1Flower

Joep de Vaan, Daan van den Eeden, Yanna Grundke, Dorostela Milanova

PowerA story about the fragile relationship

between human and nature

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A publication of mADE Production house; NHTV University of Applied Sciences, Breda, NL2013 C4.019 Breda, The NetherlandsText: Joep de Vaan, Yanna Grundke and Dorostela MilanovaIllustrations: Joep de Vaan, Yanna Grundke, Dorostella Milanova and Daan van den EedenALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under international and federal copyright laws and treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author/publisher

Flower Power

Produced bymADE Production House

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ContentsChapter 1 Big dreams ...................4 Chapter 2 The great idea ..............12 Chapter 3 Seed in the city............22

Chapter 4 Change in plan.............30

Chapter 5 The beginning of a big change...........................38

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We came up with an idea of writing a book about the disconnection between humanity and nature. The reason for this was mainly because we want the people to become more aware of their environment and take care of it more. We chose to write a childrens book about it because we believe that the earlier people are taught about the environment, the more conscientious they will become, thus saving it. We hope you enjoy reading this book and have a great time learning from it.

Trying to educate the reader better about the big dependancy between environment and human, every chapter the reader has the opportunity to experience a different aspect of this relationship. By planting a seed or simply by creating something beautiful with the help of nature this is achieved. You have to click on the

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? Click on the text or the question marker in the book to do the assignment

The assignmentsPreface

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1. Big dreamsIt is a beautiful day. The sun is shining and not a single cloud was in the sky. The grass is fresh and soft. The air smells like spring and flowers. The leaves sway gently as the wind passes by and if you keep very quiet you can hear the songs of the birds singing to theirbeloved ones from the trees. In the middle of the meadow, several seeds lay in relaxation. They feel safe in their own world. Mother Nature gave them everything they needed to live such a beautiful life.

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The smallest seed of them all lied on the meadow among the others. Some day she will become a beautiful blue orchid; her dream is to become so beautiful that people will stop and stare at its magnificence. Seed is not like the other plants and seeds. She has dreams so big that everyone thinks that it is not fit for a seedling. She wants to travel the world and see everything the Pyramids of Gyza in Egypt, the Niagara falls in the USA, the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon in the USA, the Great Wall in China, Machu Picchu in Mexico, and even the Louvre in France.

Seed is so excited and eager to visit those places that she has already started planning the trip. Maybe she will first visit the Great Wall and afterwards the Taj Mahal; or perhaps visiting the Grand Canyon? Or maybe heading straight to the Pyramids would be a better decision? There are so many countless possible routes and combinations! The world is so big! It has to be explored now! There is no time to wait! , Seed thinks to herself. Her delight of the wonders of the world is so big that she needed to share her dream with the others.

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Do you know what I want to do? Seed asks with a big grin on her face.Not pausing for the others to answer, she responds: I want to travel the world! In confusion, the other plants and seeds could not believe on what they have heard. This comes as a shock to them. Who would want to leave the safe and beautiful land they are living in? Who would go to the unknown dark world? The other plants disagree with Seeds plans and wanted her to not follow her dreams. 8

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Dont do it Seed! Do have any idea how dangerous that is? One plant blurts out.

Have you lost your mind? You cant leave this place. This is where you belong! You are just a seed; you are not meant to travel the world. said another.

Seed is confused. Her biggest dream is about to get shattered in a million tiny pieces.

What if they are right? she thought, What if I am really just a fragile seed who is meant to stay here to bloom and perish here without seeing the world.

She sits there speechless, not being able to respond or give any arguments. Her doubts kept growing. Everybody kept saying that her dream is madness, that it is just impossible.

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2. The great ideaShe looked up in the sky and saw a small ladybug fly over her. I wish I was like this ladybug. I bet she goes wherever she likes, whenever she wants to without being told if she can or cant do it. She is completely independent; nothing can stop her from traveling the world. She is free like the wind . . .

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Like the wind! What a great idea! May be the wind can help me travel all the distance. I can try asking him and Im sure he would love to help! What Seed had in mind is having Wind transport her to the place where she wants to go. Just like pollination he can use his strength and reach any place she wants to go. All she has to do now is ask and who knows, maybe she will persuade him to help her. It was decided as soon as Seed meets Wind, she will ask for his help. Even though, he is grumpy most of the time, the least she can do is to try.

