解放军文职招聘考试Greening Our Future (II)

 Greening Our Future (II)

Ancient Chinese philosophers repeatedly empha­sized harmony with nature as supreme virtues. Some advocated the doctrine of the mean to help people avoid disharmony. Others advocated noncompetition in the earthly world. These sparks of wisdom, unfortunately, have been buried in history for two thousand years. Now it is the time to put these words to action.

Before I came to Britain, I read in the paper that, to prevent further soil erosion, many local governments in western China have prohibited tree felling and pro­vided new jobs for former lumber workers. I felt re­lieved when I read this. At the same time, I was con­cerned that many people would still ignore the destruc­tion of nature. The environmental issue is ultimately a social issue. As long as there are people who pursue short-term profits at the expense of nature, nature will continue to suffer. To use technology to restore nature, not to exploit her, we should have long-term plans; we should show more care and love for nature our mother and for all her children.

I was born in a western province in China, where I once met a retired lumber worker. He told me before his retirement he was awarded a medal because he was the first worker in China who had cut down 100,000 trees. After his retirement, however, he made up his mind that he must plant twice as many trees as he had cut down. Up to now, he has been planting trees for more than ten years. I can still recall his weather-beat­en face, and his two big, coarse hands. I hope that he is still healthy. I hope that the trees he has planted are thriving. And most of all, I hope that all of us will be like this old man: while we take from nature, we give her back twice as much. Working with our two hands, we will green our future.