A Letter to Mankind

A LETTER TO MANKIND - by: Wilbert C. Laforteza

Dear Mankind,

I beg pardon on the tragedy last September 26, 2009, Saturday. I console you amidst the pain. I know you’re badly hurt and sad...my sympathy be with you!

As of now, perhaps you still irk but allow me to express my grief so you’ll understand why. On the night of Friday (Sept. 25), I was so depressed, so sad, desperate and felt worthless and uncared...and so I burst in tears. I was so hurt; it was because of you...I blame you. Yes, you curse me for sending the storm and flood...but I’m sorry, I can’t hold the temper anymore. I blame you for the pain I feel. I’ve been desperately appealing for exigent help and care but you denied. I demand you for your failures and arrogance...you’re getting to the nerve! You’re defiling my beau!

My hair, the forest, grows scantly and now looks awkward for a woman like me. I told you to plant another tree whenever you cut some but you didn’t. Instead, you even razed the rest...the whole wildlife and their niche. The land, which is my delicate skin, is now infested and filthy. You littered your dirt everywhere and bathed me with your toxic chemical wastes. You even deformed my skin and body by digging holes for quarry and mining, thus destructing the natural landscapes turning them prone to landslides. My blood (lakes, rivers, seas, oceans, et al) is now battling with sepsis due to pollutants... Whenever my hypertension strikes, it means my veins clogged with garbage and debris. When my heart pumps rapidly due to a tickle, which is the earthquake, it forms big waves and even tsunamis enough to claim lives. I have given the enough temperature according the places you belong but still unsatisfied. You keep heating your environment by burning fossil fuels and other burnable materials. My eyes are now partially blind because of the fog and smokes carrying acids. I’m partially deaf because of the uncontrolled noise pollution. I have a cough; it’s due to the inhaled domestic and industrial smokes as well gaseous chemicals. My bones, the rocks, are now flaking because of the acid rain that pours in me whenever I bathe. And when I drink water, I can taste the repugnant juice of your garbage.

Man, you caused my ordeals...and yours. I condemn what you did but not you because I love you. There are ways to meet the proper change and I want you to act on that. Let’s do our part...mutually. I’m so old by now. Though weak and tired, I still slowly revolve around the sun and though dizzy, I still patiently rotate so I can give you the nights and days. Sometimes, I often stumble because of my weakening body...you may feel me shook-up, remember me when there’s an earthquake...forgive me if it may bring damages to life and property.

Man, I have my flaw too, just like you. I can’t provide unlimited resources which you derive all your needs. Please protect your nature: the wildlife, flora and fauna, your marine resources, aerial and land resources, too.

I’m sorry when I can’t easily control my clouds; it results to uneven rain distributions causing La Niña and El Niño. Moreover, whenever goes beyond control, too, results to the formation of storms, which are the typhoons. I mistakably pour hailstorm on the tropical areas as well cast tornadoes. My old cap, the ozone layer has its holes unfilled; I’m worried because of the UV rays. My aging bones, the rocks, are now brittle...slowly weathering. My unhealed wounds, the volcanoes, may pop their sap...be prepared.

I’m appealing, take good care of me...I need your help. Learn to recycle to eliminate voluminous wastes...segregate them properly and trash them at the right place. Plant more trees. Eliminate burning excessive fossil fuels and anything. Shield me from ruin. Be environmentally aware...pro-nature. I’m afraid and I don’t know if I can still live long...I still can’t imagine the time comes when I’ll be drifted away and disrupts...help me, save me! Please...

Sincerely,

Mother Nature