Thus writes a bee to humans

By Sarath Perera

Dear humans,

Though you do not consider us, we consider you. These days when you are facing the fear of death due to a deadly virus, we think of you. We have faced death too and constant fear as you attack us and our homes; the forests. You have made life hell for us for the past decades but you may not realise that you have made it hell for yourselves as well. 

You have destroyed our common benefactor, the trees and forests. You have embraced science and modernity but you have scoffed at the eternal cosmic science that both you and we are a part of. You have now destroyed over 60% of us. We are currently barely 40% on this earth and if you destroy this percentage of us as well, we wish to tell you that the sufferers will be yourselves as you will then realise that the coronavirus will be nothing compared to the terrible climatic calamity that will befall the human race. 

You are already seeing serious aspects of this calamity but you still choose to be blind and continue in your erroneous ways. We do not want you to be extinct. While you do not care if we are extinct, we care about you and your wellbeing. Hence, dear humans wake up at least now. Learn about this great mother earth and her secrets and about all of her children. We are the tiny and humble bees who are the intermediaries of nature. If we are happy and alive, we can assure you that mother earth and you humans will be happy and alive. If we bees are all dead, it is then a dangerous, poisonous and dead world that you step into. 

Let us warn you dear humans that you are now reaching the last chance for your change. Please review your priorities. Think about the future of your children. Please do not contravene nature and abuse it. Wake up immediately. Safeguard your forests and trees now and we will rally for your protection. Wake up now, Human, wake up.

(The writer is founder of Mee Pura Arana in Waaduwa, that conserves bees and uses bees honey extracted with careful attention to non-harm of bees for medicinal purposes.)