In a taba1, in
the woods, there
lived some
native Indians.
In the past, the
tribe was big
and had strong,
courageous and
fast warriors
which hunted and
brought their
prey to the taba
to be served as
food for all.
But time passed
and now the
tribe was
greatly smaller.
Many Indians had
been attracted
by the city
life, where they
got jobs and
therefore never
returned. Now,
in the small
village, the men
planted and
harvested for
the sustenance
of all, mainly
eating maize,
cassava and
fruit.
 |
Bullfinch, a
little warrior,
liked to run in
the woods and
considered
himself free and
happy to feel
the wind
touching his
face and flowing
through his
hair. But in
those
wanderings,
Curio began to
see very sad
things.
Large trees were
felled and
processed into
lumber by the
white men who
right after
would set fire
to the remains
as to clear the
land and store
their machines. At other times,
animals
|
|
were
shot
down
with
their
firearms. |
And in yet other
times, the
little Indian
saw with
infinite sadness
that the streams
of clear water
that were before
used by men and
animals to
quench their
thirst, were now
dirty, stained
with blood and
full of animal
remains; the
white men would
use what they
wanted, then
throw the rest
in the waters of
the stream.
Bullfinch looked
for his father,
who at that time
was working on
the crops, and
sat next to him
with his head
down, overcome
by great
sadness. The
father noticed
that his son was
not happy and
asked:
- What makes
Bullfinch lower
his head sadly
when he should
be happy?
- Oh, my father!
Bullfinch has
seen so many bad
things that he
cannot be
pleased.
- And what did
my son see?
The little
Indian told his
father
everything he
had seen, ending
with a question:
- Wise father,
what does the
white man have
in his head to
spoil this way
the nature given
to us by the
Great Father?
His father
became
thoughtful, let
go of the hoe
and sat on the
ground next to
his son
answering
serenely:
- The white man
thinks he owns
the land, son.
He thinks
everything
belongs to him
and therefore he
does not respect
anything. Thus,
he devastates
forests, sets
fire to the land
in order to
clear it and
pollutes the air
we breathe; he
kills animals
for pleasure,
not as we do
which is only to
satisfy our
hunger. And not
content with all
that, he still
pollutes the
water springs
from where we
get clean water
to quench our
thirst.
Horrified,
Bullfinch
exclaimed:
- But the white
man is
destroying our
lives and where
we live, father!
Does he not know
that?
The father shook
his head and
replied:
- The white man
knows what he's
doing, but does
not feel
responsible for
not being aware
of the evils
that he
practices. For
that reason, we
will all suffer
the consequences
of his actions.
The boy was
silent for a
moment then
said:
- Father, there
must be
something we can
do to help
reduce these
problems!
The father again
nodded
affirmatively
explaining:
- Bullfinch, we
can all
contribute to
the environment
in which we
live.
- In what way,
father?
- Through our
actions! If each
one takes care
of the
environment in
which they live,
they are already
doing enough.
The more people
feel the need to
improve our
world the more
blessings we
will reap,
because we are
helping to
preserve the
environment.
The little
Indian was
thoughtful and
his father
understanding
that he already
spoken enough
about it, went
back to work on
the land.
Suddenly,
Bullfinch stood
up excited,
exclaiming:
- I know what to
do to improve
this situation!
And before his
father could say
anything, the
boy had already
left running
towards the taba,
which was
located nearby.
Once there,
Bullfinch met
with other kids
and explained
what he had in
mind. They loved
it!
Some of them got
empty bags and
began to work,
collecting all
the garbage that
the white men
were throwing in
the woods.
Others stayed
hidden, waiting
for the white
men to set fire
to the ground
and when they
went away, the
little native
Indians
smothered the
fire with rags
or threw dirt on
it and soon the
flames
disappeared.
Others went to
the stream and
waited for the
white men to
throw animal
remains in the
waters. So they
stayed further
down by the
stream side,
collecting
everything that
was thrown into
the waters and
left it all as
food for the
animals.
Thus, the cycle
of life
continued and
the woods was
kept clean from
all the waste.
Soon the white
men realized
that the Indians
were always
behind them,
altering
everything they
did.
Intrigued, they
lurked and saw
the little
Indians putting
out the fires
they had started
and cleaning the
stream. So they
went to talk
with Bullfinch's
father, the
tribe's chief.
- Chief, why are
your kids always
messing with
what we do?
- The white man
must ask them -
the chief
replied
seriously.
Bullfinch
stepped forward
and said:
- We all depend
on the forest.
We're just
trying to repair
what the white
man destroys.
At that moment,
the man hung his
head in shame.
It took a lesson
from a small
native Indian to
make him reflect
on how they were
acting.
The man thanked
Bullfinch,
promising that
they would no
longer destroy
the forest nor
pollute streams
or kill animals
for pleasure.
They became
friends and
peace finally
returned to the
forest.
MEIMEI
(Hosted by Celia
X. de Camargo in
Rolândia-PR, to
15.10.2012.)
1 The word taba
comes from the
native indian
language called
Guarani and
means village or
hamlet.
