The World Development Committee - Whose Earth?

Whose Earth?

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Suggested Children's Talk: 'Small things can make a big difference'

Aim

To highlight the value of trees in the eco-systems of South America especially Honduras.

Biblical Reference:

'The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations.' (Rev. 22:2)

Six Readers are needed with some of them holding their arms as branches or pretending to be trees. Readers can be dressed up or decorated appropriately.

Script:

Reader One:

Look at me! I'm a Christmas Tree!

You decorate me. You light me up. You put Christmas presents around me.

Reader Two:

Look at me! I'm a Chestnut Tree!

I've done my work for this year. I supply you with the chestnuts for the conkers.

I have big, long leaves.

Reader Three:

Look at me. I'm an oak tree!

I've been here for many, many years. Girls and boys have climbed up my lower branches Their Dads have built tree houses and swings on my thick branches.

Grown-ups have rested under my shade and birds have made their home with me.

Just like all the other trees I do far more than you see.

We trees breathe in bad air and breathe out healthy air. We are like lungs.

We store water and give it out slowly.

We hold the soil together, especially on steep slopes and so we stop the water and soil making mudslides.

Reader Four:

Look at me! I'm a cedar tree -- a sad cedar tree!

I was planted many years ago in this land of Honduras in Central America. I'm sad because I have seen my brother trees slashed down and burnt. It's got far worse in the last 20 years.

Men have blundered on, cutting down more and more trees -- not knowing what they are really doing.

They want more land to plant their crops but all the time they are ruining the soil. Trees do a great job in holding the soil together.

My roots are like big, big hands gripping it all together.

And I release rain water slowly. Without the trees the water flows away and the place is like a black desert.

I am frightened that I will be slashed down and burnt.

Reader Five:

Look, I am another tree in the same forest.

All is not lost.

For I have heard that more and more people are wising up and seeing that trees are good for people. Cutting us down and burning us is the worst thing they could do. The smoke, full of carbon, poisons the air. The soil breaks up and the land becomes a soggy mess.

Now they are planting more trees, especially around water springs.

Fewer trees are being slashed down and burnt.

Less wood is needed as many people here in Honduras are getting much better stoves to cook their food. And everything is so much healthier.

The air, the soil and water are so much better.

I think that they are catching on that trees are good for people!

I'm very proud to be a tree!

Reader Six:

Through the World Development Appeal we are helping the people of Honduras to get good trees, clean air and water, better soil and food to save lives.

Men and women can destroy the best, but God can raise up and restore.

'The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations.'