Home again
It’s a full moonlight tonight. The evening air is modest. We are all sitting outside, just in front of the house, discussing the day’s work. Some lay, rolling on mats spread close to one another. In between the lead tale teller’s story, distracting dialogues transpire, though as whispers. Incessant noises made by insects break the general stillness. The highlands bring down cold air. The hills continue to nourish the village with sleepy breeze. The moon stayed put, her glow however intact.
I’m drawn to nature’s beautiful lyrics, such that came from nocturnal insects and animals. Suddenly, from a distance, I observe a thick smoke rise. A massive fire accompanied it. In no time, soot started to descend upon the hamlet. I could smell the acrid smoke and realized at once why many insects hurried toward our gathering. They were running from the blaze. I’m pretty sure that the person who started this fire left it unattended. It could spread to large swaths of land, you know. It is awful that people still burn wild bushes without considering the impact of their actions. I can’t imagine those once happily vocalizing insects scampering for safety, away from the comfort of their dwellings. Unfortunately, many won’t make it out alive.
Well, several dangers accompany uncontrolled bush burning. We lose whole soil organisms, soil texture, and soil fertility. The earth’s vegetation cover is destroyed, leading to soil erosion. The air is polluted, and insects and animals’ habitats are destroyed. We still have a lot to do. We should certainly make an effort to save this planet. It’s worth trying.
Collective Responsibility
Back to my reality, I just had a loaf and half of the cassava flour (akpu) with tasty oha soup. I’m nearly heavy. My little cousin, alongside his sister, play with my stomach, saying a lot of strange things. Indeed, this traditional meal is the real deal. Some people may think differently – it’s not my favorite anyway. But this sudden smoke and fire took away a portion of my amusement.
While we gist, I’m absent-minded. I am profoundly reflecting on the best ways to encourage everyone to play a role in protecting our beautiful planet. We still have a long way to go in conserving our land, and indeed uncontrolled bush burning should be one thing prohibited.
Oke Iroegbu's Blog 