Growing coffee beans is a huge, making-money business. However, unluckily, full-sun production is replacing the industry and causes a lot of damage. The change in growing coffee from shade-grown(荫下栽种) production to full-sun production brings certain animals and birds in danger, and even breaks the world’s ecological balance(生态平衡).

On a local level, the damage of the forest that is required by full-sun fields affects the area’s birds and animals. The shade of the forest trees gives a home to birds and other species which depend on the trees’ flowers and fruits. Full-sun coffee growers destroy this forest home. As a result, many species are quickly in extinction.

On a more global level, the damage to the rainforest for full-sun coffee fields also does harm to human life. Medical research often makes use of the forests’ plant and animal life, and the ruin of such species could keep researchers from finding ways for certain diseases. In addition, new coffee-growing methods are harmful to the water locally, and lastly the world’s groundwater.

Both locally and globally, the continued spread of full-sun coffee plantations(种植园)could mean breaking the balance of the rainforest ecology. The loss of shade trees is already causing a little change in the world’s climate(气候), and studies show that the loss of oxygen-giving trees also leads to air pollution and global warming. Besides, the new growing methods are bringing about acidic (酸性) soil conditions.

It is clear that the way much coffee is grown affects a lot, from the local environment to the global ecology. But coffee users do have a choice. They can buy shade-grown coffee whenever possible, although at a higher cost. The future health of the planet and mankind is surely worth more than an inexpensive cup of coffee.

When I was eleven years old, I moved to Tampa, Florida. My parents traveled for a living, so Aunt Emily took care of me while they were away. One rainy morning, there was an old lady who was dressed in a bright orange coat carrying a rubbish bag and a stick. “What’s that old lady doing?” I asked Emily, pointing out of the window to the street in front of the house.

Hearing my question, Emily answered, “She’s picking up rubbish around here for fun.” “Oh,” I answered. “Interesting... Why would someone think picking up rubbish is fun?” For a long time, I often saw that old lady—rain or shine—on my way to school. In the beginning, I thought she was crazy to pick up rubbish. However, I finally smiled and waved at her each time I saw her.

Later, when I moved to college, I’d see rubbish in the grass and feel really angry about it. I’d think, “Why isn’t anyone picking up rubbish? People are so unconcerned!” But shortly after that, I said to myself, “Why do I think picking up rubbish is someone else’s duty?” And I couldn’t walk past trash without feeling guilty (内疚的).

So while walking in the college, I began picking up rubbish and made sure the campus was in better shape than I previously found it. My behavior influenced some students. They started to help me out.

Like me, they also picked up rubbish whenever they noticed it. And our college became more beautiful. Seeing that, I began to think, “If I can pick up rubbish outside the college—in other places of the town, it may make a big difference to the town.”

But picking up rubbish in front of many people outside the college needs courage. It could be embarrassing. But it was the right thing to do. I decided to try it.

So one day I called up all my courage and collected rubbish on a nearby street.

I thought if more students took part in the voluntary activity, things would be much better.