Recently, seven trees were standing in

front of a house in Endelevu (Swahili for

sustainability). Life was good and well

balanced for all animal and plant life. Even

the birds, butterf lies and bats really enjoyed

all the green leaves, had great dinners and

parties with lots of other animals, while the

plants and trees were nodding and waving

their branches to each other. In fact the

singing bird, named Rica, who was clearly

most often heard, was having a birthday

party today for all family and friends at the

oldest tree. Rica, clearly a shining star with

multi-colored feathers, was well prepared.

Nice f lower decorations and small leaves and

branches were turned into party snacks. So

when the party was ongoing and everyone

had a great time, a dark cloud appeared in

the sky. It darkened the sun so that the lights

were low and animal party guests and even

the old tree were shivering from fear. Rica

suddenly stopped singing. 

A man in black clothes pro-claimed from a

pamphlet that he was staging on the tree:

“this tree and the six others around it will be

completely beheaded, cut down and will end

up in the shredder, because they are standing

in the way of the house and are disturbing

ongoing human life! The downwarping of all

seven trees will start tomorrow, as soon as it

becomes light.” But why so? ‘ were weeping 

the trees and the birds, the butterf lies and

the bats? “You can appeal at the high court

of Endelevu if you think your rights have

been violated”’ was the last thing the man in

black clothes said while he quickly ran away

hiding in the house The sun was setting and

darkness fell over the seven trees and all life

within it

All the animals and plants came together

that night and had a lively chat about the

bad habits of the inhabitants as apparent

guardians of Endelevu How many years

had they witnessed the mowing and cutting

of trees the killing of their relatives

without prior warning They even had

multiple agreements with the inhabitants

of the house to respect each other. But the

latest proclamation f itted in a long-term

destructive attitude of the guardians of

Endelevu against their Nature, they had in

common, despite the promises they made

in earlier agreements. The meeting lasted

until far after midnight when all birds,

butterf lies and bats and all the other animals

disappeared between the receding and

waving goodbye. Even Rica, who had almost

forgotten that she had a birthday party,

went to sleep with a relaxing smile on her

beautiful feathered face.

When the morning appeared and the f irst,

faint beams of indirect sunlight faded the

dark night colors away, it appeared that the

man in black had returned with a group of six

men who were holding up three chain saws

that could be used remotely. While the f irst

group started to put the chain saw in the f irst

tree, an enormous sound emerged, while

all seven men were blinded by a wave of

branches, leaves as well as birds, butterf lies

and bats. The seven men stood back and

looked before them in astonishment, while

all their friends, beloved ones and children

came standing next to them. The birds, who

have been making noise before were silent,

the butterf lies were now joyfully making a

colored spectrum in the morning light and

the bats were hanging invisibly now in the

deepest part of trees, as well as below the

roof gutter of the house. The trees, plants

and f lowers were blooming in diversity and

bending and hanging over the house. The

environment looked very stable, integrated

and happy as it was forever Rica the multi

colored singing bird sang the last famous

words To all animals plants and trees

and humans that are living in Endelevu

we are driven towards collaboration

interconnectedness and interdependency

as we try supplement our desire to fulf ill our

endless possibilities through conviviality

Sjoerd Kluiving