Earth Hour

Give the Earth an hour of rest.

Turn your lights off for an hour Saturday, March 28th at 8:30 pm to show your support for action on climate change.

Go to www.earthhourUS.org for more information.

Keynote Speaker - Bill McKibben

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear Bill McKibben speak at a Christian Educators Conference in Albuquerque. For a little background on Bill, check one of my previous posts. I have read several of Bill's books and was very interested to hear him speak in person.

His talk began with an overview on climate change and he used a number of biblical references for why we should care for creation. He spoke about his involvement in the national day of action, Step it up 2007 and his latest involvement with 350.org which will bring worldwide attention to the need for reducing carbon dioxide to 350 ppm.

I now have an autographed copy of his book, The Comforting Whirlwind - God, Job and the Scale of Creation.

Climate Change Event

I recently had the opportunity to attend a one-day event, "Ethical, Cultural and Civic Dimensions of Global Climate Change" in Charleston which was sponsored by the Center for Humans and Nature and Coastal Conservation League.

The main draw for me was the chance to hear Bill McKibben, who is one of my environmental heroes. Other speakers included Kirstin Dow from the Department of Geography at the University of South Carolina; Wes Jackson, founder of the Land Institute; and Dana Beach, Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation League.

Kristin Dow's talk was a good review of the science of climate change and consequences. She ended with this poignant question:

"Our great-grandchildren will know we had this information. What would they want us to do?"

Wes Jackson's talk dealt with a our use of the land and carbon. He had a number quotable facts but this one made an impact on me.

" During the life of a 22 year old today, the world has consumed 54% of the total oil used to date."

Bill McKibben's talk focused on his involvement with national climate change initiative called Step it up 2007 and the need for a new kind of growth which emphasizes local economies. Many of his highlights were from his latest book, Deep Economy.

Dana Beach discussed the activities of the Coastal Conservation League and showed a short lighthearted film on the serious issue of global climate change entitled "Global Warming Guy". The film was produced by Coastal Conservation League and was filmed at various locations in the Charleston, South Carolina area.

Swamps

After listening to a recent podcast of a lecture by Michael Grunwald at Duke's Nicholas School of Environment, I purchased his book, The Swamp. Michael Grunwald is an award-winning environmental reporter at the Washington Post and his latest book covers the history of the Everglades and south Florida's political and natural history.

The story is a classic tale of man vs. nature. Today, half the Everglades is gone and the remainder is dying, as a result of a massive flood control and drainage project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Seven million residents now live in this once sparsely populated region. An unprecedented $11 billion effort is now underway in an attempt to restore this 3 million- acre ecosystem.

After reading the book, I see a parallel in our current global climate change crisis. We are in a swamp of politics and inaction. It is time for the faith communities to stand united and speak out for governmental action on climate change. We must become the shepherd's that care for God's creation.

Remembering an Era

Today's Google logo, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sputnik, brought back many memories. I remember sitting in a classroom and hearing the news over the intercom. The beeping sounds of this strange object circling the globe signaled the beginning of the space race. The event was a catalyst for many including myself to enter engineering school.

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced the dramatic and ambitious goal of sending an American safely to the moon by the end of the decade and the mission was accomplished. We are now in a new era and in need of similar bold and ambitious goals to tackle climate change and renewable energy.

Where are the dynamic, visionary leaders today?

How will future generations look back at "our era"?

The 11th Hour

Coming to a theater near you August 17th.

World Environment Day

June 5th is United Nation's World Environment Day and this year's slogan is

Melting Ice - a Hot Topic?

Check out the PSA video.

Eating Local

I have been reading a number of articles lately on the value of eating locally grown food. In the last 50 years we have seen both an industrialization and a globalization of our food supply. America is now a net importer of food. Our increasing diet of processed food has led to increasing rates of obesity and diabetes.

The current system of transporting food an average of 1,500 miles to our table will not be sustainable in a future of increasing energy costs and oil depletion.

Now is the time to make that visit to the local farmer's market a weekly happening. The food is fresher and tastes better, You are supporting the local economy and reducing the environmental pollution leading to global climate change.

Most of us are three to four generations removed from the farm. Many young children today don't know how vegetables grow. Maybe it's time to plant a garden this summer. Let your children help. They may even learn to like vegetables.

A New Ark

Environmental activists are reconstructing a model of Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey, where the Bible says the ark came to rest. The model is meant as a warning to mankind to act now to prevent global warming.

Volunteers are racing to complete the wooden vessel by the end of May to coincide with a summit of leading countries next month in Germany where climate change will be high on the agenda.

Importance of Trees

On the third day of creation God said, " Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seeds, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." (Genesis: 1:11)

The Bible contains more references to trees and wood (over 525) than to any other type of living organism except humans. There are 22 specific trees mentioned in the Bible.

Trees were important in Biblical times and also today. With global climate change and rising carbon dioxide levels we are hearing how vital trees are in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Forests are second only to oceans in their ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Poet, Joyce Kilmer, wrote "But only God can make a tree". It is going to take all of us to preserve and protect that tree.

Environmental Justice

Environmental justice had it's birth in 1982 in a Warren County, NC landfill which was created to dispose of PCB contaminated soil in a low income, predominately Black community. After years of protest the decontamination of the site was finally completed in 2004.


A new form of environmental justice is on the horizon and it's called climate change. The recent United Nation's IPCC report predicts that the world's poor will be affected the most by climate change. Increased drought, crop failure, disease, extreme weather events and sea level rise are all likely to fall much more heavily on struggling populations in Africa, Asia and South America.



The faith community is called to care for all of God's children, especially the most vulnerable, and to protect and restore God's creation. It is time to take action to help curb the adverse effects of climate change.

Is the Pope Green?

The recent conference on climate change, organized by the Vatican's Council for Justice and Peace, marked the most significant plunge to date by the Roman Catholic Church - the world's largest Christian grouping - into one of the hottest contemporary topics.

Scientists, environment ministers and leaders of various religions from 20 countries sat down for two days to discuss the implications of global warming and development.

Pope Benedict XVI urged bishops, scientists and politicians to "respect Creation" while "focusing on the needs of sustainable development".

According to Vatican sources, the present Pope is far more engaged in the green debate than John Paul II. This is very significant since worldwide membership of the Catholic church numbers over one billion.

Christians Care About the Climate

I was glad that our Caring for Creation conference participated in the Step It Up 2007 campaign on April 14th - National Day of Climate Action. People gathered in all 50 states and 1,400 locations and were united in a common action: "Step It Up Congress: Cut Carbon 80% by 2050."

The power of the Internet allowed people everywhere to be a part of a national action right in their own communities. This is definitely more environmentally friendly than transporting thousands of people to a big march in Washington, DC.

I'm the guy with the letter "I".

Tipping Point

Climate change has pushed news on the environment into the mainstream media. I am also reading more and more articles about the faith communities getting involved in environmental issues. Is this just the current fad or have we reached a "tipping point"? Only time will tell.

I recently heard a speaker compare the ebbs and flow of the environmental movement over the years to a comet which only comes around peroidically. Well, the comet is here, it's time to grab hold and keep the focus on caring for the God's creation.

IPCC Report

The United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued their second report of 2007 explaining how global warming is changing life on Earth. The regions projected to be hardest hit are mainly poor and already facing dangers from existing climate and coastal hazards.

Rajendra K. Pachauri, the chairman of the panel said “People who are poor are least equipped to be able to adapt to the impacts of climate change and therefore, in some sense, this does become a global responsibility.”

Global warming is becoming an environmental justice issue and it's time for the faith community to stand up and be counted.

"He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 22:16