Let it Grow

It’s not a long time ago I made use of the pseudo name ‘The Lorax’ as I wrote articles on the environment. Why The Lorax one would wonder. Why did I opt for that orange and slightly annoying mystical creature? Well……. for starters I did think he was rather cute with his orange fur and I do enjoy a good animation.  Most of all though, I loved his message,

“Unless somebody cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not,” Dr Seuss

The Lorax was that one creature that cared a whole awful lot about trees and the environment thus the famous intro, “I am the Lorax and I speak for the trees”. I just could not help being somewhat nostalgic, hence, I get to be The Lorax again and I concur that,

“He that plants trees loves others besides himself,” Thomas Fuller

Let us take note of that statement which encourages us to be selfless and soak it in. For over the years, I sense as a people we are no longer in touch with the role we ought to play in preserving the environment and what it means in its entirety. We are reminded often than not of the significance of conserving it but do we truly understand and grasp all the concepts being thrown at us? Or the whole notion has been sensationalised to a point it’s deafening.

Why conserve the environment plus will we reap the benefits of doing so in this generation? Such questions naturally pop up in one’s mind. As thus, let’s briefly explore sustainable development. It entails us preserving the current resources so that our children and children’s children can benefit from them the same way we did if not better. Through it we are automatically included in a crusade to give the future generation a better prospect where they will not long or wish for resources we enjoy today.

As a resident in the town of Bulawayo which is currently faced with water shortages. I cannot help but feel our town fathers let us down. The Matebeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP) which was first conceptualised in 1912, was aimed solely to ensure that we would not experience the current water shortages. Hands down it was an incredible idea. Tragically, it never came to fruition. What was the cause for its failure? Many are quick to call out corruption and squandering of funds as the main factor. Some say it is because the project was overambitious and costly. While these are indeed the realities of the tragic story of the MZWP. The root cause for the failure of the project is in my opinion that individuals tasked with the responsibility to see it through, did not fully appreciate the need for sustainable development. They did not understand the role they had to play as our fore fathers in safeguarding natural resources. But sadly,

“The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations,” John Paul II.

So what can we then do from this moment on to right this wrong and guarantee our offspring have a future with enough resources? For as the unfortunate group we understand and relate to that the ultimate test of a man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.

The solution is in the seed of environmental stewardship. I say let us plant it and let it grow! We cannot have our future generations missing out on the beauty that comes with nature. They need to have a getaway experience to the silent wilderness, wild woods, and rocky areas and give the soul a chance to be at peace. They will need free access to clean air and safe water. This seed of environmental stewardship will make this a reality, therefore I say,

LET IT GROW!