Green Revolution: A Simple Yet Effective Solution

Flood incidents are a common occurrence during the rainy season, while global warming debates intensify during the scorching summer months. Rain or shine, people continue pointing fingers, blaming each other for environmental issues. Yet, very few are actually taking meaningful action to address the problem.

Organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, engage in endless discussions and debates on environmental management while our natural world continues to suffer at an alarming rate. The question remains: Why are we spending more time arguing than acting?

A Lesson from the Past

When I was in grade school, we were all encouraged—no, required—to plant trees. Graduation from elementary school hinged on our participation in this program. We had to provide a certificate proving the number of trees we had planted, complete with a map pinpointing their exact locations.

The beauty of this initiative was its simplicity. We could plant trees anywhere—on vacant lots, by the roadside, even on our neighbors’ properties (with their permission, of course). Ownership was never a concern; our primary goal was to secure the barangay chairman’s certification.

One thing I distinctly remember was how seriously the barangay chairmen took their role in this process. They didn’t just sign certificates blindly; they conducted actual inspections, verifying that each student had indeed planted and cared for their assigned trees before granting approval.

The Lasting Impact

Years later, I returned to my hometown and was amazed by what I saw. The town, once barren in some areas, was now covered with trees. The transformation was striking. While I knew that the trees I had planted as a child had long since matured, the overwhelming greenery before me was beyond what my classmates and I could have achieved alone.

I soon discovered that the tree-planting initiative had sparked something much bigger. The local community, inspired by the results of our school’s efforts, had taken it upon themselves to continue planting trees. What started as a simple school requirement had evolved into a community-wide movement that brought shade, fresh air, and environmental resilience to our town.

Time for Action

The lesson here is clear: real change starts with action, not endless discussions. If a simple requirement for schoolchildren can lead to an entire town embracing tree-planting, imagine what we could achieve on a larger scale if more communities adopted this mindset.

Let’s move beyond costly debates and policy discussions. Instead of just talking about climate change, let’s do something tangible about it. Start planting trees. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second-best time is today.