What now, Darling?

The Darling River in Australia has all but dried up, according to a BBC report. This is due to industrial-scale cotton farming. Fish are dying in vast numbers and other types of wildlife are dying out. The people who depend on the river for their livelihood are struggling to survive. The problem is being made worse by severe drought, while other parts of the country are getting floods. Global climate change is most certainly playing a part.

It is distressing to see the dried-up river bed of the Darling, and the plight of the people who live on its banks. We are heading for a global catastrophe if industries don't reduce the damage they are causing by industrial-scale farming and other kinds of mass production.

Summer

"What kind of tree is that?" asked Holly, as she lay in a striped hammock, strung between two trees in her aunt's garden.

"A goat willow," said her aunt, who sat next to her on a white wrought-iron garden chair reading a book.

It was warm today, with very little breeze, and the two women were content to simply sit among the flowers and nettles, enjoying the air and listening to the sounds of summer.

"It's a very pretty tree," said Holly.

"Willows are among my favourites," said her aunt. "Especially the weeping variety."

"What would we do in a world without trees?" asked Holly.

"Well, you wouldn't be called Holly for a start."