trash talk
Posted by Sherry on May 8, 2007
I actually heard myself say it out loud today: “I used to be a conscientious recycler until I learned I was doing it for Al Gore.” It’s true. Not that long ago I would walk from one end of the house to the other to put paper in a bag I keep near my desk for that purpose. But a month or so ago I fast-forwarded through a recorded Academy Awards show, choosing what I consider the best parts to watch, and there he was. I wondered about his connection to the movie industry so stopped to listen. I learned that he made a documentary on global warming. I watched as award presenters fell all over themselves to outdo each other in praise for Al’s contribution to saving the earth. How do his industry supporters rationalize away Al’s personal lifestyle? I always thought to validate one’s convictions a person needs to practice what he preaches. So as I watched Al, looking more smarmy than usual, accept his documentary’s award I began to realize my paltry attempts to save the planet through recycling support his “convictions” more than they do my own.
I’m open to correction about my views on global warming. But someone other than Al Gore is going to have to convince me.
I too recoil at being on the same side of anything as Al Gore. But I’m becoming increasingly aware of my personal responsibility as a steward of God’s creation. God gave creation to Adam & Eve, and by extension to me, to tend and care for it. To the degree I contribute to the disruption of His design I am a poor steward.
Working out that high-sounding ethic turns out to be really tricky, at least for me. What I could do to reduce my “carbon footprint” I cannot afford to do. I guess I’m counting on the principle that we’re judged according to what we have, not on the basis of what we do not have (2 Cor. 8).
The message is more important than the messenger. That’s an old adage that not only works from a biblical perspective, but makes perfect sense for the issue you may have with Al Gore. Do you also recoil at being a Christian because the message of Christ is delivered by people that make you cringe? Look at the Catholic church and enormous problems they appear to have with priests abusing children, but does that make you love Christ less, or find the reality of Christ harder to believe? Maybe it does…
There is very little scientific research which does not support that global warming is real. It is the popular media and press which argues against it without scientific research to back them up. There is no denying the fact that CO2 levels in the atmosphere are higher than any time in researchable history of the earth and that the 10 years with the hottest average temperature on earth have all occured while we have been alive.
What this actually means is what is unknown. We do see the effect as more powerful hurricanes slam into the US from the Atlantic and typhoons hit the other side of the earth from the Pacific. An Inconvenient Truth even mentions that a hurricane hit South America, in the southern hemisphere, which until 2004, scientists the world over claimed could never happen because of the earth’s rotation. How much we don’t understand about the earth is staggering. But as to the long-lasting effects of historically-high CO2 levels in the atmosphere is anyone’s guess. No one knows.
The internet is a trove of information about the subject of global warming and I encourage independent fact-finding. I do not particularly like Al Gore, either, truth-be-told, but if the information in An Inconvenient Truth is even close to accurate, then the consequences for us could be dire. I find the movie very compelling and the message it contains is important. I really suggest you watch it, making sure to ignore the 2 or 3 political parts it contains.
God promised never again to flood the earth, but if the earth continues to warm, that could be what we’re looking at. Makes Kevin Costner’s Water World a little more plausible.
I was going to leave one link and clicked “Add…” too soon. Marshal Massey’s blog is one that I have come upon in recent weeks and would recommend some reading from, such as running along some of the links he has in the “Broader Context” section.
I’m been an avid recycler for a long time. I do it because God gave us this beautiful Earth and the responsibility to take care of it - for now, for the future and because I don’t think trashing his awesome creation is a good plan
I recently saw Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, and it just reinforced what I already believe - we need to take this stuff seriously if we want to preserve the planet. I don’t really like or dislike Gore, but I think he has very valid points to which we all need to pay attention.