I’m just a child or to plant a tree
(Original)

Iulia Milenova Piskuliyska
(Age 12, Bulgaria)
Vasil Aprilov, Sofia

I recently watched a movie about our planet Earth after 500 years. Giant mountains of rubbish, soils which cannot bear any plant, and people with silly empty eyes. I thought a long time: Is this future possible? Can we prevent it and how?

On TV, on the radio, in the newspapers there’s always the discussion on the world problems – global warming, greenhouse effect, rubbish, polluted rivers, oceans, species threatened with extinction, killing forests. My country has the same problems. But also problems are different. We’re now starting to collect the garbage separately. But it’s not enough to put thrash containers in different colors at the streets, people should be educated, to explain to them. If we don’t recycle garbage, soon we’ll sink into mountains of thrash. I cannot build such factory for recycling. I can throw the garbage in the right container, I can also teach my little sister to do so – she’s only three years old and is a really good student. I’m trying to speak with my friends on the topic. They don’t understand that if everyone does a little step, thing will change. Practical moves should be made.

We all know that nylon bags are a threat, but no one does anything. I saw a photo of a stork, hopelessly wound round in a nylon bag, and since then I believe there’re two kinds of people: such that think and such that do not. They don’t take care of these 100 000 birds and sea animals that die because of the plastic and nylon bags.

I asked from my mother for some textile and threads and I sewed a shopping bag. I‘m not very skilful in sewing – I lost three days and I stuck my fingers thirty times. Since a year I’m shopping in the neighborhood with it, trying to convince people that the textile bag is the best weapon against the nylon bags. My mother and me we aren’t taking the nylon bags from the shops. People take them, because they are free and shop assistants are giving them willingly. After that every one’s bringing nylon at home, and after that nylon goes to thrash cans. Nobody cares that nylon doesn’t disintegrate at the bottom of the seas.

Some people suggest nylon bags to be replaced with paper ones. Unfortunately, it isn’t a solution. Anyway thousand of trees are being cut – in Amazonia, Bolivia, North America. My country makes no difference.

My cousin’s a defender of nature. And she told me that if I want to help, I should plant a tree. And my friends should do the same, also their friends. In general, every one must plant one tree.

I hope that more people will start using recycled paper. Some years ago I found a box with old, unused notebooks. I used them whole year and finished with excellent marks. Maybe I saved one tree, maybe not, but still this is making me happy. You know, there are so many cars, polluting the air with carbon and sulphur oxides. Soon nobody will breathe freely! I know people who use their car from one corner to another, just because they are lazy. My cousin rides a bike. I use public transport. We cannot go back to the caves, I know that pretty well. I’m not so naïve to think that all people can be conscientious and responsible.  The more they are, the bigger the number of saved trees, this is for sure.

However, practical and tangible things should be made. In my country children without parents live in children facilities. My mom’s working with kids like that, she teaches them in some handicrafts. And most of all – she speaks with them – they should feel that somebody loves them and isn’t going to abandon them. When I met them for first time, I felt really sad. I have my home, my parents, and they don’t have anything. I started collecting some books, clothes and toys for them. Day after day, I believe more and more that they will find their jobs and their place in life.

In order to save a person, you have to speak with him. In order to save a tree, you have to speak to many people. This is the tree you have planted, which will throw shadows on your grandsons.

Your tree and mine tree, they depend on you and me.