SASUETA EDICIONES GUATEMALA, S.

Verónica Alejandra Rodas Valdez

SALCAJA, QUETZALTENANGO, GUATEMALA
7-7-2021

DEMOCRACY IN THE
JUNGLE
Trouble in the Jungle
Tale of the jungle, is a story for children that narrates the life
in the jungle, the problems that we cause all human beings
with pollution and has as protagonists jungle animals and a
girl, is educational and entertaining at the same time
imaginative and original, with man sometimes as an ally and
sometimes as an enemy.
The story is a compilation of events that he experiences
along the way to talk to all the animals and find a solution to
the problems that the jungle is going through, first allying
himself with a jaguar.
The challenge is to form people willing to enter the other
possible worlds that literature offers us, willing to identify
with the similar or be in solidarity with the different and able
to appreciate the literary quality also knowing the collateral
damage of environmental pollution.
CHAPTER
ONE
I had a beautiful dream, where I was in a beautiful place in the jungle; with such good luck,
that I met the jaguar, yes, the jaguar and I asked him if he would allow me to ask him some
questions. As he realized that I did not want to attack him or do him any harm, he very
kindly agreed; I took out of my backpack a pencil and paper and quickly told him:
- Mr. Jaguar, thank you for allowing me to ask you some questions, I come from very
distant lands, and it is said that in these parts of the jungles the animals are disappearing,
and that more and more the jungle suffers devastating damage along with all its fauna, just
like those mighty seas, how true is it?
- Of course, it is, child. It is true what is rumored; there are very few specimens of the
species that have survived.
- What do you think have been the causes of the fauna and flora, and the maritime world is
suffering such severe damage and is becoming extinct?
- Oh! There are many, I will try to list a few:
First, is that they are looking for us to take us into captivity that is sad for us, our habitat is
beautiful; we were created to live in it. But it is even sadder when they kill us for our skin.
My parents were killed by three men, who were the hunters. I was watching them from that
cave, and I was saved because just when they finished taking their skins, they heard a group
of tourists approaching and fled. Since then I live alone.
- What a pity, Mr. Jaguar," I replied.
- I promise I will write an article and spread it in all possible media to call people and ask
them to leave them alone, I told him.
- Thank you, child, but there are also some people who come here to meet us and admire
the beauty of this place.
Out of ignorance, they make a fire and do not put it out, this causes fires that are difficult
for the authorities to control.
The immoderate felling of trees.
Exploitation of the jungle's resources in general.
Exploitation of sand from rivers and seas.
The contamination of petroleum, chemicals, toxic gases, immoderate fishing and plastic in
the seas and beaches.
Another cause is due to modernization and progress, many of us are being evicted from our
habitat reducing our territories to animals and this is also how species perish.
- Don't worry Mr. Jaguar, I promise that I will tell my friends about your concern and that
of all the inhabitants of this beautiful place and together we will make a plan to help you.
SECOND
CHAPTER
Another cause that we both saw just at that moment was that a poor little bee, forced by
thirst, went down to a stream; dragged by the current, she found herself on the verge of
drowning.
A pigeon that was on a nearby branch observed the emergency; it detached a twig from the
tree, threw it into the stream, and then rode on top of the bee and saved it. It was in search
of water because of its scarcity.
Soon a bird hunter was ready to hunt the pigeon. The bee that was nearby, seeing the
emergency, stung him in the hand making him drop his weapon. The pigeon took advantage
of the instant to take flight. For me it was impressive that despite the adversities that occur
it is very nice to realize that in nature there is solidarity.

Walking through this immense jungle; we were able to observe that at the foot of a very
large and robust pine tree lived a family of moles. We were able to share how happy they
were in their home, and nature allowed them to feed frequently and with great quality in the
vicinity of the area.
The shade of the pine tree provided them with coolness on the hottest days, when they
decided to leave the house to breathe fresh air. So comfortable and happy did they feel
under their tree that they soon refined their food tastes, opting more for the rich pine nuts
that the tree offered them than for the raw worms that all their kind used to eat. However, in
order to reach the rich pine nuts, they had to climb up the long trunk of the pine tree,
putting their lives at risk. The mole, a burrowing animal, was not accustomed to these
actions, which often became more complicated with the arrival of rain or intense cold.
For this reason, the younger voles tended to venture, until one day, without consulting their
elders, they decided that to reach the pine nuts with much less risk and more comfort, they
should cut down the pine tree.
The young voles, immersed in their naivety, planned the necessary maneuvers and plotted
their plan to be able to fill their stomachs with rich pine nuts without mishaps. Fortunately,
the grandfather of the family, who loved to go for walks and enjoy the company of the
younger ones, was able to learn of the plan before it was carried out.

