Reflections on a Changing Planet
Having two children who insist on getting up at 5.45 am, even on misty wet East African days, can have its perks. The previous day, I had walked along the riverbed, surrounded by the beautiful multitude of bee-eater and love birds along its banks. As you pass, they fly upward in droves, swooping and circling as if happy to show you around and join you - such exuberant hosts!
This particular morning, I was at a loss as to how to entertain my two little fledgelings, so asked: “Who wants to come help the Lovebirds to Breathe?!”. They immediately launched into action. Their favourite cartoon ‘Paw Patrol Rescue’ at the forefront of their imaginative, wishful souls. Since they were born, part of their nighttime routine has been to close all the curtains, saying goodbye to the dwindling light entering our glasshouse up the hill, and announcing loudly to the forest: “Night night trees, thanks for helping us to breathe!”.
By now, they know that their loony Mama and Baba spend their days collecting dirty plastic to make beautiful furniture and barely question it. The only enquiry their little minds come to is: “Mama, why IS plastic so bad?”. For this, my answer is always threefold: “In many countries, it is burned, which is so bad for the air, birds and trees”. They nod along wisely. “Second, plastic uses up fossil fuels from the ground when it is made which affects our globe”. After a short tangent on fossils and dinosaurs, I come to the third: “Plastic, never ever breaks down, so it ends up in waterways and oceans, which chokes the fish!”
I worry sometimes that it is a morbid answer. But remarkably they don’t see it this way. They just see the excitement of the challenge and have the willingness to get involved. At 3 & 4 years old they already feel empowered to collect plastic, not to pick plastic toys, and shun food wrapped in polyethene. So on these cold misty mornings, I find these opportunities to be uplifted and to push towards a better world for both of them.
