Saturday, January 31, 2009

The Audacity of Hope


"So much for global warming!" We have been experiencing winter in a way that we can't remember since childhood, at least not here in Southern Ontario. We would do well to ditch the term "global warming" altogether because it is human-made climate change that we need to be addressing.

While we shiver in the cold people in Australia are literally dying of the heat. Temperatures have soared into the upper forties, celcius, and the drought has been so prolonged (several years) that it has earned the name The Big Dry. During one trip to Israel years ago the temperature hit 45 and I can tell you that this sort of heat can be as oppressive and dangerous as any cold snap. The Australian scientific community and the government have stated that this hot, dry weather is directly related to climate change. The signs pictured above are warnings about misuse of water in the H20 challenged country.

We have become so preoccupied with the faltering global economy that environmental issues have been pushed to the back burner (pun possibly intended.) I hope that faith communities of every stripe will continue to uphold care for Creation in the midst of the recession.

At a recent Bowmanville ministerial meeting nine congregations and Christian organizations, including the local Christian high school committed to a Jubilee: Creation Care event on April 25th. Despite the reality of very different theological perspectives we have agreed that the integrityof God's created order is a shared concern and an opportunity for shared effort.

Of course we need governments at every level to provide courageous leadership. You may have noticed that President Obama gave the green light for states to set tougher emission standards for automobiles, something the Bush administration refused to do. Perhaps we can have the "audacity of hope" for a healthier planet home.

4 comments:

Laurie said...

There is a wonderful book called
"The Weather Makers".It is about what we have done and are doing to our planet.

David Mundy said...

Yes, I would highly recommend this book.

Deborah Laforet said...

I haven't forgotten. I know there are many others who have not put it to the "back burner."

Earth Hour is March 28. Our family and church was a part of this last year. We shut off all our power for one hour in the evening. Our family lit candles and played a board game. For us, it made us aware of how much power we use. In order to shut off all power, we would have had to unplug dozens of appliances. Instead, we just used the breaker. Everything was very dark and quiet. We had fun and it also raised awareness.

David Mundy said...

Good reminder about Earth Hour Deb.