If they finish off the pine, there will be pine nuts for this winter and maybe spring. But what
will we do next winter? Well, pray that our young, already accustomed to this food, will
perish for lack of food and cold. - exclaimed the grandfather mole.
The old mole, whose experience in life made him wise in the eyes of others, made the
younger ones think about his words and realize how wrong his plan was. And the plan was
undone, so that they would not continue to cause more destruction for generations to come.
 THIRD
CHAPTER
In such a short time of observing little by little the seriousness of the problem in that
majestic place along with its inhabitants, then without thinking I proposed to my friend that
there was a meeting between us and each of the inhabitants of the jungle to find a solution
to such serious damage that everyone was going through and that was how we met with all
the animals of the jungle which threatens to die.
Behind the mountain every day of the year men come and go, cutting and dragging
mahogany trees, white sticks, pines, fragrant cypresses and centennial oaks, beautiful ceiba
trees, etc.
In a clearing in the jungle, everyone in a circle began the session to stop the damage.
Parrots and macaws, snakes, deer and turtles were present, as well as the wise owl. On a
cypress tree there were monkeys, squirrels, iguanas, beautiful swallows, 3 elegant giraffes,
and of course hawks and eagles. There were also 2 or 3 deer and a majestic lion that came
out of some big branches accompanied by an imposing elephant. They looked scared
because right in front of them were the jaguar, the bear and a big tiger sitting on some huge
rocks at the foot of a beautiful stream.
Let us begin the session, shouted the lion, because it is clear and evident that it is not
possible to live in the present situation, murmured the tiger loudly. The wise owl said: the
rivers have dried up, the trunks are gone, the hawk also said I think that if we are not
careful, we will end up in a cage.
The lion added: I care about my children who are losing space to play and hunt. That's why
I'm here, and it's time to start! all the animals gave their opinion and their possible solution.

Suddenly something so unexpected arises, the tiger very desperate and grumpy pleading
and protesting to the macaw to hurry to conclude his opinion, then the 2 tiger and the
macaw begin a horrible discussion and is where the lion intervenes with the purpose of
stopping this confrontation that ends in tragedy because the macaw reacted very badly, In
the midst of all this altercation caused some confusion among several animals, and
everyone thinks that the lion was to blame for the death of the macaw because he
intervened with a lot of force and imposing, since everyone was furious against him asking
for revenge; But the one who observed everything from the height of a tree was the owl and
while all this was happening I was very scared but intelligently and immediately the jaguar
tried to get me to safety and from a certain height and distance we observed what was
happening.
But the one who observed everything was the owl who intervened clarifying what
happened to calm all the animals in the jungle.
When we observed that everything was back to normal, we returned to the jaguar; then the
bear said that money makes many humans selfish and liars capable of any infamy! said
everyone.

CHAPTER
FOUR
Let us organize a plan for the good of our children, of the jungle, of life, of the rivers, the
streams, harmony, joy and that peace that we love and long for so much.
Then I intervened saying that the hawk watches and that the lion, the tiger turn the danger
into something fleeting.
That from now on, all of us together, including the jaguar together with the lion and the
tiger with its roar, transform the jungle into a beautiful, safe and protected place. We all did
our best to find the solution to save their beautiful home.
A little before the end of the session I recited a thought that came from the deepest part of
my heart:
I wish I could appease a terrible beast,
I wish I could transform so many impossible things,
I wish I could say so many things that could make me
feel good about me.

I wish I could embrace my greatest enemy.

I wish I didn't see so many dark clouds above,

I wish I could sail without finding so many oil stains in the seas
and whales disappearing for lack of
commercial scruples.

I would like to be civilized like the animals.

I would like not to see so much green in the dying earth
And in the river waters the fish disappearing,
I would like to shout that this black gold
Is nothing but a black poison,
We already know that for all that we live less.
 I cannot accept certain things that I no longer understand,
the trade of weapons, of war, of living deaths,
I would like to speak of joy instead
of sadness but I am not able to.

I am not against progress if there is a good consensus,

Mistakes do not correct others, that's what I think.

And so, it was at that moment that I suddenly woke up, and I said: Oh,
what a wonderful dream! I was able to dialogue with Mr. Jaguar and all
the other inhabitants of the jungle, and they did not harm me.
And I feel happy to have had that dream, we have to learn to set goals
that do not harm others for any reason; our mind is powerful and we
must always use it for positive things but the main thing I learned is that
every difficulty that comes our way is an opportunity that life gives us to
improve!
Just as we must look beyond, observing first what surrounds us, and
strive to improve it, not affecting it!.