The Salt Place is Safe
Polly helped expose a mining company's environmental fraud at Bolivia's salt flats, leading to a community uprising that saved the ceremonial grounds. The story concludes with the formation of a cooperative for sustainable development and Polly departing with newfound hope for the community's future.
Before you read
Before you read
The morning is very clear. Polly sits on the car. She watches the sun come up. The water makes the salt flat like a mirror. The sky looks beautiful in the water.
Joaquín comes out of his house. He carries a bag. "We go to the salt now," he says. "The water will go away soon."
Elena comes too. She has salt tools now. She is happy. She knows what to do.
They drive to the salt place. People worked all night. They made new salt hills. The salt is clean now. Government people are there. They write about the bad company.
"The mining company is going away," Elena says. "They will come back later. But we will be ready."
"We make a group," Joaquín says. "Salt workers and scientists work together. We protect this place."
They work with the salt. Joaquín teaches Polly about salt. Elena writes everything down. This is how change happens. People work together every day.
"The salt remembers everything," Joaquín says. "What will it remember about us?"
Elena points around them. "It will remember we cared. We protected this place."
Polly must go now. Elena gives her salt for good luck. Polly flies up high. She sees the big salt flat below. The people saved their home. The salt place is safe.
That's the story.
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