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Upping Our Environmental Game: The Swallow and The Little Birds
Earth Day was this past week, a time for stepping up our environmental game.
I was at my favourite falafel joint with a friend for lunch yesterday. We had both dutifully brought drinks in our own re-usable bottles and when we ordered our take-out, we were careful to say, “No bag, please.” We waited, holding our eco-sac at the ready. The woman popped our falafel sandwiches in a bag and handed it to us. My friend took the sandwiches out of the bag and handed it back to the woman at the counter (very politely and without attitude). The woman grabbed the bag, crumpled it up in front of us and threw it in the garbage.
Why wouldn’t she listen to us?
Because not listening is endemic with humanity. Here’s what Jean de La Fontaine said about it by way of one of his fables.
A swallow had learned a lot during her travels. Those who have seen much gain wisdom. The bird could foretell the slightest storm brewing. She warned sailors, before the weather erupted.
One day, during the sowing season for hemp, she saw a peasant spreading seeds in row upon row of tilled furrows.
The swallow said to the little birds who made their home around the fields: This sowing should worry you. If it were me in this extreme peril, I would get…
