TRUTHS OF INTEGRITY

 RAFFLESIA (thought process)

Generates heat,  miasma, stink, flies,

According to one offender interviewed for the study: “Yes, I was fully aware that my decision was illegal, but I was encouraged to take the risk in order to make ends meet for my family.”

Another summarised his predicament as follows: “But you know, if I were working, I would not have gone and done this. It’s just sometimes when you are in [a] tough situation, you resort to desperate measures.”

While another simply said: “There is no money where I am from. That’s why I was tempted.”

Other reasons included a desire to emulate the lifestyle of their peers who profited from wildlife crime or those who gave into peer pressure. According to one of the offenders:

“It was peer pressure that got me into this. My friends were older than me and they used to poach. They were driving cars and I wished to be like them. I felt bad because I was always with them and I did not match their standard, so I ended up doing illegal things. I wished I could be like them, but I was fooled, and I regret what I did.”

Thriving in rain forests, Rafflesia is in danger of extinction due to habitat loss as well as poaching — its buds are harvested and sold for medicinal properties. The plant cannot grow in captivity, and, as most occurrences of Rafflesia contain only male or female flowers, pollinations is rare. 

Among some particular factors that are putting the species in danger, one of the threats for Rafflesia are the illegal collectors as the plant is widely used as a traditional remedy in Southeast Asia, being prescribed for several internal injuries and also to treat infertility. They usually sell for a hefty price.

TRUTHS OF INTEGRITY

Hwa laughed as she read her father's private ledgers for the first time. A murky relief of events swam before her, reminiscent of limp tea leaves as puzzle pieces began clicking into place. Her hunch was right after all.

Life is never simple. That simple truth bled into ink, swirling into a mix, an intricate layering of lies forming the invisible glue to her family's apparent success. Finally, the world made sense. She snapped the brown-stained ledger shut, feeling her smile cementing as her jaw clenched into place. 

The chubby businessman in a turtleneck dolefully eyed at her across the table. "I already said you wouldn't like it, Hwa. But you have to understand, this is how we managed to stave off bankruptcy. This was how you got your education fund in the first-" 

Hwa stood. "Dad, stop. Just stop." Her knuckles whitened further as her fingernails bit into the thick brown volume. "A month ago, you gave a live-stream for IntegriTea, telling viewers that we are taking down Rafflesia affiliated infusions off our herbal selection because the business cares for endangered species." Father sighed and sunk deeper into his turtleneck. "Business is business..." he muttered.

Hwa pulled out her phone and began typing furiously. Father panicked. "Hwa, stop. it doesn't help at all if you expose us!" She ignored him and took a deep breath. "You publicly shunned the commercialisation of Rafflesia tea, saying that we should be protecting the plants, even if they do have potent health benefits."

Father breathed and sat up. "Hwa, exactly, yes! It's the government's fault. Their deforesting destroys Rafflesias, you see, all to capitalise new plantations and towns-" 

Hwa slammed the ledger open on the table. "You transferred a shipment of Rafflesia to an unaffiliated company, raised the tea prices there and turned in a profit." she retorted. Father deflated and sank back into his chair. "I gave a talk about teas and the environment in a fundraiser to prevent the Rafflesia's extinction." he said as he weakly stirred his third wash of tea. The words echoed emptily in her ear. This will not do. 

"Were you aware of the poaching?" she asked. Father downed his cup in one gulp. "It was for you, Hwa. Look where you are today, comfortable, smart, educated. Don't do this."

"No, you wouldn't understand." Hwa repressed a shudder as she saw the beginnings of a tear in Father's eyes. "You were my hero." The tape ended. 

"That's it." Hwa breathed a sigh of relief and took the time to soothe her features as her secretary prepared the audio to be sent as an official report. Her smile looked more natural now. Good. 

The authorities would have their incriminating evidence of the corrupt partner, and her typed message to the news would throw the other hounds off the scent. By the time father sets foot into his cell, business will be booming via the media. By the end of the week, IntegriTea would have become hers. Case closed.