In case you hadn’t noticed it, this is supposed to be Climate Week NYC, organized in coordination with the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. The idea is to get nations o focus on what we are doing to the earth and make some real turnarounds. The problem is, of course, that petrostates just want to make money, and some of the poor countries like Guyana are looking to cash in as well.
Although the U.S. may not be considered a petrostate, we are the fourth largest exporter of fossil fuels and the second largest user, right behind China, which does have a population over 1.4 billion compared to our 342.6 million. Over the past two years we’ve gone from sharp reductions in fossil fuel use to a n increase, largely in response to the emphasis on using 19th century approaches to energy.
Not only have our food and gas prices risen, the latter astronomically, but the variety of our foods have been reduced, and will shrink even more as we gobble up areas once open to biological diversity. But this doesn’t seem to matter much to wealthy fossil fuel barons getting wealthier or to their leader who gobbles up Big Macs.
Prayer for the Day
God of earth and sky, embrace us with your presence,
Opening us to the wonders of the world you have created;
Mold us into the persons we should be as we search our souls,
And give us the grace to know our limitations.
May we have the strength to be witnesses to your promise,
Responding to your call for peace and justice.
In the name of the One who is our Model,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Patient Earth is not well. We are not only putting the stability, the resilience, and the life support systems on Earth at risk, we are very close to pushing ourselves across thresholds that can lead to irreversible, unmanageable outcomes.
Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
The climate breakdown must be an issue for foreign ministers and prime ministers. As well as energy and climate ministers. The security community, not just the activist community. The generals, not just the green campaigners.
Edward Milibrand, UK Secretary of State.
You set he earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken.
You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters above the mountains.
At your rebuke they flee, at the sound of your thunder they take to flight.
Psalm 104: 5-7