Life Cycle

There is the chirping of birds in the air, the rustling of life under the fallen leaves. Life slows down as the sun sets on the green horizon. The nocturnal creatures are just awakening and are venturing out to play. The night stars just start to peek out through the dark clouds as the red, orange and pink of the sunset turns blue and purple. Everything is calm. But not for long.

You are sitting on a log, trying to read the book in your rough hands. But you realize it’s too dark to continue. You carefully shut the paperback. The old, rough copy of 'Anne Of Green Gables' is your only possession that links you back to your homeland. Here in Brazil, nothing is familiar.

With the book in your hands, you turn back towards the camp. Chainsaws are lined up, ready for you and your crew to use tomorrow morning. Some people are still getting settled in. The Brazilian forest is a strange place.

The night dawns quickly on the lush forest. You head to your tent to get ready for tomorrow. You sigh, as this is your first night away from your new wife. But you had no choice. To pay for your first house, you need this job. Your parents have no money to give you. You remind yourself of that fact and lie down to rest.
~~~~~
Days pass. Your crew cuts down the first section of the forest, impressing the companies representatives. But, today is a very special day. You earlier received a letter from your wife. In eight months time, you are to be a father. Your crew congratulates you. You feel so proud, and excited for the future. This is one of the happiest days of your life.

Over the last few days, you have thought and thought about the future. You can’t wait. But the logging company is pushing the crew to work longer. More work hours. You don’t care. The more work hours, the more you get paid. Besides, you think, there really is nothing to do out in the middle of nowhere.

As you trek through the forest, you are constantly thinking about your child. They don’t have to deal with the situations you must deal with; not yet. You begin to plan for the future- the type of house you’ll buy, the type of town, even possible names for your child. You begin to think about the surroundings you want your child to grow up in. Not a poor world, like yours; but not a rich one, filled with the desire to spoil your child rotten. You’re starting to think of your childs’ world’s condition, when you must stop. It’s time to get to work cutting down the tall, sturdy trees of the old forest.
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There is no chirping of birds in the air, no rustling of life under the old, rotten leaves. Life slows to a crawl as the sun rises over the bare horizon. The nocturnal creatures will never awaken, as their homes were destroyed. There are no stars- the smog clouds cover the sky. Bands of pink, red and orange form in the sky as the sun rises on a now-barren land. Everything is silent. But the silence is a deadly one.

You are sitting on a log, about to read as you see this great change. And then it hits you. Realization. You begin to realize that this is what your childs’ life will be like. Bare. No nature. They will never get to experience the thrill yet calm of the wild trees. By their time, all the trees will be gone. Used for industrial purposes. And you have helped. You are part of the wave that is crossing all countries, taking from the environment carelessly. You are helping to destroy the world.

You have a responsibility. A responsibility to preserve the environment for your childs’ future. As you watch the sun rise, you silently vow to never let the remaining parts of forest see the same sight that you see now. A barren Earth is not what you want for your childs’ future.
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Five years later, and you are still going. You have fought. Fought hard. All for a cause that you truly believe in. Your heart is in your work. You continue to contribute to the environment, protesting and convincing others to stop cutting down the forests.

And you have saved that forest. Yet you know others are being cut down each day. That’s why you keep going. You know that, with time, you can make the world a better place. For future generations and the people living today. There is hope.
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There is the chirping of birds in the air, the rustling of life under the fallen leaves. Life slows down as the sun sets on the green horizon. The nocturnal creatures are just awakening and are venturing out to play. The night stars just start to peek out through the dark clouds as the red, orange and pink of the sunset turns blue and purple. Everything is calm. And will stay calm.

You look out over your lawn, watching your son play in the lush grass. You feel relieved knowing that he breathes clean air. Knowing that his life will be filled with nature. But most of all, you feel relieved knowing that you have helped to change the Earth. For the better.