Have you ever heard a tree scream?
November 30th 2007 06:46
Have you ever heard a tree scream?
The sound a living tree makes as it dies? Calling out its pain to anyone interested enough to listen.
The arrogance of the human race has taken away any rights enjoyed by all other flora and fauna on this planet. Trees can’t complain, they can’t get up and walk away, they can’t lobby their local parliamentarian for justice … all they can do is wait.
Wait for the arrogance of the human race to come along and destroy the very living things we all pretend to want to protect.
Wait for developers to justify their acts of destruction because the trees are ‘in the way’; who needs trees when we can make millions of dollars building houses?
Wait for people to start caring instead of lying.
I’m not a ‘Greenie’ or even a environmentalist. I don’t agree with many of the current beliefs regarding climate change and global warming, and I understand there are many misconceptions around about Australia’s drought and the new favourite environmental issue of carbon offsetting and carbon credits.
But as I sit here at my desk, listening to the death of hundreds of innocent trees, victims of the greed of developers … I feel like weeping.
Near our house is an area that just ten days ago was covered in trees, heavily wooded, planted out with pines and naturally occurring gum trees. A good five acres of living, healthy trees.
Now it’s gone. And all that is left are the echoes of what once grew there and the memories will soon fade as the dead trees are taken away to be replaced with bricks and tiles.
Trees are so much more than just carbon storage plants, they provide shade and homes for birds and other wildlife. We all mourn when we hear of natural disasters that kill and injure humans, leaving many people homeless. Who could forget the Tsunami from just a couple of years ago?
But who’s mourning for the displaced animals? The baby birds who were still in their nests and are now dead, crushed under the wheels of progress?
We all mourn for the victims of man-made disasters and acts of terrorism.
But who’s going to mourn the unnatural act that has changed the whole ecosystem of this area?
They call it progress. They say we need this so we can move into the next decade of this new millennium and beyond. So when are developers and governments and us, the general public, going to realise that this idea of progress is actually a backward step. And what is progress in reverse?
Death.
Responsibility needs to be taken for the destruction of natural habitats. Developers need to understand there is a price to be paid for cutting down acres of trees in the name of progress. And they have to understand that making such drastic changes to the ecosystem can only end up being detrimental to everyone.
And people need to get serious when they talk about protecting the planet, instead of acting like sheep and playing follow the leader but forgetting to actually DO anything about it. Talking is one thing but spouting and expostulating without actually caring is another.
The way I see it, developers need to be made accountable for the trees they destroy. A simple system needs to be put in place where for every area cleared in the name of progress, a similar area is planted out with new trees, at the developer’s expense. You cut down five acres or ten acres or twenty acres of healthy trees then you must replace them. It’s as simple as that.
Like I said, I haven’t jumped on the climate change band wagon and I truly believe that many environmentalists have taken their passion a bit too far in many respects. But I love and respect trees.
It IS as simple as that.
The sound a living tree makes as it dies? Calling out its pain to anyone interested enough to listen.
Knocking down yet another tree
The arrogance of the human race has taken away any rights enjoyed by all other flora and fauna on this planet. Trees can’t complain, they can’t get up and walk away, they can’t lobby their local parliamentarian for justice … all they can do is wait.
Wait for the arrogance of the human race to come along and destroy the very living things we all pretend to want to protect.
Wait for developers to justify their acts of destruction because the trees are ‘in the way’; who needs trees when we can make millions of dollars building houses?
Wait for people to start caring instead of lying.
I’m not a ‘Greenie’ or even a environmentalist. I don’t agree with many of the current beliefs regarding climate change and global warming, and I understand there are many misconceptions around about Australia’s drought and the new favourite environmental issue of carbon offsetting and carbon credits.
But as I sit here at my desk, listening to the death of hundreds of innocent trees, victims of the greed of developers … I feel like weeping.
Near our house is an area that just ten days ago was covered in trees, heavily wooded, planted out with pines and naturally occurring gum trees. A good five acres of living, healthy trees.
