Epitaph for a Dead Planet

Road sign, Minas Gerais

To the north lie vitrified fields of black earth. To the west, sulphurous clouds emerge from a bottomless pit. To the east, desiccated riverbeds meander without purpose. To the south, smouldering pyrotechnic hills spew toxic flames. The archaeologists and anthropologists found Earth an interesting case study. Rarely in their travels across the cosmos had they encountered  evidence of an intelligent species that was genetically predisposed to self-destruction and which had, in addition, developed the means to accomplish it. Sad remains litter what had once been one of the most fertile places on the planet. Plant life has reappeared, but mutated, painful to the touch and covered in microscopic deadly barbs. Soon the triffids will envelop the rusting message: Protect Nature, Save life.