Media gives us a picture of the people called environmentalists so we would not normally think of a person like Henry J. Paulson, former Treasury Secretary under Bush II, as an environmentalist. A former member of The Nature Conservancy Board of Directors and head of the Paulson Institute, he is working toward a more sustainable future for all of us.
The Institute’s report, Financing Nature, looks at ways that our economy can protect the existing biodiversity of the planet, without which we as human beings would not survive. He notes that not to address the alarming loss in species is not only environmentally imprudent but economically as well.
More money for biodiversity will mean increased land and marine protection, healthier forest management – remember those fires? And agriculture and fishing industries that cause less harm. Not to be forgotten is how our cities can create less pollution with better stormwater management. Resulting in less loss from storms like Ida.
Prayer for the Day
Rising over the horizon, the September sun tempts us to forget
The results of terrible storms and damage we all suffered;
But we know the storm season still has two more months
When the warming Atlantic can swirl into our lives.
Redirect our actions, O Creator, so we protect your creation
Enabling it to thrive for generations to come.
In the name of the One who walked among the lilies
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
The value of biodiversity is that it makes our ecosystems more resilient, which is a prerequisite to stable societies; its wanton destruction is akin to setting fire to our lifeboat.
Johan Rockstrom, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
We’re losing biodiversity globally at an alarming rate and we need a cornucopia of different plants and animals for the planet’s health and our own.
Diane Ackerman, American poet, essayist, naturalist
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
Fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling God’s command!
Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
Psalm 148: 7-10