The next day, Seed is so excited to finally ask Wind. She waits patiently for him. Her doubts start growing again. What if he rejects her request? But then she calms down and had a positive attitude. What will possibly go wrong?Sometime in the afternoon, Wind shows up. Seed can see he is moody as usual; frowning and pouting.

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Seed finally finds the courage to approach him and ask him. She is nervous and a bit scared. He is her last and only chance and she cant fail! Good afternoon, Mr. Wind. How are youtoday? After some silence, seed proceeds talking.I have a little favour to ask you.Wind looks at her with airiness. He thought: What could this little, insignificant seed actually want from me?

He doesnt reply and just waits for Seed to continue.I need your help, Wind. You have to help me make my dream come true! I want to travel the world but Im not bird, nor an insect; I cant just fly to the place I want to go. This is where you have to help me. Your strength can take me see the Pyramids or the Great Wall! Winds expression changes drastically. A smile appears on his face. He approves of Seeds plans. Feeling encouraged by this change, Seed goes on:

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I know I may seem too small to have such a tremendous dream. I know that this is not what little Seeds like me are destined to do, but my little green hearts desire is to go abroad; to see the world and see it all! That is indeed a big dream for someone like you, little Seed. But the fact that youre small doesnt mean you dont have to aim for something big! I will help you, but you have to understand how dangerous it is out there. If you go, youre on your own. There is no one to protect and take care of you. The world is a lot different to what you know and are used to. 18

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Seed is so happy and excited after hearing these words. She knows that it is different. This is what it makes it so exciting. Nothing can ruin that illusion the picture of the unknown world. Yes, yes, yes . . . Of course, I know and of course I will be careful. You dont have to preach me. I know what I am doing and what the risks are. And just like that, it was all done. Tomorrow will be the start of seeds biggest adventure. 20

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3. Seed in the cityWind carries Seed to the first destination. The travel is not long but it feels like forever. Seed was so amazed how colourful the land was as she passes by.But something destroyed the beauty. A grey thick fog appeared in the horizon. It is still unrecognizable and blurry, but Seed can sense that it is not a place she wants to be in. As they keep approaching it, it gets darker and dirtier but clearer of what this horrid place is. A polluted city.

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Suddenly, Wind drops her without saying a word on the ground. The cold pavement is so different from the soft soil Seed is used to relax on. Her happiness and excitement vanished. Seed has never seen anything or anyplace so sad and lifeless. The seed is glad that no trees or plants live in this city, or else they would have been suffering with the dirty environment, like she is now. No greens would survive in this city.Why would he just leave me like this without any warning? Seed thought. She is confused by his behaviour. Why would he do that?

Seed will probably never find out why he did it. Perhaps his moodiness dominated over his good side again, perhaps he didnt do it on purpose, or perhaps there isnt really a good a reasonable explanation. Nevertheless, this is not what worries her right now. Her disturbance from this place, the environment makes her feel weaker. Seed is frightened and vulnerable. There is no one she knows here, no one to help her. The whole city is so aggressive towards her and her kind and she cant figure out why.

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The city is crowded, noisy and filthy. Streets are filled with trash. The numerous cars pollute the air. The industrial chimneys cough up black smoke which blocked out the sun and blue sky. Even the birds have left this place. Theres no music in the air, just the noise of the cars and on-going rumble which has become the natural environmental sound of the city. People passing by dont pay attention to anything happening around them. They are just like shadows, expressionless silhouettes.

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Suddenly, a boot kicks her off her spot, while another shoe kicks her the opposite way. Seed stumbles back and forth by the occupied pedestrians, until she finally rolls by the dusty dumpsters.Hoping to be seen, Seed lays on the dirty sidewalk of the busy streets of the grubby city. The seed wonders how the humans can live in these conditions.Busy feet of humans scurried pass by him. The seed has never felt so filthy within seconds by just laying around. How was she going to plant herself in this hard pavement? Worst of all, how is she able to survive in this place?

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It has been a few hours now and Seed is still laying helplessly on the pavement. She now realizes that she is doomed. Her death in this environment is certain. But there was still some hope hanging on to her.There is still hope for me! Nothing is entirely decided until the end. I can and I will fight! She can now really sense the gap between nature and city. The smoke polluting the air compared to the fresh air in the wild and people are actually inhaling this polluted air. This probably explained why they all look so miserable. This has to be the reason.

