Taking Responsibility For Our World (A Play)

Kunle was on the moving bus watching the scenery so fast when someone threw a plastic bottle out the window. He turned to look at the young man who sat beside him.

KUNLE: Hi, my name is Kunle.

BOB: Oh! Pleased to meet you Kunle. I’m Bob.

KUNLE: Why did you do that?

BOB: (Puzzled) Do what?

KUNLE: Why did you throw the bottle out through the window?

BOB: (Surprised) Sir? I was through with the drink in it. Did you expect me to put in my bag?

KUNLE: Yes, I expected you to put it in your bag. (As he opened a zip in his bag to reveal empty biscuit wrappers)

BOB: What? With all due respect, my bag isn't a trash bag.

KUNLE: But the environment is?

BOB: (Stammers) Well… If you are so concerned about the environment, why don’t you take the fight to the corporations. They are the ones polluting our environment.

KUNLE: Really? What about the bottle you threw…

BOB: Just one bottle man. Just one.

KUNLE: I’m sure that was what the corporations said when they began spewing their waste into our waters. I can imagine one of them saying “Oh, it’s just a little waste.” until it isn't little any more.

BOB: (Giving in) Aright man, I get your point. But I am not the government. Don t you…

KUNLE: You don’t have to be the government

BOB: Really? So what are you driving at?

KUNLE: Simple. We are responsible for our environment. Everyone of us is responsible for what happens in our environment. We complain about the large mess that corporations produced causing air, water and soil pollution. We need to take a stance against all of that. But before we begin, we must put a check on ourselves. These little things matter…

BOB: (Cuts in, reflectively) Hmm, you are right bruv.

KUNLE: No, I don’t want to be right. People have been telling me that I’m right for years and nothing has happened. I want us to be right. I’m currently headed for a seminar where I’ll speak on the dangers of radiation. How the effects aren't felt until after a few years later and all of that. While I was preparing my speech, I realised that these corporations are run by humans too. By people like you and me. At the very core of the pollution problem, is the lack of responsibility these people feel towards our environment. (pauses)

BOB: Hmm, go on

KUNLE: No offence. But imagine you continue with your “It’s just a little waste” philosophy and you become a head of a corporation. You are still going to continue what you are doing, only on a large scale. That is why I decided to talk to you. To draw your attention to the lack of responsibility many people show towards our environment. The environmentalists cannot do it alone. It involves us of all. We need to sound the alarm. Each one has to tell the other.

BOB: (Nods approvingly)

KUNLE: (Bus stops) I’ve gotten to my stop. Have a pleasant day (alights)

A lady, holding biscuit wrapper boards the bus and sits beside Bob. She takes out the last piece and throws the wrapper through the window.

BOB: (Clears throat) Hi, my name is Bob.

The end

This is my entry for The only Environmental Contest on Steem by @livesustainably.

Thanks for reading

Blessings

image source