Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, had a real blast of Arctic winter when I was there last week with temperatures hovering between 25 and 35 below zero. The cold and snow ground tourist air travel to a halt. Me, I took the train up and back; 24-hour plowing and cleaning making land travel easier. But this extreme cold was an aberration as the Arctic is experiencing a serious climate crisis.
This past week the White House announced the U.S. withdrawal from major climate agreements, including the UN Climate Treaty. This past year we have had a spike in coal and fossil fuel use, attempts to shut down renewable energy projects, and a total disregard for stewardship of our natural resources.
Now the EPA will no longer take the health (and death) costs of reducing air pollution into account in determining whether smoke spewing plants can be built – anywhere. Of course, those who monetarily benefit from such an assault on the rest of us don’t care. They have their money, but one would think they would at least consider the health of their own children and grandchildren. But, no. Greed rules.
Prayer for the Day
O God, you know our thoughts, our concerns, and our fears,
For your hand is upon us, your Spirit seeks to speak through us.
We know cannot flee from you even if we take the wings of the morning
And fly to the outermost limits of earth or sea for you are there.
Be with us, O Lord, as we seek to care for the future of your earth,
Holding accountable those who would hold profit above people.
In the name of the One who holds all accountable,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Over the past four decades, different administrations have used different estimates of the monetary value of a human life in cost-benefit analyses. But until now, no administration has counted it as zero.
Maxline Joselow, in the New York Times (January 12, 2026)
The idea that E.P.A. would not consider the public health benefits of its regulations is anathema to the very mission of E.P.A.
Richard Revesz, Director, Institute for Policy Integrity, NYU School of Law
The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers;
The heavens languish together with the earth.
The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants;
For they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes,
Broken the everlasting covenant.
Isaiah 24: 4-5