Ontario Nature Youth Challenge

Listen

Sara
Grade 7 at Centennial Public School, Elmira

They are silent bystanders to our destruction. Quietly they watch as their world gets smaller. Look into their eyes. There you can see distress, sadness, fear, and loss yet still they are silent. Just staring while hoping and praying for better days to come. Not protesting, instead stepping aside as others take over. They are being taken advantage of.

The animals watch in sadness.

They are peaceful watchers of our demolition. Innocently seeing others get cut, picked and pruned. Look at their branches, leaves and flowers. There you can see sadness and hatred as they fall, one by one, yet still no sound comes from them. Falling, drooping, but still crying for mercy. Not crying for us to hear, instead hiding it inside.They are being taken advantage of.

The plants watch in despair.

We are boisterous interruptions to the world of nature. Not caring about the noise and destruction we do to them. Just building bigger, taller, wider. Any space that we find is used for more, more, more. Not thinking, just doing. Not caring, just cutting. Not listening to the silent protests. The voice of the wild is speaking to us but no one is listening. We are the ones taking advantage of the animals and the plants.

Human beings just don’t care.

Determined to answer all of life’s questions, but why? Why do we need to know? Why not just admire the delicacy of nature instead of tearing it apart with questions, weapons, and tools? Why not just live with the way things are, instead of inventing more ways to destruct? Why not connect with nature instead of being foreign? Why not be friends with nature instead of enemies? WHY NOT?

Listen to the voice of the wild, begging, crying, and protesting. Answer their plea for a peaceful connection. Only we can make that difference for a future of friendship.

Ontario Nature gratefully acknowledges Dow Chemical Canada Inc. for sponsoring the Ontario Nature Youth Challenge Essay Writing Contest.