In this charming short story, a hummingbird explains why we have to at least try.

Environmental activist Wangari Maathai understands that we're constantly being bombarded by problems we face, and it's easy to become overwhelmed. She has a story about a hummingbird that may help.

A raging fire is burning in the jungle.

All images by "Dirt! The Movie."

It's such an overwhelming disaster that all of the animals are watching the conflagration in shock.

A hummingbird says, “I'm going to do something about the fire."

It flies to the nearest stream and takes a drop of water.

It races back to the fire, where it drops the water onto the flames. Back and forth it goes, over and over, while the larger animals — like the elephant whose trunk could deliver so much more water — stand watching.

Eventually they ask the hummingbird, “What do you think you can do? You're too little!"

Without pausing, the hummingbird answers:

The story has a simple point.

"I may feel insignificant, but I certainly don't want to be like the animals watching the planet goes down the drain. I will be a hummingbird. I will do the best I can." — Wangari Maathai

The hummingbird's inspiring story: