romances and disappointments, all while growing into a close-knit formidable team that successfully addresses our nation's pressing problems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9798885057189

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Dola Finds Her Team

A RETIRED WEALTHY, WELL-CONNECTED WOMAN NAMED DOLA thought about all the current and long-term problems in the US. After weeks of thinking and talking to others, she decided to do something, but she recognized that her training and experience in medicine were not enough to address the more global problems.

Charles was a shy accountant in the firm that helped manage Dola’s investments. After a struggle with prostate cancer, including surgery, his wife left him, and Charles retired to attend a culinary school a few miles from Dola’s farm. He gained skills as a chef before the COVID-19 pandemic closed the catering and restaurant business. Dola and Charles met through her medical colleagues who explained his medical limitations and spoke highly of Charles and his skills.

Dola explained to Charles what she wanted to do and how she wanted to proceed. Charles showed interest, and Dola hired him as her accountant, her cook, and her assistant. For Dola’s global plan, they decided to hire a small group of people who can work as a team to identify a task and to locate experts who can address the basic problems.

After many hours of work, Dola chose seven people who are highly intelligent, broadly educated, first-generation college graduates, not religious, not political, with a high level of empathy, and little connection with family or hometown friends. Dola called them bright, independent, freethinkers who want to make things better. All the seven-person team will finish their university degrees in summer of 2021, and they could begin their assignment in August. Charles emphasized that the team members must work together.

Dola and Charles formulated the basic plan in April 2021 and wanted to talk directly with the seven people and to assess how they will work together as a team. They arranged a time for a video conference to talk with the seven members of the team: Abby, engineer with PhD degree in chemistry and environmental engineering; Susan, RN with an MS degree in nursing and a PhD degree in public health; Maggie, biologist with a PhD degree in biology and biochemistry; Kate, psychologist with a PhD degree in psychology; Ted, engineer with a PhD degree in engineering; Carl, engineer with a PhD degree in civil engineering; and Pete, economist with a PhD degree in economics and political science.

Dola and Charles contacted the team by video, and Dola introduced herself and Charles. Dola told them, "I want to hire you as a team of seven to address some major issues facing the US. This is not a political task. When we have political considerations, Charles and I will try to handle it so you can focus on your work. Before you introduce yourselves, let me state my plan. I want you to work as a team for four years with Charles and me. In exchange, I will pay off your student debts."

There was a short pause.

That probably captured your attention, so let’s take a few minutes for introductions. Keep it brief this first time, maybe just brief background, when you finish your degree, what you want to do in your career.

The seven potential team members gave excellent introductions while Charles took notes. When they finished, Charles nodded to Dola.

Dola continued, I want our next step to be a meeting in Virginia. You can fly into Dulles Airport or DCA where Charles and I will meet you with a bus. Charles will drive us to a small town in Virginia where we will spend a few days on my farm. I will cover all your expenses plus $300 per month.

Dola continued, So now, ask whatever questions you have.

Susan asked, Our total student debt is a lot of money. Can you afford that?

Charles chuckled. Dola replied, "Charles and I have studied your background, education, and your debts. You will need years to pay off your debt, which averages about $63,000. I want to remove that debt so you can focus on our team projects. And, yes, I can afford it. Maybe we can make it an early gift for the holidays or Thanksgiving.

All seven of you have worked hard, even struggled, to complete your academic degrees. You have little or no help in paying off your student loans. All of you want to make things better in the world, and all of you have unique talents that you bring to the team. Charles and I think you will be an excellent team of seven, and your team will do some amazing work. For now, talk among yourselves and decide on a week that we can all gather in Virginia. Charles and I can probably adjust to your schedule.

Some of them had obligations in August, and they mentioned the week before Memorial Day. They discussed several options, but they seemed to prefer to meet soon. After they settled on the week before Memorial Day, Dola explained, Charles has your email and mailing addresses. He will send plane tickets to you. Could you all travel to Virginia on Sunday, twenty-third of May, and start a kind of conference on the twenty-fourth?

All seven team members agreed.

With your permission, Charles will share your email addresses with all team members and with me.

They all nodded, and the plans were made.

Kate asked, Will we be Team Dola?

Everyone chuckled, and Dola replied, The team should choose the name, but maybe I should retain veto power.

They chuckled again. Ted commented with a straight face, How about Dola’s Devilish Dorks?

Everyone chuckled, and Dola replied, Apparently, Ted’s dorky mind is the devil’s workshop.

Many laughed.

Dola suggested, We will meet in Virginia on 23 May, but use email for any questions.

Charles noted that the email group will be closed so that their work can remain private. Dola added, If someone asks, tell them we are a new start-up group.

Dola continued, I want our Virginia gathering to be informal. If the weather is good, we may go outside for some activities, including swimming in my pool. Charles will arrange for food in the farmhouse or maybe at a restaurant in the small town.

Pete asked, When do we need to decide to join the Team Dola?

Dola replied, What do you suggest?

Pete continued, I think I am in already, but maybe we should wait until Wednesday, 26 May, to decide.

Others expressed their agreement. Charles nodded to Dola, and she told the team, Then we need not talk about decisions until 26 May. Charles, could we celebrate on the twenty-sixth with dinner at a restaurant?

Charles smiled and said, I will make plans. For the Team Dola members, the restaurant is not formal, a sport coat or light jacket will be sufficient.

Dola added, We will be less formal on the farm. Everyone smiled.

Dola concluded with Thank you for considering my offer for a unique opportunity. We will gather on 23 May and continue our discussion on 24 May. So back to work, and we will convene in person in about four weeks.

They terminated the video link.

Dola and Charles agreed that the team of seven looked promising. Dola said, This whole idea just may work.

In the next week, Charles arranged plane travel so that all seven team members could arrive at Dulles Airport in early afternoon. He also made plans for food for all of them.

*****

Sunday, 23 May

At about 1:00 p.m. on 23 May, the team members began arriving and followed Charles’s instruction to find the bus. They boarded the bus, and Charles told them that the last team member will arrive in thirty-five minutes. Shortly after 2:00 p.m., the whole team was in the bus and exploring the interior. Charles insisted that they sit and buckle their seat belts. They started north on a highway with limited Sunday traffic then exited onto a nice four-lane road with even less traffic.

Ted asked Charles about the distance to DC, and he said about thirty miles. As Ted observed the terrain and vegetation and houses, a bus passed in the left lane and then seemed to have a blowout in a front tire. Ted pointed to the bus and suggested that Charles slow to see what would happen. As they watched, the other bus hit the median then swerved to the right in front of Charles. The other bus crossed in front of them, went over the curb on the right, and hit a berm with a sign. The bus turned on its left side in the lane in front of Charles and skidded to a stop about fifty feet in front of Charles.

Ted and Charles saw sparks from the skidding, and they both feared a fire in the bus. Ted told Charles to have one of the team bring his fire extinguisher. Ted ran to check on passengers and saw a bus full of school kids maybe eight to ten years old. He could not open the back door, so he climbed to the top and entered through an open door. The driver had injuries and was not moving well. Ted helped him out of his seat belt while he asked how to open the back door. The driver did something at his seat and gave Ted a mallet to force the door open.

Ted hurried through the bus, walked over glass from the broken windows, and told the students that he wanted to open the back door, but he will return to help them exit the bus. The back door was stuck, but a few hits with the mallet allowed him to open the door. Other team members arrived to help the kids out of the bus. Ted told the kids that his friends will take good care of them and take them to a new bus.

Ted helped unlock their seat belts so the kids could move on the surface leading to the open door in the back. Carl entered the bus to help Ted. They helped twenty-eight kids exit the bus and then gave the driver some assistance as he walked toward the back door. Ted did one last check to see if all the kids were out and then returned to help Carl.

On Charles’s bus, Susan told the kids that she was a nurse, and she wanted to make sure they were not injured. Others helped with the kids as Susan checked for injuries. Susan insisted, We need to go to an emergency room to get everyone checked out.

Ted asked Charles, and he knew the location of a hospital with an ER. The team members had the kids sit in seats with seat belts and had others sit on the floor and hold hands. The team members talked with the kids and assured them that they were in a safe place.

