By Emma Marie Shie
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi.
God envisioned a world of peace, harmony, and beauty. He created the world with his freedom, love, and intelligence. Now here on earth, we should live in peace for the good of all human beings and for the care of creation.
At the start of the third millennium, we are depressed to see the pain and misery of a great number of people living with violence, poverty, disease, and starvation. We are also disturbed by all the never ending costs for the American civilization and for all creation resulting from the deprivation of many natural resources. The world is lacking natural resources such as clean water, undeveloped land and clean air caused by the economic and scientific growth that should not be overlooking the other natural aspects in this world.
In my parish, school and at home, I can help protect God’s creation by reusing and recycling. I can plant trees in my backyard and my community and help other people do it as well. I can stop using plastic and Styrofoam items and start using reusable grocery bags and biodegradable plates and cups. Using plastic kills approximately 100,000 whales, seals, turtles and other marine animals each year, and the plastic takes approximately 1,000 years to decompose.
In our world, if only one person can start making a difference, then others will see that difference and start pitching in, too. We need to strive every day to make this world a better, healthier place in which to live. We need to treat this world with the respect and care it very much needs. Start helping the world instead of treating it like your garbage can. We all have to live in it.
Let’s all start making a difference. By myself I can do a little, but together, we can do a lot.
(Emma Marie Shie is an eighth-grader at St. Paul the Apostle School in Davenport.)
