First the good news. The Canadian government has established a Northwest Passage marine ecological preserve in the arctic, in the area known as Lancaster Sound. It provides protection in a region of pristine beauty. This is a farsighted move considering the potential for resource development in the North, especially now that climate change is opening waterways which have traditionally been frozen.
Now the bad news. As Canada goes to the climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico we do so without a full-time environment minister, having abandoned the Kyoto Accord, and rating 54th of 57 nations which are high emitters of greenhouse gases. Our national approach to climate change and its impact is incredibly shortsighted and shameful really. We appear willing to "sell our birthright for a bowl of pottage" to use a biblical phrase, accepting that we can consume fossil fuels in the short-term with no long-term strategy. We weren't exactly enthusiastic participants in Kyoto up until now, but we have abandoned even the "aspirational" goals.
Our current moderator, Mardi Tindal, is an ardent environmentalist, believing that there is a biblical mandate and a moral imperative for Christians to care for creation. This isn't just a general theological principle. There needs to be "made in Canada" solutions for the sake of this generation and generations to come.
Thoughts? Too much talk about something we can't alter? Embarrassment that we head to Cancun without a prayer for change? Concerns for your kids and grandkids?
6 comments:
There can never be enough talk about this. Yes, I am embarrassed when countries like Canada and America, two of the biggest contributors to the destruction of our environment, don't pull their share in the healing of the earth. And yes, I have concerns for my children. I often wonder how different the world will look for my grandchildren and whether our life of ease is causing one of struggle and suffering for future generations.
Like most problems, people won't think to deal with climate change until it affects them directly.
The more talk the better. We just witnessed the political will of the people of Clarington vote for change. The incinerator issue was front and center in the election.
Next federal election think about who you are voting for. If it looks like the major parties are setting the enviroment on the back burner cast a vote for another party that cares. They may not win a majority, but the numbers don't lie. The Green party gets more votes every election, although they have yet to win a seat. The big parties see those votes and if they continue to increase they will try to get some back.
I suppose we can't change what we don't address, and it all begins with what we are willing to discuss, even shout about.
Thanks to all three of you.
I was involved in a discussion this morning about the Cancun Climate Change Conference with a group of young people. The big thing that I noticed was a disconnect. The group members were required to answer a series of questions about what greenhouse gas emissions are, their effect, how the earth's system has been thrown out of balance etc. They understand all these things and what will 'eventually' happen. I feel one of the best ways to address this issue (with those who will soon be responsible for making the difference) is for our government to talk and even shout to them about what it is THEY can do. They know the problem and the effects, more should be done to help these young people bridge the gap between the two. Many of them want to see a change but don't know how.
Thanks for adding your thoughts Ebm. It's good to have the perspective of a young adult because this is the world you are inheriting. The "don't know how" part is what seems to pummel many people into inaction.
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