Friday, March 5, 2021
03/05/2021
Joyce Antilla Phipps
In the midst of the news that the new Supreme Court majority held that a government agency did not have to open its deliberative processes, in this case regarding the Endangered Species Act, there is at least one sailor who swam to save four cats when his ship began to sink.
The new Justice Barrett seems to believe that the government has the right to hold its decision-making process in secret, that the public has no right to know whether big oil or gas has muscled in to destroy fragile life on the planet. The Supreme Court decision yesterday concerns wastewater and its effect on certain fish. Sounds insignificant, but it has far reaching implications.
Closed government is always a bad thing. It limits our ability to find out why a decision was made the way it was. But the Court justices don’t need to worry. They personally won’t be affected by wastewater in their drinking water. We should repent this blow against environmental justice and work to create a more open government.
Prayer for the Day
Your creatures, O God, cry for protection and care,
And we respond by worrying more about comfort;
Streams and rivers carry our disregard down to the seas,
The cradle of life for the planet where we live.
Open our eyes, O God, and give us understanding
So we repent from the error of our ways.
In the name of him who walked among the lilies of the field,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray iin, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.
- John Muir, environmentalist (1838-1914)
Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species -- man -- acquired significant power to alter the nature of the world.
- Rachel Carson, environmentalist (1907-1964)
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
Before I was humbled, I went astray, but now I keep your word.
Psalm 119:66-67
Thai sailor saving the cat.
