Oil Sands country, before and after The death toll from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has crept up steadily through the weeks since this tragedy occurred. Estimates are that 20,000 people died. Now workers who are recovering bodies in some areas must wear Hazmat suits to protect them from radiation.
Twenty thousand dead is a grim count, but did you know that more than 50,000 Russians died last summer as a result of the protracted heat wave and fires which affected that country? What we call natural disasters are often catastrophic and immediate in their impact. Events such as the Russian fires may be brought about by climate change, which is affected by human activity. And because it happens over an extended period of time we don't notice the effect to the same degree.
I have to wonder whether we are incapable of addressing the real issues of our time, for the sake of the wellbeing of people today and generations to come. I doubt that climate change will be much of an issue in this federal election, yet President Obama is pushing reducing dependence on foreign oil, with the exception of a stable neighbour -- Canada. You might be surprised to read that Canada supplies more oil to the US than Mexico and Saudi Arabia combined, the next two largest sources. China is financing the development of coal fields in Northern British Columbia. So what is our national strategy on climate change and the part we play in it? It really doesn't exist.
As a Christian -- I emphasize Christian in light of a recent blog discussion -- I want provincial and federal governments to act responsibly for this generation and the generations to come. I also want them to be responsible because "the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."
Thoughts?
2 comments:
As a Human(Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, or what ever) I want provincial and federal governments to act responsibly for this generation and the generations to come. I enjoy your writings very much but I think this issue is for everyone.
No argument here Laurie. One of the things that makes this nation great is the freedom for everyone regardless of perspective to not only hold their views but to be able to express them in the public square.
My point is that those of us who are Christians should not be timid about living out our faith, including in the realm of politics. The late, great Tommy Douglas was a Baptist preacher who was so disturbed by the injustices around him that he became a politician. Our system of socialized medicine is one outcome of his passion.
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