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Municipality did not clear regularly, which in turn made living intolerable. “Somethingmust be done,” they said. The lecturer agreed most appreciatively and remarked that abeginning could be made by distinguishing between three types of garbage: the kitchengarbage that is the real waste, then items such as leaf, fruit skins and flower, and drywaste, like paper, bottles, plastic, etc. If these could be placed in each home in threeseparate bins, then the kitchen waste could be thrown into the Municipal Containers fordisposal; the leaf, fruit, etc. could be recycled and used as organic manure and the paperand bottles could be disposed of separately for reuse. This would minimise the problemof waste. The children had learnt something new which they talked over with theirmothers later.The children next questioned the speaker about the problems arising from the ruthlesscutting of trees and forests. The speaker pointed out how deforestation affects thebiosphere, the ecology of the earth. When trees are cut, the water-cycle of that area isaffected and there will always be less rain. “Do you notice how our climate is changing?”he asked. Most cities are becoming warmer with a steep rise in temperature. There aredroughts and periods of very little rainfall because the whole process of evaporation andcondensation, which you must have read about, is endangered. Besides, there is abundantsoil erosion causing damage to the land. Trees are meant to be protected over thousandsof years and the earth kept green and beautiful. That is why it is so important for childrento learn to plant at least one tree and take care of it. Gradually, as you grow older, youwill be more careful about caring for the environment, about looking after the earth, hesaid. And at this point he showed the most extraordinary pictures of the earth taken bysome cosmonauts from space. He appealed to them to look after this beautiful earth ofours.The children were moved and so too were the teachers. They had become so absorbedin the lecture that the earlier excitement over the cricket score receded into thebackground. And so as the lecturer went out of the hall he was surrounded by an eagergroup of pupils, some of them wanting to have a second look at the slides.Apart from this, from then on, the school’s participation was more active andspontaneous in the programmes of the city’s Environmental Society. Each classundertook a project for the local Citizens’ Committee.24. On Being AfraidThey were all residing in a girls’ hostel and had gathered together by the river thatmorning.“Did you hear that loud bang last night after we put off the lights?” asked the girl inthe red sweater. “ I was so scared. What was it?”“I don’t know,” said Sheila. “But I was scared, too. It was so dark outside, I was afraidto go out”.“I hate to go out in the dark. I feel as if something dreadful could happen,” said Anita.“What are you afraid of?” they asked the new girl.“Of snakes,” she said and they smiled.