Charles moved past the wrecked bus, and Ted thought he saw a small fire under the bus. When they were about fifty meters away, the wrecked bus’s fuel tank exploded., and the whole bus was in flames. By that time, police arrived. Charles drove about two kilometers to the hospital and stopped at the ER entrance, with one police car following.

Susan told the kids that she will take them to see a doctor to make sure they were okay. Abby and Maggie and Kate helped Susan. Pete and Carl practically carried the driver, and Ted literally carried a little girl with an injured leg.

Ted told her, My name is Ted. What is your name?

She answered, My name is Gwen.

Ted asked, Gwen, does your leg hurt?

Gwen told him that her knee hurts. Ted noticed that she held her left arm close to her body, so he asked, Is your arm okay?

Gwen replied, My elbow hurts.

Soon, all kids and the driver were inside, and Susan approached the ER doctor. Susan explained that she was a nurse and the kids were in a bus crash and told the doctor that the bus driver and a few kids have injuries. The ER doctor explained how they would proceed.

Abby and Ted asked the bus driver where he was taking the kids. He mentioned a school name, and Ted rushed to Charles for his help in locating the school. Charles told them that the school was close by. Ted suggested that they talk with the policemen because parents were probably waiting at the school, waiting to pick up their kids. Ted asked the policemen how to handle the situation.

Charles just said, I called Dola. She will be here any minute.

Ted returned to the kids and asked Susan how he could help. Kate joined them. Susan identified the kids that seemed to have no injuries, and they moved those kids into one section of the waiting room. Susan told them that the driver and the girl that Ted carried have injuries that needed treatment. The others had scratches and bruises and some cuts.

Ted suggested, Susan, take care of the kids with injuries, and we will entertain the other kids.

Suddenly, Dola and Charles and the two policemen approached the team. Ted explained, The ER doctor and our nurse named Susan are with the injured bus driver and injured kids.

Dola walked to the ER doctor and asked, Brad, you have a full house. Could I help?

Brad knew Dola, and they had a very brief talk. Dola suggested, The nurse named Susan and I will check the kids with only minor injuries, and you focus on the injured. Meanwhile Officer Sam will go to the school to tell the parents to pick up their kids here.

Dr. Brad agreed to the plan, and Officer Sam agreed. Brad brought Dola a white coat and stethoscope, and Susan joined her as she began examining the kids. When Dola said a child was okay, Ted, Kate, and Maggie moved the child to a different section of the room.

The other team members brought water for the kids to drink. Abby and Pete took water to the girl that Ted carried in from the bus. Then Dr. Brad approached her.

Ted explained, Dr. Brad, this girl named Gwen may have injuries to her left knee and left elbow.

Dr. Brad took over and began examining Gwen. Dr. Brad and Dola debated the need for an x-ray of the knee and finally decided on a knee brace. They had the same debate about the elbow and decided on a removable brace.

Gwen joined the other kids while Dr. Brad, Dola, and Susan and others helped with the paperwork to release the kids. Ted and Maggie told the twenty-eight kids what was happening, and then they started singing songs, first You Are My Sunshine. The other team members joined the singing, and all the kids were smiling. They divided into groups and sang a round of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Meanwhile, the parents were waiting outside.

When the kids were released, Charles and Carl asked the kids to form a line to go outside and meet the parents, and Dola delivered the kids to their parents. Gwen insisted that Ted carry her, and, of course, he did as Gwen requested. At the parents’ car, Ted gave Gwen a little hug and said bye-bye.

Gwen said, Thank you, Ted.

Gwen’s mother said, Thank you, Ted.

Dola explained the knee and elbow braces.

All the other kids wanted to be carried, so Ted asked for help from Pete. They used their hands on wrists to make a kind of swing or platform or seat. A child sat on their hands and held onto their arms. They asked each kid for a name so they could use the name with parents. Dola told the parents, Your child is fine. She just wanted a fun ride. When all twenty-eight kids were with their parents, the team asked Dola about the bus driver. She explained that the driver would stay overnight for some tests, but he should recover in a week or so.

