Seite - 21 - in Hanadi & Christian - English

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 21 mean?” says Mohamed “That’s just because you don’t like swim- ming anyway.” “It’d be worse if the people from the village had to move and live somewhere else just because there were no jobs here,” I keep insisting, thinking about what Pedro told me the other day. He had said that if the kids in the village wanted to study, they had to go to schools in another village because there was no high school here. “Each person is worried about different things. Everything that you mention is bad, and people in the village now are discussing which option is best,” says the shepherd. “I am worried because the water they put into the river after extracting the gas is polluted. It may look clean but it isn’t. Bear in mind that we’ve always used this river to water all the fields in the valley.” “Does that mean that the tomatoes you grow here will be contaminated when they reach the market?” I ask. “Probably,” the shepherd replies. “If Rufino hadn’t sold the land, we wouldn’t run the risk of eating contaminated to- matoes. Damn this Rufino!” Mohamed is getting angry. “Are you sure this is all Rufino’s responsibility?” asks Maite, who has been listening to our conversation with the shepherd. “Isn’t that like say- ing that you are also responsible because the company came here to produce the energy that you buy? Who is responsible: you, Rufino, or the company? If Rufino had said no, would that mean that the problem was solved? What would happen if the company decides to move and do it in another place? The problem is solved? Maybe to find the solution we need to find the origin of the problem.” “I don’t think this only happens here. Last summer, I saw the same company logo in my country, and people were protesting. I bet it was for the same reasons,” Danilo says.“It’s that thing about the butterfly isn’t it?” José asks. He is referring to the butterfly effect but I don’t think he really understands the concept. I have grown closer to José after seeing the way he behaved in front of the mayor the other day. In fact, I think I admire him, though maybe admiration and caring are related, aren’t they? The other day, when I started crying, Maite immediately comforted me with hugs and words. However, José understood that it was better to remain silent. Later, when we got back to camp, he asked me how I was feel-