The Importance of Nature in a Modern World

There are days when I sit by the window, contemplating the future of this nation. The roads and houses we've built—will they withstand the test of time as we exhaust our resources?

While the world is swept up in a whirlwind of technology and the hustle of urban life, we seem to have forgotten that everything we have and use originates from nature—an endless cycle of life that nothing can replace. Without forests, we lose our source of life. Without trees, there is no food. Without food, there is no tourism. With a shortage of raw materials, merchants will have to pack up and leave. When merchants leave, homes become meaningless. Thus, the economy sinks into debt.

Many will quickly blame the government, the military, or the merchants. But think about it, who will save this sinking ship when resources are depleted? Watching each wave engulf us day by day?

When the country no longer has enough food reserves from the forests, how can we export in the coming years?

I’m not saying we can solve all the problems immediately. But at least protecting the forests will be the first step. It's not just about safeguarding raw materials but also the lives of millions who depend on them. We’ve invested too much in buildings, roads, and economic models, but we’ve forgotten how to maintain the flow of money that returns to us from natural resources.

The issue is that we’re not only losing forests and resources but also losing our consciousness of preserving these valuable assets. Each of us must ask: "What have I done to make the forests greener?" From the smallest actions, like planting a tree or saving paper, we can all contribute to protecting the environment.

Don’t let stories of dried-up rivers or destroyed forests become our common sorrow. Are we going to continue exploiting the last remaining patches of forest? Cutting down the last trees to maintain our current state? Like a sinking ship, each wave plunges us deeper into panic. Each of us sits and watches, leaving the responsibility to those who are paid to solve it. Some wait for an opportunity amidst the global downturn, while others face unemployment due to being replaced by AI.

There's an old saying: "Closing the barn door after the horse has bolted."

What’s the solution? Should we keep lamenting about the recession, ineffective economic plans, or how AI technology is taking our jobs?

You see, we used to be proud of the green forests and silver seas of this country. But over time, what has happened?

Think about it, how do we turn buildings and roads into money? We’ve paid labor to build them, but now that money doesn’t naturally regenerate or disappear. It hovers among dirt, cement, and crops, unable to flow back to us. Thus, this cycle continues: resource depletion, confusion among people.

The story doesn’t just stop at losing our green lungs. When the forests are gone, food also becomes scarce. Where can we find terraced fields laden with rice, now turned into barren, arid land? This leads to a chain of consequences: no tourism, no merchants, and investment dwindles. Then homes and land fall into neglect. The real estate market becomes gloomy, and merchants drown in debt, waiting for a miracle that may never come.

The flow of currency doesn’t naturally generate; it’s created through labor, sweat, and tears of the people. When forests are replanted, it’s not just about restoring greenery but also regenerating livelihoods, bringing the economic flow back. This cycle of resources, when restored, will help balance our lives again.

Are we dancing ballet in a palace engulfed in flames while chasing after illusions? Forests are gradually being cut down, food sources dwindling, yet we fail to see the importance of protecting the environment and resources. The country is like a lavish palace, but it lacks the solid foundation of green forests and food.

A friend of mine is a farmer, diligently working on his land every day. But he’s always worried because the forests are being destroyed. "Without forests, water can't be retained, floods keep coming, how can crops survive?" he says. I understand; it’s not just him but many other farmers facing this situation.

One morning, while sipping coffee and reading the news, I realized I couldn't just sit and wait for a miracle. I thought about merchants and big investors, wondering if they see the lurking danger. They probably do but believe in the stability of numbers. But sometimes, numbers don’t reflect the real situation, especially when resources are depleting day by day. A tree takes 20 years to mature. When a whole forest disappears, it takes 20 years to see goods again. Only then will we see our favorite brands return. Touching them, feeling them, a sense of appreciation that we currently feel abundant in scarcity. A strange feeling indeed.

Those days, I couldn’t escape the sadness of witnessing the forest gradually vanish. I thought about the once-dense forests, now only barren land remains.

Some say, "The people running the country should do something." But it’s not just their responsibility. We, each of us, are children of this nation, responsible for the forests, the environment, and resources. If we don’t act now, what will the future hold?

Environmental protection—some think it’s just a slogan, but if you’ve ever walked through ancient forests and seen giant trees toppled, you’d understand its importance. I used to not care much about forests or food, thinking that as long as I had money, I could buy anything. I didn’t care about the weather either. But life taught me a lesson.

I have a close friend named Michael who opened an eco-friendly restaurant on the outskirts, growing a whole orchard. One day, I asked Michael, "Isn’t it tiring to care for such a large garden?" He smiled, "It’s tiring, but it’s joyful. You know, every time I see ripe fruits, I feel stronger." Caring for trees is like caring for people; if trees are healthy, the forest will thrive, and life will be prosperous.

But life isn’t a dream. Economic instability made Michael’s restaurant gradually lose customers. And it’s not just Michael; many others are the same. Many think that economic development means opening restaurants and building projects to get rich. But they forget that without forests, without food, tourism doesn’t thrive, and merchants like us can only wait for a miracle.

