1.

UNSPOILED WILDERNESS IS A THING TO TREASURE

The Once-ler, who lives a hermitic existence on the gloomy outskirts of town, fondly reminisces about
“the days when the grass was still green and the pond was still wet and the clouds were still clean.” It’s
clear that he regrets the devastating impact his actions had on the area, whose once-pristine flora and
fauna could be analogous for any number of bio-diverse regions of the world currently threatened by
development.

2. TAKE ONLY PICTURES, LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS

Recognizing the beauty of the Truffula Trees, the Once-ler chops one down and uses it to knit his first
Thneed (which looks a bit like furry pajamas). “There’s no cause for alarm,” he reasons with the Lorax, “I
chopped just one tree.” But as demand for his product increases, he harvests more and more and more,
until they are all gone. Once begun, the exploitation of nature is difficult to stop, so it’s best not to start.

3. WE MUST SPEAK FOR THE TREES (AND ALL OTHER LIVING THINGS)

“I am the Lorax,” says the creature Seuss describes as sharpish and bossy, “I speak for the trees, for the
trees have no tongues.” There is no place in the world where it is considered OK to cut off a person’s
nose, or skin, or limbs. Yet at this very minute, rhinos are being killed for their horns, seals for their skins,
and sharks for their fins. They cannot stand up for themselves. If we don’t do it, who will?

4. DON’T EXPECT PEOPLE IN POWER TO MAKE ECO-CONSCIOUS DECISIONS

For far too long, people have trusted governments and corporations to do the right thing. But the Once-
ler is a great example of how someone with good intentions can make very bad decisions when there’s
money to be made. Only by combining our collective voices can we, the people, truly have a say in the
creation of environmental policies that encourage the sustainable development of a green economy.

5. IN NATURE, EVERY ACTION HAS A REACTION

The Once-ler begins chopping trees and making Thneeds four times faster, never once considering the
long-term effects on the planet. First the Brown Bar-ba-loots, who fed on the Truffula Fruits, go hungry.
Then, as the noxious fumes from the factory poison the water and air, the Swomee-Swans and
Humming-Fish leave. All too often, oil and natural gas companies begin drilling without fully
understanding the long-term environmental impact. More often than not, it’s devastating both to
humans and wildlife.

6. DEVELOPMENT, IF NOT SUSTAINABLE, IS A DEAD-END ROAD

What Dr. Seuss called Truffula Trees could just as easily be the forests of Borneo, where illegal logging
and oil-palm plantations are destroying critical habitat for the endangered Orangutan. This harvest may
turn a quick profit, but how will the nation generate revenue once the forests are gone? Green industries
such as ecotourism and renewable energy offer opportunities for long-term profits via sustainable
development.
7. RAMPANT CONSUMERISM CREATES A NON-SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE

The Once-ler justifies his environmental destruction by arguing that he’s serving society by creating
Thneeds, which he claims, “EVERYONE needs!” But many of our “needs” are manufactured via
advertising, and hardly necessary for survival. By Reducing our consumption, Reusing everything we can
and Recycling everything else, we minimize our individual and collective strain on the planet.

8. UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER. IT’S
NOT.

When the Lorax disappears from the barren wasteland, he leaves behind a small pile of rocks with one
word carved into them: UNLESS. This is his warning, just as climate change and an increasing number of
endangered species are Mother Nature’s warning, to all of us. We must think of ourselves as the Lorax,
and we must take action on behalf of the environment. Unless we do, things have no hope of getting
better.

9. CHILDREN ARE THE SEEDS, AND WE MUST HELP THEM GROW

At the end of his story, the Once-ler gives the boy to whom he is telling it the very last Truffula seed,
encouraging him to plant it. Dr. Seuss’ message is that educating children about the importance of
environmental stewardship is our best hope for nurturing the sustainable development of a green
economy. Somewhere in the world, there’s a young boy or girl who may develop a revolutionary form of
alternative energy, or an innovation in sustainable agriculture. They need our help to learn and grow.

10. THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, AND IT IS US

“Grow a forest,” the Once-ler says. “Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends
may come back.” It’s not too late to take action. Plant a tree! Conserve water! Learn how to live more
sustainably and travel more responsibly! Invest in Clean Energy! Write your Congressman and urge
him/her to support pro-environmental legislation! Dr. Seuss’ timeless classic reminds us that ANYONE
can make a difference, and we are all essential to creating a greater, greener world. All we have to do is
speak for the trees. -Bret Love