Birthdays are a big deal to a lot of people. It is a day that reminds you that time waits for no one and whether you make proper use of your time or not, the clock keeps ticking. Depending on how you perceive life, your birthday is either a day for reflection or celebration. It is very typical of people to organize flashy parties to commemorate their birthdays.
Some give to charity in appreciation of hitting another milestone, others take a sober reflection and make plans for the rest of their lives. More often than not, after the day’s celebration life goes on without much to show for the fact that someone matured in age. But maybe it is time people start to consider doing something significant on their birthday to honor the very environment that sustains their lives.
According to Cheif Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commision, Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie popularly known as Sir John, Ghanaians need to support the government’s initiatives regarding afforestation by doing something that is of significance to the environment on occasions like birthdays and other special events. He entreated Ghanaians to do more to contribute in sustaining and replenishing our environment to preserve the land and forest.
‘’I want to entreat Ghanaians to take the issue of afforestation seriously by dedicating special moments such as their birthday celebrations to plant trees. Indeed when they invite guests to their special occasions, they should give them trees to plant. This will even make the event much more memorable’, Sir John said on an Accra based radio station.
This is a good call by the Forestry Commissioner and Ghanaians would be wise to heed the advice. Imagine if we all planted a tree on our birthday every year. Even if you can’t plant one on every birthday and you can do it on every other birthday or special occasion, imagine how much impact we would collectively have on our environment. Trees give us oxygen, so there is every reason for us to have more of them.