Chapter Eighteen

They all looked happily at Bola. It was a good thing he came to his senses. The world needed a lot of money to avoid climate catastrophe. Abinla couldn't help but to be grateful that someone as rich as Bola was here with them. Through Bola, many other rich politicians and rich business tycoons pulled out billions to support this mission that would benefit everyone. Anyway, it was obvious they had supported this mission in order to win the forthcoming 2023 election, and also to boost their businesses now and in the Dream Paradise. However, it was still applauding to have them contribute and still willing to support more. 

 She might not have succeeded this far by just talking, protesting and wishing. According to her research, she found out that it would cost about 131 Trillion dollars to reduce global warming. But then, she believed that if Rome was not built in a day, hopefully, gradually, her dream paradise would someday be actualised. 

 'I will have to produce more of my oil sucker. It is equipped with solar panels and it is carbon emission free. It doesn't burn fuel. I was able to speak to students from other schools to help us in this mission,' Mr. Johnson said. 

Abinla nodded and said with a look of fascination. 'We are going to plant billions of trees, use Mr. Johnson's oil sucker for sucking out oil without damaging the lands. But we will only go for the oil if it is absolutely necessary. With the eco-friendly colourless liquid I have produced with the help of Aunty Tariebi, we will use them to get our water clean again. Again, I plead that we try our best to reduce our carbon footprint, that way we save our planet as well.' She looked at Tariebi and smiled, then glanced at her classmates as she continued to speak. 'Biodegradable waste will be used for compost manure, while non-biodegradable wastes would be sent off to be recycled.' 

 Tariebi looked proudly at Abinla. 'She's really my student. I am proud of you, Abinla.'

 Bola touched his nose, and then chuckled and said, 'Aunty Tariebi, am I not your good student?' 

Tariebi smiled and said, 'Of course, you are.'

 'Last year I watched a short film on Twitter posted by the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during the International Day of Biological Diversity,' Bola said, and everyone turned to listen to him. 'The film was made in collaboration with Mercy For Animal; an organization that campaigns to prevent animal cruelty in the livestock industry and encourage people to take up veganism. The film brought to light the link between factory farming, climate change and public health risks due to zoonotic diseases. It was in that video that I understood that climate crisis, ecological crisis, and health crisis are all interlinked. I think we are saving the world with what we are doing,' he smiled. 

 Mr. Johnson nodded. 'I watched that video too. People only look at fossil fuel companies to be the main reason for climate change. That's not always true. Yes, their activities contribute to climate change. But then, we all contribute to climate change as well. In the video, Greta said that because of the way we farm and treat nature, cutting down forests and destroying habitats, we are creating the perfect conditions for diseases to spill all over from one animal to the other, and to us. According to her, humans kill about 60 billion land animals per year. We kill fish in such large numbers that we measure their death in tons. She was right when she said that if we keep making food the way we do we will also destroy the habitats of most wild plants and animals, driving countless species to extinction. We need to have mercy for animals because I believe that those animals too want to forge friendships, plan for the future. They play, they help each other. They want to coexist with us. They are cute and deserve to be loved.' 

 Amaoge shook her head confused. 'Sir, I don't get it!' 

Mr. Johnson turned to Amaoge and asked, 'You don't get what?'

 'I mean, you want us to be vegans or vegetarians?' Amaoge shook her head. 'I can only accept being a vegangetarian.' 

 'Vegangetarian?' Abinla curiously asked, laughing. 

 'I don't even know the meaning of that word. But I have a special meaning for it. By vegangetarian I mean that I will eat all animal products once a week. You know that the sweetness of our soup is in the fish and meat. Please, don't tell me to eat more plant-based foods. I will grow skinny.' 

They all laughed at Amaoge's amusing words.

'Amaoge, no one is asking you to be a vegan or vegetarian. Mr. Johnson wants us to have compassion for animals and for our planet. For me, I love meat, I love fish, I love all that stuff. But I eat them once a while,' Tariebi explained. 

'Aunty, that means you're vegangetarian?' Amaoge asked and they laughed. 

 'Amaoge, eat what you can but always try your best to do what you can to save the world,' Abinla said to Amaoge with a smile. 'And always remember to be eco-friendly in your everyday life.'