Dear Editor: We have been learning about the Monarch butterfly. It is a beautiful butterfly that migrates every year to Mexico, where it spends the winter. We learned that there is a problem. People are cutting down the trees that the Monarchs depend on. We are very upset about this. We learned that hundreds of oyamel trees are being cut down EVERY DAY, and it is illegal! The people who are cutting them down have weapons! We have some questions and concerns: Why are the people cutting down these trees? Why can't they cut down other trees? If the Monarchs die out, animals that depend on them for food will die out, too, because maybe they can't survive on other animals. They are not capable of thinking,"Hmmm. I need to eat something else." These oyamel trees will become extinct if people cut them down. We have come up with some solutions to this problem: The United States should provide Mexico with money, since they are a poor country and people are cutting down the trees to make money, and the United States has a lot. We should have a box at school where people can put their donations for the butterflies. President Fox should enforce the law. Maybe the United States could send down some people to help enforce the law. Make the fines really high for illegal logging. Bodyguards should be stationed around the sanctuary areas and stay up all night, since the trucks leave at night. If anyone sees anything made of oyamel, they should report it. Plant trees to replace the ones lost. Use fake oyamel. We want people to know about this and do something about it. Sincerely, Ms. Davis' Second Grade Class Glenwood School, Chapel Hill, NC Copyright 2004 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form