New Sprouts

by Ali Ji

Today we all gather right here under this great tree.To celebrate.To celebrate the birth of this wonderful town.But before all the festivities begin.Let me tell you a story.It all begins with me, and do you want to know what I saw? Right then and there?I saw a tree! One with branches reaching to the heavens, beauty flowed out of its branches and flourished.Child of Gaia, The first one I had ever seen. The very one we stand under today. Tell me, at what age did you first see a tree? 1? 2? Well for me, it was at the ripe old age of 37. You see, at that time I had been living underground. Simply because of selfish people, who only cared about more. More trees to build. More animals to eat. But one day they bit on more than they could chew. Leaving us to pick up the pieces. Why did this happen to the world? The hubris of humankind. Our Historians think this might have started as early as 2000 AD, over 2000 years ago. I tremble even now at the thought. A world where natural animals and plants were common even as they were slowly dwindling. It was the beginning of the end. The worst thing is, they thought it was okay. No one stopped capitalism. Fossil fuels just kept growing. The voices of the scientists and activists were drowned out by the big companies. It was the earth, drowning in the fumes of its children. I had seen the truth. The truth of the earth then, the new horrible earth. Everyone in the world had been squished underground. The rest of it? All a desert. Not even a desert! It was as if the earth had morphed into a voiceless cold moon. The rest of humanity was dead. My group was the only one left. When my people first saw the horrors the earth was facing, they fled up into the lush forests and built a sanctuary, an oasis for life. They built a strong nation making discoveries and advancements in technology. It was a beautiful place. But the people of the old world wanted more. They wanted everything. So they waged a war. What would go down in history as the Red War. Because instead of green valleys, they became red, from the colour of fire and blood. We lost. Everything. But like the plants after a fire, we started to pop up again. The people who survived fled deep underground, taking the last plant life and animals down with them. It was a hard life, but our people adapted. Somehow, miraculously. They kept popping up. They made another oasis, and although they couldn't recreate what they lost, they rose. They rose to a new era in humanity. And we stand here today, the descendants of these brave people. It may seem insignificant to some of you when this town was first created. But to me, this anniversary. The 50th anniversary of this city means so much to me. That fateful day, I saw my first tree. I may never know the glory of the old world, the world that our ancestors saw, admired, and destroyed. All I can hope for is that this new world can become better, Better for everyone. And I have discovered that people who follow and grow WITH nature, keep popping up. I hope you do not simply remember this day as a celebration and a festival with food and games. I hope you remember this day and the days that follow as more than that. As a day to remember what has been and to hope and act for the future. Thank you and always remember that it is never too late to grow and it is never too late for new sprouts.