The Three R Plan

The 3R Plan, written by Penny Acheson, illustrated by Hugh Armstrong.

《3R计划》，作者佩妮·艾奇逊，插画休·阿姆斯特朗。

Save the kingdom! The king looked out and sighed. Our kingdom, once so beautiful, grows barren and dies more and more each day. The queen joined the king at the window. The hills were once filled with trees, wildlife was plentiful, and the air was clean and fresh. Now, even our battling creek is murky and polluted. Our citizens work hard, and yet they seem too tired to enjoy the rewards of their labor. Is this what our children have to anticipate in life?

救救王国！ 国王望向窗外，叹了口气。 我们的王国曾经美不胜收，如今却日渐荒芜，一天天走向消亡。 王后走到窗边，来到国王身旁。 从前山丘上满是树林，野生动植物繁多，空气清新干净。 如今就连我们奔腾的小溪都浑浊不堪，被污染了。 我们的国民勤恳劳作，却累得没力气享受劳动的果实。 难道我们的孩子未来只能过这样的日子吗？

It was true. The land was abused and overused, and the people were unhappy and too busy. The king looked at his own beloved wife. Surely we have intelligent people living among us. Someone must know the solution to save our dying land.

一切都是真的。 土地被过度开发、破坏，人们愁眉不展，终日劳碌。 国王望着他深爱的妻子。 我们的国民当中一定有聪慧的能人。 肯定有人知道拯救这片垂死土地的办法。

The king called for his court magistrate. Tell the people that I will award the royal position of official land steward to the person who solves the problem of our decaying land. That person will be allowed to live in the castle for the rest of his or her days. If this problem goes unsolved, hope will fade and our future will be threatened.

国王传召了宫廷治安官。 告诉所有人，谁能解决土地日渐衰败的问题，我就册封他为皇家土地主管。 这个人可以一辈子住在王宫里。 如果问题得不到解决，希望会渐渐消散，我们的未来也会岌岌可危。

Away from the castle lived three men, Ricardo, Roger, and Randy. Some might consider them country folk, but each lived happily in his own way. Each man had heard the king's decree, and each one devised a plan that might save the kingdom. Although the land around their own homes showed signs of use, it was healthy and gorgeous. The men were content and enjoyed their lives. The plans they had for the entire kingdom were based on the way they already lived.

王宫郊外住着三个男人：里卡多、罗杰和兰迪。 有人觉得他们只是乡野村民，但每个人都按自己的方式过得很幸福。 三个人都听到了国王的诏令，各自想出了拯救王国的办法。 尽管他们家周边的土地也有开垦的痕迹，却依然健康肥沃、风景优美。 三个男人都对生活心满意足，过得十分开心。 他们给整个王国想出的办法，都来自他们平日的生活方式。

reduce. Big mountains, roaring rivers, and thick forests surrounded Ricardo's land. His small home was high on a mountain. Because his home was far away from stores, he had to get by with only the things he needed. Ricardo thought about what he owned and realized he didn't need much at all. If he didn't use an item, he would sell it or give it away. Most importantly, if he didn't like it, he wouldn't own it at all. He didn't buy much, and consequently, Ricardo's home was tidy and efficient. He didn't spend lots of extra time taking care of things. Reduce your load, increase your joy, and save your environment. That was Ricardo's plan to help save the land.

减量。 里卡多的土地被高山、奔涌的河流和茂密的森林环绕着。 他的小屋子建在高山上。 因为家离商店很远，他只能靠着自己真正需要的东西生活。 里卡多梳理了自己拥有的物品，发现他其实根本不需要太多东西。 不用的东西，他就卖掉或是送人。 最重要的是，不喜欢的东西，他根本就不会留着。 他很少买东西，所以里卡多的家整洁清爽，井然有序。 他也不用花很多额外的时间打理杂物。 减轻负担，增添快乐，拯救环境。 这就是里卡多拯救土地的办法。