
Years ago I heard chainsaws running outside my house. I went out to see my neighbour, a farmer, felling a mature beech tree across the road. I was shocked and confused by what I saw, and returned to the house feeling powerless as I felt there was nothing to be done. A while later, the chainsaws started up again, and to my horror I realised he was cutting down the next tree in a line of trees. I felt sick and didn't know what to do. I had a baby asleep in the house and felt torn between leaving her alone and running across the field to speak to the farmer. Before I knew it another tree had gone down and he was moving on to the next. I felt this terrible pain building in my chest and I started to panic as my heart was literally breaking. I could 'hear' the trees calling to me, and I couldn't save them. It was horrific. I ran into the house and phoned the farmer's wife. I pleaded with her to stop her husband killing the trees. She was shocked and amazed at my outburst - I do not think she even began to understand why I was so upset. The chain saws stopped at the fall of the third tree, and she told me no more would be cut down. Later she phoned me to say the trees were diseased - but I subsequently found that this was not true. The trees were for firewood in years to come. I think it was her way of trying to make me feel better - she was a kind woman and wouldn't want to hurt anyone. The farmer and his wife never saw the land they 'owned' as the honour and privilege it is. To them it represented nothing more than making a living. To my knowledge this farmer never planted even one little tree on his land to replace the ones he took.
This is just one story of the way in which mankind keeps thoughtlessly taking. Can he not see the beauty in a tree? Can he not understand that they are finite and without replanting they will soon be gone? Can he not feel the gifts our natural world bestows upon us? Can he not accept that all life on this planet is deeply entwined and that what we do to others we also do to ourselves? Can he not understand we have to work with nature not try to control it? Have we come so far along this dark path, we can no longer see even a glimmer of light?
I understand the people in Turkey were trying to save their last remaining trees in an Istanbul park. The authorities want to rip them all out and build more shopping malls. The people don't want that - they have spoken up and shown their wishes, and for that they are now suffering with tear gas and beatings. This is not being reported in the mainstream media which is controlled by those who do not want to loose their grip. But can they not see there is no separation between themselves, the protesters and the trees? Are they really so stupid?
Why are we doing this to ourselves? It makes no sense. No wonder people are developing cancer at such an unprecedented rate. We no longer know how to nurture - we are literally starting to consume ourselves. I cannot understand why those who hold power would want to bring our planet, and all life that exists because of her, to an end. I do not understand - I am in deep sadness today.