I have a dream -
About twittering birds and twinkling fresh water.

I have a dream -
And only that dream.

I have a nightmare -
And we are all living it.
The horrifying image of polluted rivers, dense clouds of
smoke in the sky, tree stumps where forests once stood,
hard roads where cows used to graze…

All we care about are our needs, and by satisfying those we destroy what we really need. I consume, you consume. There is no question. We just do. Little by little we hurt the earth. She gave us life and she improves them, making them comfortable to live. How can we not be grateful for that? And how can we hurt her in return?

A good life isn’t based on the amount of money you’ve got to spend. A soft bed and a hot shower, a warm meal when you come home from work. People who care about you.

So you won’t do it to save nature. It rains when you have to bike to school and it teases you with sunshine when you’re finally inside. But all we have is nature!

If you search the word “consuming” in google, the first ten hits you get tell you customers should complain more and should expect better products. They tell you to rise up and use your influence as a consumer against consumer companies.

This is wrong!

Consumption in industrialized nations has led to overexploitation of the resources of developing countries. There are people with only a handful of rice because we consume too much.

The more we consume, the less there is available for others. Not just for people in developing countries. The earth can’t continue giving if we don’t slow down taking. Our children, their children… each generation will have less, until there is nothing left.

According to Thoreau, “A man’s relation to nature must come very near to a personal one.” I’m not saying to hug trees, like princess Irene. I’m saying we should have more affection towards nature.

We should use our influence to improve the environment! It’s time for action. Don’t wait for others! They are likely waiting for you.

Just look around you what is really necessary? Think of the things we don’t need at all. If we don’t need them why are they there?

Oh, but it doesn’t have to be like this! We can not cure the earth, but we can heal her. We can stop being selfish and we can start to care!

I have a dream,
my dream should be our dream.
That dream - will never come true.
But at least it can make the nightmare fade away.

~Zenobia, Zenobia@theguthan.com