The Tragedy of the Rainforest By: Yvette "DaPrincess" Griffith Deep in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil, was a very small and mysterious tribe of people that no one knew anything about. But there was one woman who worked closely with the Brazilian people called the Pekuans. Her name was Doctor Diana Crawford. She was a scientist who worked in the field of discovering cures for certain chronic diseases such as AIDS, Cancer, and Alzheimer's. Dr. Crawford spent many days with the Pekuans because of their extensive use of plants for cures of certain ailments. They would prepare the plant in a special way and use it to cure things such as an upset stomach, or a bleeding wound. One plant that fascinated Dr. Crawford the most was one that they used to care sunburn. The plant had such interesting healing qualities, that she wanted to take it back to her lab and learn more about it. But the Pekuans were hesitant about letting her take a plant out of the forest and into her lab. So she felt that they had the right to know what she was planning to do with it, and explained that she wanted to see how this plant works on common chronic diseases such as cancer. After she talked to them, the Pekuans understood her better, and let her take the plant with her back to her lab in Northwestern Brazil. Dr. Crawford thanked them graciously and left to her helicopter that she called to come get her. That evening in her lab, Dr. Crawford, along with her friend Dr. Sharon Neilly, each took a sample of the plant, and turned it into a liquid, using a special system of grinding that the Pekuans used. They tested it on many different types of things. It did very little for the cells of an Alzheimer's sufferer, but it did destroy some infected cells from an AIDS patient. But when they tested it on the cells of a cancer patient, the number of cancerous cells was greatly reduced. Dr. Crawford and Dr. Neilly were very excited. "Where did you find this plant again?" asked Dr. Neilly. "In the rainforest of Central Brazil. I was talking to the Pekuans again and I noticed how they used this plant for sunburn, so I wondered if it had any other healing qualities for our society." said Dr. Crawford. "Well, it obviously does. Great work Diana." said Dr. Neilly. "Thanks." said Dr. Crawford with a smile. Over the next few days, Dr. Crawford and Dr. Neilly worked with the plant on the cells of different types of cancer, and the cells were dramatically reduced each and every time. So they planned to go on another trip to that part of the rainforest and take more of the plants so they could begin making a cure. Dr. Crawford and Dr. Neilly stood in the lab taking off their lab coats. "Where are you two going?" asked another scientist who just walked into the room. "Back to where the Pakuans live." said Dr. Crawford. "We have to take some more of that plant, it could be very effectively used as a cancer cure." said Dr. Neilly. The scientist stopped walking to the other side of the room and looked at them. "Wait, isn't that the plant you were talking about that was in Central Brazil?" he asked. "Yes, why?" asked Dr. Neilly. "Oh no. I heard that those guys from PlanCo. Industries are clearing a large area in Central Brazil today." said the man. "What?! Are you serious?" asked Dr. Crawford. "Very. Listen if I were you girls I'd rush down there right now. There's no telling where they might start clearing." said the man. "Oh my gosh! We have to go right now!" said Dr. Crawford as she rushed out the door. "Thanks Dr. B." said Dr. Neilly as she rushed out of the room. "No prob ladies." he said as he watched them leave. "I just hope that you get there in time." he said quietly after they left. Dr. Crawford and Dr. Neilly ran out to the helicopter they usually used. The pilot was walking away from his helicopter. "Ben! Ben!" they shouted as they ran to him. He stopped and looked at them. "Ben, we have to go now." said Dr. Crawford after she and Dr. Neilly reached the pilot. "But we're not scheduled to leave for another half an hour." said Ben, the pilot. "We don't care, this is urgent!" said Dr. Neilly. Ben looked at them both breathing hard from all of their running. "All right, let's go." he said. Then he got into the helicopter, and they flew off to the Pekuan's village. There, Dr. Crawford and Dr. Neilly ran out of the helicopter and over to the Pekuan's village. The Pekuan's immediately recognized Dr. Crawford, but didn't know Dr. Neilly. The leader stood up and looked defensive. "No no, she's a friend." said Dr. Crawford as she did the hand signal for "friend." The leader was more at ease. "Ask him where they find the plant." said Dr. Neilly. "Pachu, where do you find the plant that heals the sunburn?" asked Dr. Crawford in the Pakuans' native language. "In the forest, near the bush bridge." replied the leader in his native language. "What did he say?" asked Dr. Neilly. "He said we could find it near the bush bridge. It's just a few bushes that look like a bridge. Come on, I know where it is." said Dr. Crawford, and they rushed off to where the plant was. As they got there, they heard loud rumbling noises, and soon saw a large truck come into the area ready to plow it down. "No!" shouted Dr. Neilly. The two scientists ran in front of the truck waving their arms and yelling. The man in the truck looked down, and turned off his engine. "What are y'all doin' down there? Don't you know that this place is supposed to be cleared out?" asked the man in his country accent. "But that's what we don't want you to do. It's very important." said Dr. Crawford. "Lady, I don't cotton too well to you 'save the rainforest' people. I gotta do my job." said the man as he was about to turn the machine back on. "No! Please don't! We need the plant that grows here. We're working on a cure for cancer and this plant may just hold the cure. If you just . . ." "Now looky here ma'am, I'm wastin' valuable clearin' time. So I suggest that you get outta my way." said the man cutting Dr. Crawford off. "No! Wait! You don't understand!" shouted Dr. Neilly. The man just ignored them, turned his machine back on, and continued clearing through the forest. Dr. Crawford and Dr. Neilly moved out of the way as he moved through, both of them very distraught. Dr. Neilly burst into tears, and although she was sad and near tears too, Dr. Crawford didn't quite know why Dr. Neilly was all the more upset, but she comforted her anyway. Dr. Neilly suddenly looked up. "The Pakuans! What if the machine tears apart their part of the forest?" asked Dr. Neilly. "No, the machine went off down that way, the Pakuans are the other way. But we do have to go and explain to them what happened to their suburn plant." said Dr. Crawford. Dr. Neilly nodded in agreement, so that's where they went. At the village, the Pakuans were wondering why Dr. Neilly was crying. Dr. Crawford sat down, as did Dr. Neilly. "The sunburn plant was destroyed. The men with the machines tore down that part of the forest." explained Dr. Crawford in their native language. The Pakuans were all very silent for a moment. "Who are these men with the machines?" asked the leader in his language. "They kill the forest so they can build themselves businesses and houses." said Dr. Crawford. The leader got up and went to his tent, looking very disturbed. A Pakuan woman handed Dr. Neilly a soft tissue for her eyes. "Thank you." she said. The lady understood and smiled. Dr. Crawford was very disturbed about what had happened, and angry. |
 |
| Next Page |