If you ask me, "How to change?" I’ll tell you Jimmy’s story. Not only does he care for his garden, but he also creates jobs for locals. Jimmy told me, "Every small action can have a big impact." I see he’s right. If each person is conscious of protecting forests, abandoning unsustainable products, we’ll create change.

In short, you don’t need to do anything grand. Sometimes, starting with small things like planting a tree or reducing plastic use can make a big difference, and I believe with patience and determination, we can protect this environment for future generations.

We talked about future plans. Jimmy told me, "You know, our future depends on how we treat nature today."

I realized how true this is. If today we only focus on exploitation without regeneration, it won’t be long before lush forests become mere memories. Skyscrapers may rise, but can we live without fresh air, clean water, and food?

I wonder: if we lose all forests, what will be left? Merchants may try to cope, but can they survive when resources run out? What will happen to rural folks, hardworking farmers—will they still have land to cultivate? And the government, how will they maintain stability when facing environmental crises?

These questions keep me thinking. But I believe if everyone starts with small changes, by protecting the remaining forests, we still have hope.

In today’s complex world, looking at the Jewish and Chinese communities, I can’t help but admire. They’ve endured countless hardships, from genocides to great calamities, yet their ability to overcome and grow together is something we should learn from. Their strength lies in unity, looking at each other with equal and harmonious eyes, always ready to support and enrich each other together.

Some leave for other countries due to societal pressures. But wherever they go, they still face wars or climate changes similar to here. What’s the difference?

Some choose to stay and continue the theme, an uncertain future. Not knowing whether to continue or stop.

The deep divide leads to mutual blame for not recognizing global threats like war and climate change causing economic collapse, while the wealthy also suffer, losing capital and having to cut labor, replacing our jobs with AI to optimize costs, maintaining businesses to serve us, bearing the burden of debt. Is there any joy in that? The government is also struggling with the loss of forests and resources.

The economy has faced difficulties from commerce, tourism to agriculture. If we lose the spirit of unity, there will be nothing left.

In the past six months, the El Niño weather phenomenon has caused severe damage, reducing agricultural output, with crops wilting and fish dying. It’s forecasted that La Niña storms will continue to cause difficulties in the next six months. With this situation, we won’t have significant production all year. So what will we eat next year? When domestic production isn’t enough, how can we think about exporting?

While the country's stability heavily depends on food, we can’t focus on economic development if domestic order is unstable and people are hungry. We must clearly recognize the urgency of protecting forests and natural resources, as they are the foundation of life and the basis for sustainable national development.

This is what I foresee in the coming years. The crisis worsens as gaps cannot be patched in time. When hunger strikes, those who focused only on the service industry and new technology suddenly realize it’s too late. They rush into production but lack experience, loose management leading to worsening hunger.

We are witnessing a significant shift in the economy and society as factories and production systems struggle, leading people to find ways to unite and cooperate more closely than ever.

This year, many farmers focusing on cultivation went bankrupt due to no traders buying and their land being confiscated. As a result, there will be insufficient goods to supply the cities, and next year there is a risk of food shortage. When factories shut down, people will tend to form small cooperatives to self-produce necessary goods, and then AI tools supporting production will be crucial in creating the goods we need.

It’s not just a tool that makes literature richer, helping us understand each other better. I can understand what Africans say even though I don’t know African languages, and AI can support many new fields, from producing soap, detergent when supplies are lacking, to self-growing and processing food and more. This process will combine old experiences and knowledge with new ideas and technology.

Believe me, after AI’s arrival, our world will be strangely simple, with manual work after factories shut down, and we’ll have to do it. With AI, we understand what strangers in other countries say, and we might even have to relearn our mother tongue. How to control them in the simplest way. Our brains won’t be as stressed as before. Reading meaningless reports, sitting in the office for hours, frustrated with the overwhelming documents.

When the forests are gone, no factories, we will have to find ways to make paper ourselves; without paper, there will be no documents to read, no toilet paper to use. And everything else. However, the methods for making paper are available in AI applications; we will have to relearn from scratch. Like newborn children.

I’ve witnessed technological developments from old black-and-white cameras to today’s ultra-clear photos. Each era changes and adapts to new advances, eliminating old industries, replaced by new needs and a series of new jobs. However, the advent of AI has eliminated nearly all service industries, replacing it with an upcoming reintegration. A gift economy.

Each period, humans experience changes in how they access goods/services, but one thing never changes: the basic human needs for food, sleep, play, care for each other, and connection to nature. Instead of competing with AI, we should find ways to use AI to save food and protect the remaining forests. These things will help us survive the coming years, especially in the context of climate change and wars. Without support from factories, we will have to regain survival skills, facing challenges of food and population.

We need to cooperate and support each other to overcome this difficulty. Using existing technology and knowledge to create sustainable solutions is the way forward. Think about it, forests are the foundation of a nation; losing forests is losing everything. Each of us should reflect and find ways to protect the forests. In the coming years, how will we live if we don’t act now? Each small action of ours will be like a candle in the night, spreading the light of faith and hope.

We can create a better future, where our descendants live in a clean environment, where forests are lush again, and food is abundant.

Let’s come together to protect and restore the green forests. Then, we will see clear rivers, green forests, and a prosperous and peaceful life as before.