But perhaps, if Seed makes them take notice of her, she can show them, even teach them to ap-preciate nature, to work in favour of it! This is the key to change their life towards better well-being. 4. Change in planSeeds purposefulness came back. Now she believes not only in her salvation, but that she can herself help this place. That is her new goal. This is her new ambition, to not only travel but to clean and save this city.

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Only a moment ago she was so desperate and disheartened and now tough and dedicated again! If she were to listen to what the plants were saying to her, she would have never known the truth. Seed knew that her new goal is far bigger than just travelling around the world. But with strong determination and effort, anything can be done.In the moment where she least expects it, shadow covers Seed. Seed looks up and saw the boy staring at her and almost immediately she feels a connection between her and the boy, as if he knows what she wants from him. 32

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The boy is around eight years old. His eyes are so alive, not like the other peoples eyes. Like Seed, his eyes were full of wonder. He bends and picks her up carefully to explore her smooth surface. As the boy clutches the seed, she feels his warmth and innocence. Her hopes are beginning to rise again as the seed thinks that this boy may be the key to save nature in this polluted city. 34

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Its been a while that Seed has been in the boys hand. She starts getting worried as the boy may not do what she wants him to do. All she could hear is the busy traffic and murmuring pedestrians in the background.Suddenly, a light pierces through the boys hand. The light grew brighter, until the seed sees the mother looking at the seed. Mummy, can I plant this seed over where the park is? the boy said.The mother looks unsure and said:

That seed wont last in that park. Its in the middle of the city and there is far too many rubbish in it. Why not plant it on our backyard?But I want to plant the seed there! the boy insists.Alright, you go do that while I go to the bakery. Stay there until I get back.Within that second, the boy immediately closes his hand. The seed feels him running towards the park. She feels mixed emotions of happiness and nervousness. 35 36

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The boy places the seed on some soil, which has rubbish around. The boy picks up a plastic spoon that was lying around and starts digging. Once the hole is deep enough, the boy picks up the seed and strokes it once. He stares at the seed before putting it in the soil.Slowly, the boy covers Seed up in soil. The boy takes out his water bottle and pours some water on where the seed is planted.Seed hears the boys mother call out to him and the boy getting up and running towards her. She feels so grateful. Her hope to save nature in this city is back.

Seeds happiness starts to build up inside her, and suddenly, she feels herself sprouting out of the soil and into the polluted city. Her bud bursts out with bright blue petals, standing out in the grey city.5. The beginning of a big changeThe blue orchid grows up to be a breathtakingly beautiful flower. Its magic allured people. They would stop, and stand in front of it for minutes just staring at her rare beauty. Beauty that is rare to find anywhere in this city.

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It is like the energy she produces from her happiness affected her viewers. They want this beauty in their city.Slowly, one by one, day by day, every single person in the city did their duty to clean this city. The area in which she was planted started looking better. It became greener and fresh grass started growing around it. Step by step, from the park, to the playgrounds, to the roads and all around the city, new life springs out.

Slowly, frowns turn into smiles. People start greeting each other. They start feeling better because they live in a better place. Citizens learned to always put their trash in the bin, not around it. They planted flowers and trees around the city. It was a beautiful sight. Everybody wants to help build a better world. Even though, the little Blue Orchid wont see the world, she knows that she helped save this city. She is proud of herself and wants to live here. Her helper and saviour the little boy is also happy to live in a different and healthier place.

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He now can play with his friends, breath fresh air and not worry but rather enjoy his childhood. It is strange how people think that big buildings and technology will always make their lives better, keep them healthy, when ac-tually, they wont be able to live without Mother Nature. After all, the smallest seed was able to save a whole city. All it takes is determination and effort. 41

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In a land where its peaceful and quiet, a land decorated beautifully with plants and trees, a little

seed seeks out to travel the world and find new adventures. However, other plants and seeds disagree with her dreams. But with a little help of Wind, who carries Seed across the lands, she manager to leave

the lands.

Little did Seed know when Wind suddenly drops her into a dark, gloomy and dirty city. Scared and

helpless, Seed wonders how she can escape this city with no plants and trees. She knows she wont survive for lond and something big needs to be done. Who will

save Seed and the environment for this city?

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