Now it’s gone. And all that is left are the echoes of what once grew there and the memories will soon fade as the dead trees are taken away to be replaced with bricks and tiles.
Ten days ago this was covered in trees
Trees are so much more than just carbon storage plants, they provide shade and homes for birds and other wildlife. We all mourn when we hear of natural disasters that kill and injure humans, leaving many people homeless. Who could forget the Tsunami from just a couple of years ago?
But who’s mourning for the displaced animals? The baby birds who were still in their nests and are now dead, crushed under the wheels of progress?
We all mourn for the victims of man-made disasters and acts of terrorism.
But who’s going to mourn the unnatural act that has changed the whole ecosystem of this area?
They call it progress. They say we need this so we can move into the next decade of this new millennium and beyond. So when are developers and governments and us, the general public, going to realise that this idea of progress is actually a backward step. And what is progress in reverse?
Death.
Responsibility needs to be taken for the destruction of natural habitats. Developers need to understand there is a price to be paid for cutting down acres of trees in the name of progress. And they have to understand that making such drastic changes to the ecosystem can only end up being detrimental to everyone.
And people need to get serious when they talk about protecting the planet, instead of acting like sheep and playing follow the leader but forgetting to actually DO anything about it. Talking is one thing but spouting and expostulating without actually caring is another.
The way I see it, developers need to be made accountable for the trees they destroy. A simple system needs to be put in place where for every area cleared in the name of progress, a similar area is planted out with new trees, at the developer’s expense. You cut down five acres or ten acres or twenty acres of healthy trees then you must replace them. It’s as simple as that.
They call this progress. Just check out the murdered trees in the foreground.
Like I said, I haven’t jumped on the climate change band wagon and I truly believe that many environmentalists have taken their passion a bit too far in many respects. But I love and respect trees.
It IS as simple as that.
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
I thought that this is supposed to be the proper 'procedure'. Stripping then Replenishing... I (naively?) thought that developers can no longer continue pillaging and raping the land.
I am very shocked. Is there anyone you can talk to / write to about this? Local council?
The Concrete Jungle is a soulless place.
I hope you are well...
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Just joking.
I too, assumed they had to replace the trees they destroy. You're right to protest against it if they don't. Bewildering. And from an aesthetic standpoint - it looks so ugly now, barren.
Michaelie
Comment by Portsmouth
I love trees and I hate seeing them being cut down. I think everybody with a garden should plant at least one tree to make up for the mindless destruction carried out in the name of progress.
Love as always from Pompey xxxxxx
Comment by Anonymous
We elect people with power and money to sort it out don't we!
It's OK. Don't worry.
Leave it to the experts I say, because we all know someone will make the right decisions for all of us in the end!
Don't you trust me?
What have I to benefit?
Just remember... after 2500 million years of life on this planet, we are evolution in progress, and obviously well qualified. We just have to work out the next 50 years or so.
Thank goodness we're so clever.
Comment by Andy 2
Cop it Sweet
Metamorphosis
Random Travels
There is a long thought out process involved, which you could find out more about from the planning provisions in your local council. Developers are accountable for the impact they have on the environment. I disagree thast it is as simple as respecting trees. People need to houses, we need to build and expand. Where your house is located probably once was home to an a magnificent forest.
The picture you post shows an introduced species of pine tree -commonly used for paper and woodchips - in a road side reserve, and they only look 15 years old.
That 'ecosystem' you mourn was changed long ago, probably to make way for your place.
You wail about the dead baby birds in their nests. Spring is over. Those birds have flown away and have not been crushed under bulldozers wheels. It would have been planned that way to minimise the harm to local fauna.
On the one hand you label greenies as extremists who have taken it too far and on the other you want the developers to be held accountable for the greed and death they are responsible for. Those Greenies you aren't sure about are the ones DOING something, while it is you that is spouting and expostulating.
You say you are not on the climate change bandwagon and are not convinced by Global Warming? You must be kidding. Even John Howard has been convinced. Take a look around and wake up. Its you who needs to get serious.