Kate asked about the kids’ luggage, and one of the policemen showed them a photo of the burned bus. The policeman told them, Everything’s burned. The policemen opined, Without your help, those kids would have burned too.

Charles agreed. The team remained quiet.

Dola insisted, I need to return my white coat and stethoscope, then let’s go to the farm and have some food and drink.

Charles noted, I have not called for dinner, and it’s late for delivery, so what do you suggest?

Carl suggested, A few pizzas.

Susan said, Pizzas may not be the best for my diet, but pizza sounds really good.

Maggie suggested, Veggie pizza.

Abby agreed. Pete wanted sausage pizza. Charles suggested, Five pizzas, two veggie, two sausage, and one surprise.

Everyone smiled and agreed. Dola suggested they order the pizzas and then travel to the farm.

*****

The team settled in their farmhouse bedrooms, washed, and returned to the dining table. The pizzas arrived, and Charles served the drinks. They sat at a long table, and Dola offered a toast. Carl asked if they could eat outside on the big patio and watch the sunset. Everyone nodded, and Dola said, Let’s do it. Others thanked Dola and complimented the nice patio.

Pete said, I could get used to this.

Kate said, Dola, today was a little unusual, but I look forward to the next few days. Thank you for bringing Team Dola here.

Others echoed, Thanks, Dola.

The team members feasted on the pizza, making multiple trips inside for pizza and drinks. As the eating waned, Abby opined, We worked together as a team this afternoon, but I am still bothered by the photo of the burned bus.

Carl agreed and offered, I am not sure the kids could have exited the bus without us. Ted climbed the bus, entered through the top, and forced the back door open. That gave the kids an escape route.

As the others nodded, Ted said, It was a team effort. Each of us helped in our own way. Others commented.

Susan asked, Dola, when did you stop your medical practice? Or would you prefer not to discuss it?

Dola replied, I worked as a physician until I had an illness that interrupted my work. During my long recovery, I had a lot of time to think, and I decided that I wanted to address some larger problems. I also decided that I cannot solve big problems alone. I need help. That is when I settled on the idea to hire a team of young, smart, empathetic people to be a team to work with me. At the same time, I know that the team cannot work alone. For example, today we needed help from the ER and the police and finally from parents. That is how I want us to work together as a team to use our own talents and recruit others to do a lot of the work.

Susan thanked Dola for her explanation. That clarifies how we can work as a team. Others agreed.

Pete asked Charles, Tell us about your work and retirement.

Charles looked at Dola with obvious reluctance and explained his retirement from the accounting firm, a bout with cancer, attending culinary school, and starting work with Dola. Susan asked about his cancer, but Dola suggested, That is a little too personal. Let’s just say that Charles has a lot of talents that he brings to Team Dola.

After another hour of casual conversation, Charles announced, Breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m., with hot drinks ready at 7:30 a.m. Does everyone want coffee?

Ted asked, Could we have hot chocolate? I like the smell of coffee but not the taste. And I like hot chocolate.

Two others agreed with Ted, but others wanted coffee. As everyone began to go inside, Ted helped Charles carry dishes and drink glasses to the kitchen. In the kitchen, Ted volunteered to help with breakfast, but Charles insisted that he would handle it.

CHAPTER 2

Plan Team Projects

Monday, 24 May

TED WENT TO THE KITCHEN A FEW MINUTES AFTER 7:00 A.M. AND asked Charles if he could help. Charles insisted that he take a mug of hot chocolate and go outside, and he did. Ted walked on the patio to see the morning dew on plants in the dawn light. He sat in a chair and continued to admire the light and sounds of the early morning. Kate and Maggie arrived with their coffee, and Ted rose to walk with them and to point to a few sights and sounds.

Kate noted, The devilish dork enjoys the beauty of the early morning. They had a good laugh.

Ted just said, I am who I am.

The others came outside with hot drinks and joined the early morning conversations. As some went inside to get refills, Charles called them for breakfast. Mixed with conversations, they filled their plates in buffet style and settled at the breakfast table.

As they ate, Dola announced, The kids from the bus crash invited you to their school as a kind of thank you. Susan, what do you think?

