As
Ahmed typed the
URL, the Eco Gate
opened. The Better World Kids found themselves
standing at the
entrance to a
giant maze. The
loved a challenge
and they smiled
as they stepped
inside.
The Eco Maze wound
round and round
and round. It
seemed like they
were walking for
hours, but it
passed quickly
by for the kids
because the walls
of the maze were
painted with a
giant mural that
stretched out
as far as they
could see in any
direction. The
pictures on the
wall showed amazing
scenes of beauty
- mountains and
rivers and forests
and prairies,
and human towns
and cities, too.
It was exactly
as it would be
like if there
were peace on
earth.
Everything
in each scene
was in balance,
and the Earth
- the land, the
water and the
skies -- were
healthy. This
was the way the
world should be,
and the kids were
filled with awe
and wonder, and
pride, too, because
they knew it COULD
BE this way. They
knew that they
and lots of others
all around the
world were working
to try to make
it so.
They
kids continued
on until there
was a fork in
the road. There
were arrows that
pointed in each
of the roads'
directions. As
they walked closer,
the Better World Kids
began to suspect
that there would
be something written
on the arrows
that would help
them to make their
decision. Sure
enough that's
exactly what they
found.
On the first arrow
they read, "Might
makes right."
On the second
it said, "The
end justifies
the means."
"The
path to a better
world is to treat
the Earth and
all living creatures
with respect,"
they read on the
third arrow.
It seemed pretty
obvious to the
kids which path
to take. Without
hesitating, they
took the third
branch.
The Better World Kids
came to quite
a number of forks
in the road. Not
every one of the
choices was as
clear as the first,
so they took their
time at each crossroad
to choose the
right way.
Finally they came
to a bridge that
had a gate across
it. The bridge
stretched over
a great chasm
that seemed to
fall forever downwards.
On the other side
of the bridge,
it looked like
there was a pot
of gold glimmering
in the sunlight.
The kids' hearts
were pounding.
Was that the eco
treasure they
were hoping to
find?
In front of the
bridge there was
a sign and of
course there was
a question on
it. All around
the sign there
were a whole bunch
of levers, and
the Better World Kids
were sure, of
course, that they
would just happen
to have possible
answers on them.
"How
can we help save
the Earth?" they
read on the sign.
Each of the Better World Kids wandered
over to one of
the levers to
check the choices.
There just happened
to be enough levers
for them each
to stand in front
of one.
"Don't
waste water,"
Sunanda read.
"This is the answer!"
she exclaimed.
"Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle,"
José read. "Hang
on, don't pull
your lever, Sunanda.
Remember, we already
proved this one
is the answer
they're looking
for!"
"Conserve
energy," Jamal
read. "Turn
the lights off
when you're not
using them."
"Paper
or plastic bag
at the store?
Bring your own
re-usable cloth
bag!" Maya's sign
said.
"Mine's
good, too," Ling
sighed. "Start
a compost bin..."
"Walk
or ride your bike
instead of driving
for short trips,"
Johnny added.
"Plant
a tree or organize
a community garden,"
Sol read.
"Participate
in a community
clean-up," Ling
exclaimed.
""Borrow
things you don't
use very often
or buy used, instead
of buying new
things," Ahmed's
sign said.
"Spread
the word," Sunanda
read with a sigh.
"What
are we going to
do … they all
sound like good
answers!"
Everyone agreed.
"Let's
pull them all,"
several of the
kids said at once.
Everyone agreed
that was the best
idea.
They each stood
ready at their
levers, closed
their eyes, took
a deep breath
and pulled them
all at the same
time.
"Did
anything happen?"
they each wondered.
It didn't look
like anything
had changed until
Ahmed glanced
down at his laptop.
His cursor was
typing on its
own. Everyone
ran over to see.
"www.EcoTreasureMap.com/treasure.htm"
they read as the
cursor reached
the end of the
hyperlink and
continued blinking.
All the Better World Kids swallowed
nervously, watching,
waiting.
"Press
it Ahmed," the
kids gasped as
one. They held
their breaths.
www.EcoTreasureMap.com/treasure.htm
