| "John," he said rather intensely, "don't talk about | | | | rivers have become polluted, and in some areas, |
| trying.' 'Try' is one of the most negative words in | | | | you can't breathe the air. People think that it's |
| your language. Whenever someone says that he | | | | someone else's problem, but let me assure you, it |
| is trying, it means that there isn't a real | | | | is everybody's duty to do something about it. If |
| commitment. If you speak or think 'try' the | | | | the condition is not reversed soon,your children |
| subconscious knows you're not serious. Don't 'try,' | | | | and your children's children will suffer. My |
| just 'do' or don't 'do.' " | | | | assignment is to help stop the environmental |
| "Thanks,Gideon," I said, somewhat apologetic for | | | | destruction of your planet. There are a number of |
| forgetting the things I knew. | | | | us working on this. Sometimes it seems hopeless, |
| "You're welcome, John," was his response. "Look | | | | but we'll continue our work. We're seeing some |
| at Theo here. He's been having a tough time | | | | signs of change, few though they be." |
| and,yet,he keeps working against tremendous | | | | "What can I do to help?" |
| odds. Still, I know he enjoys doing what he does." | | | | "Quite a lot, actually," he said. "You and your |
| "What do you do, Theo?" I asked. | | | | children can plant some trees in your yard, and |
| Theo took a deep breath, looked at me and | | | | take better care of the ones you already have.If |
| replied, "I'm into trees, John." | | | | everyone did that, you would see remarkable |
| "Into trees?" I asked with a foolish expression on | | | | changes.There are many groups who are trying |
| my face. "Into trees? Exactly how do you do | | | | to save the environment.Support some of them. |
| that?" | | | | Carefully choose the products you use in your |
| "Don't look so surprised," said Theo. "Let me | | | | home. Paper comes from trees. Support |
| explain. | | | | companies that use recycled paper. Bring your old |
| Your primary source of food on Earth is from | | | | newspapers to a recycling unit. It may take a few |
| those factories that you call 'trees.' For centuries | | | | more minutes of your time, but it will help |
| people have been systematically destroying | | | | considerably. Each person can do small things to |
| vegetation on Earth. The situation has become | | | | help. And a lot of small things add up to big |
| critical. Your rain forests are being destroyed,your | | | | results. |