Susan replied, I would like visiting the kids, but my first thought is that we should focus on the Team Dola work here at the farm. Let’s hear what others think. And do you have a report on the injuries to Gwen and the bus driver?

Dola reported, Gwen has no fractures, and she will recover in about ten days. The bus driver seems to have a heart problem that causes episodes.

As they ate, they complimented the pancakes and the hot chocolate, and Charles was pleased. Dola asked about their rooms, and the team expressed satisfaction. They continued the small talk throughout the entire breakfast. As they ended breakfast, Charles noted that their meeting room would have coffee and water.

All nine of them settled in the meeting room, each with a glass of water. The room had a wooden table surrounded with walls of beautiful wood. The front was entirely covered with whiteboards. The middle whiteboard moved aside to expose a video monitor. Dola started their meeting with a summary of her offer for them to work with her in exchange for her canceling their student loans. Charles noted that they agreed to decide to accept or decline Dola’s offer on Wednesday. He suggested Wednesday at lunch, and the team agreed. Dola concluded with the observation that the team worked together well to take care of the kids in the crashed bus.

So let’s think about problems for situations where this team can make things better. Charles and I will sit quietly and take notes, but we want to hear what you want to do or what problems you want to address.

Kate commented, In this group, we can identify current problems and concerns that we might address. Each of us sees problems from our unique perspective. Each of us can make a list. I suggest we begin with Ted listing some issues that we might address.

Some others agreed; Dola and Charles remained quiet. After a short silence, Ted rose, removed his jacket, approached the whiteboards, thanked Kate, and wrote at the top of the board, Ted’s List.

Ted suggested, We could ask what animals kill humans. Mosquitoes kill one million per year. Humans kill about five hundred thousand per year. Snakes kill fifty thousand per year. Dogs kill twenty-five thousand per year. Land mines kill twenty thousand per year.

Ted continued, "Maggie and Susan know more about the diseases spread by mosquitoes. Kate may give us some insight into why humans kill other humans. We do not talk much about the 110 million land mines planted in the earth, but they kill kids who wander into the mine fields. With that background, let’s list some potential projects for Team Dola. I hope others will share their lists.

"First, water. Ocean levels rise, and desert areas increase. In simple terms, we have too much water in some places and not enough water in other places. What can we do? Can we make desalination practical on a large scale? Then could we send that fresh water into dry areas? Would a grid of canals re-foliate the dry areas? Process ocean water and send fresh water to dry regions.

"Second, wildfires. In drought conditions, lightning and humans start fires, and those fires can spread rapidly. How could we redistribute water to limit wildfires? Would a grid of canals provide a new strategy for controlling wildfires?

"Third, Ocean invading residential areas. New Orleans is largely below sea level. Large pumps move water out of the city to avoid massive floods even without tropical storms. How much money do we spend maintaining the city of New Orleans in its current state? What would be a practical alternative?

"Fourth, drinking water. With sufficient electricity, dirty water can be processed into potable water. Fifth, electricity. Limit burning. Investigate the use of antimatter for producing electricity. Meantime focus on solar and wind power. Sixth, food. Barring a new microbe invasion, sufficient water leads to sufficient food. Seventh, universal basic income (UBI). Local experiments in Stockton, California, and in Ontario and Virginia guaranteed a minimal level of income. The benefits include fewer homeless people, lower unemployment, and lower level of government personnel. Would this model work in a larger area, maybe a state in the US? Pete will have better ideas on how to approach this idea.

"Eighth, carbon dioxide. Remove from air. Use plants that reduce CO2? Limit emissions. Carbon tax. Maybe others can suggest something specific. Ninth, mosquitos. The animal that kills the most humans year after year is the mosquito, nearly a million humans per year. How can we combat mosquitos without harming the environment? Tenth, guns. The animal that kills the second-largest number of humans is other humans. For many, gun ownership is tied to their ‘way of life’ or their politics or their religion or their perceived freedom. Data tells us that in the US, more guns lead to more gun homicides. Is that correlation explained by availability of guns to settle disputes, or does it indicate