The story of the fisherman and of the farmer
As I sit on the podium with the other speakers, I have in front of me about 30 boys and girls. They are not even teenagers, most of them seem to be around 12 years old. They sit while the other speakers tell them of climate change and renewable energies. They are being told what we believe is good for them: that we are in danger, we need to act, we need to recycle our waste, save energy, and reduce emissions. But, at the same time, I can’t avoid thinking that, out there, outside the cozy world of the school and of their teachers, there is a different world. A world where the only tree that has a value is a tree that has been cut down and sold. A world where the measure of success is how much a person can consume. A world where the fragile thing we call “the environment” is always the least important concern.
Are we doing to these children a favor by telling them what we are telling them? I cannot say, I can only see that they are good boys and good girls and that they are doing their best to listen to the speakers. They seem to understand that what they are being told is important for their future. And some of them seem to understand that it is not obvious that they will have a future.
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