Sparrows were regarded as one of the four pests in China in the 50s of the 20th century, mainly based on some misunderstandings and prejudices about sparrows at that time. First of all, sparrows were regarded as the main culprits of stealing grain from the fields at that time, and became a thorn in the side and flesh of the majority of farmers. Sparrows feed mainly on the fruits and seeds of plants, and the food grown in the ground seems to provide them with food. Therefore, the existence of sparrows touches people's vital interests. Secondly, agriculturists at the time used data to point out that a single sparrow would eat 45 kilograms of grain, think about how many sparrows there are in the country, and every extra one can get an adult a few more days of rations. With such expert support, it is even more conducive to the fight against sparrows.
Finally, China was in the midst of the Great Leap Forward at the time, and in order to solve the food problem, sparrows were listed as one of the four pests that had to be eliminated, the other three being rats, flies, and mosquitoes. Therefore, the whole country set off a vigorous campaign to fight sparrows, also known as the "sparrow eradication campaign", which is in the mid-50s of the 20th century, by the Chinese leaders at that time launched the "four pests campaign" to eliminate sparrows of the national large-scale group event.
The campaign began in 1958 and involved the whole country, with people hunting and killing sparrows through a variety of methods and tools, such as hand grabbing, gluing, net pulling, clip fluttering, slingshot beating, nest destruction, poison bait trapping, or knocking pots and buckets, and beating with rods, not allowing the sparrows to have a moment to rest, and urging them to die of emaciation. However, the campaign caused a serious ecological imbalance, resulting in insect infestations and food shortages, which became one of the causes of the three-year famine. This is a tragedy for man and nature, and a failure of public decision-making. The finch campaign, especially the one that took place in China in the fifties and sixties of the last century, has brought profound enlightenment to people.
First, it reveals the importance of ecological balance. Although seemingly mundane, sparrows play an important role in the ecosystem. They are natural enemies of pests and play a key role in maintaining the ecological balance of farmland. However, the campaign has led to a sharp decline in the number of sparrows, allowing pests to multiply and causing serious losses to agricultural production. This makes us realize that every living thing has its own unique value in the ecosystem, and that upsetting this balance often has unforeseen consequences. Secondly, the movement also reflects the blindness and ignorance of human beings. In the process of pursuing short-term interests, human beings often ignore the importance of ecological balance, and even adopt some short-sighted behaviors. Such blind behavior will not only damage the ecological environment, but also bring catastrophic consequences to humanity itself. Therefore, we need to be more cautious about the natural environment and respect the right to life of every living being, so as to achieve a harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature.
Finally, the Sparrow Hunt campaign also reminds us that protecting the ecological environment requires the joint efforts of all mankind. Scientists and ordinary people need to actively participate in the protection and restoration of the ecological environment. It is only by working together that we can rebuild the ecosystems that have been damaged by human activities and ensure the continued stability of the planet's ecosystems.
Overall, the sport has taught us a profound lesson: we must respect nature, protect the ecology and pursue sustainable development. Only in this way can we ensure the health and stability of the Earth's ecosystems and create a better living environment for the future of mankind.