Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The Color is Green
My friend, Tom, reminded me that I haven’t been blogging about polar bears, global warming and other environmental issues. So, for those who wish to begin the New Year by being “green”, I recommend these ten simple tips from the current issue of Newsweek for befriending our environment. Most of them are reasonable and possible. However, I will admit that I am not sure I want recycled toilet paper. Also, I strongly urge everyone to see Al Gore’s documentary film, An Inconvenient Truth, for better understanding of the scope of the issues we face by not taking care of God’s creation.
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recycled TP scratches.
Lasting results
Lesson Text: John 6:34-40; 7:37-39
By Claire Ewert Fisher
E-mail: ewertfisher@sasktel.net
Jesus has just fed a large crowd with five barley loaves and two fish. The bread they ate had been multiplied by the Bread of life. This Bread/bread that comes down from heaven gives life to the world. The material and the spiritual are one.
As followers of the Bread of life, we too are called to provide Bread/bread to the world. For those of us who have access to plenty, our responsibility is great. Consider the earth on which we live. It may well be under threat. The discoveries of many scientists, popularized by Al Gore (who refers to himself as the “former next president of the United States”) can be found in the book and video, An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming (Rodale Press).
When Jesus walked the earth, the world’s population was about 250 million people. Our present generation will see the population increase from 2 billion today to about 9 billion by 2050.
According to Gore, the effect of so many people making demands on the earth’s resources has resulted in climate changes. Global temperatures (including land, air, and sea surface temperatures) recorded since 1860, show a definite increase. Of the 21 hottest years measured, 20 have occurred in the last 25 years. This trend indicates global warming.
One consequence of this warming trend is the melting of the earth’s ice caps and glaciers. It is projected that if the ice and snow on Greenland melts or breaks up and slips into the sea, the ocean levels worldwide will increase 18 to 20 feet. The result will be more than 120 million people displaced as refugees. Sixty million of these will be in India and Bangladesh alone.
Gore says that some scientists believe that we “already possess the fundamental scientific, technical, and industrial know-how to solve the carbon and climate problems for the next half-century.” So what should we do now?
Rely on God for wisdom and the will to make needed changes.
Familiarize ourselves with the discoveries of scientists.
Influence political decision making.
Live more simply: cut down on travel, especially by air; compost; reduce garbage; and switch to green fuel.
Let’s share the Bread/bread of life with the world.
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