Despite the efforts of industry to cast the tragedy as an “act of God,” the fatalities in Donora received national attention. That event changed the way air pollution was viewed, moving it rapidly from an aesthetic issue to a public health concern, and spurred local, state and federal officials to control toxic air pollution.
via In 1948, smog left deadly legacy in Donora.
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I posted as a page an article by Ms. Ann Pettifor from issue Number 1 of 2009 of Global Future by World Vision. I think she really hits the nail on the head and says much better than I ever could how to both view and address the international economic crisis. To read the article go here.
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Isn’t it a shame some of the first public fallout from the economic crisis here in western PA has been to cut hours at libraries and museums and to discontinue the one-stream recycling program here in Westmoreland County. These are all things that benefit people. Of course there will be many more. It seems we can find money for sports events and entertainment but for things that truly improve the lot of all the money is not there.
It is especally a shame to see the library funding cut at a time when libraries are most needed.
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I personally believe that as Christians we should be good stewards of God’s creation. I generally support the idea of going green and differ only where the going green turns to worshipping the earth versus worshipping God the Creator of the earth. Earth Hour is today 28 March from 8:30 to 9:30 PM. People are requested to turn their lights off at that time.
Also here is an article on composting.
We are very dissapointed that one of the first budget cuts our county made was to discontinue the one-stream recycling program. We had cut our garbage in half using this program.
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The Scientific American Online has a very interesting article: Cap and Dividend, Not Trade: Making Polluters Pay. This article discusses an excellent idea that appears to be gaining bi-partison support in Congress. Helping to offset the cost to consumers of Capping Carbon Emissions by paying out a dividend to consumers that comes from the cap tax.
To offset the load placed on consumers, a third form of carbon capping, known as cap and dividend, has gained support. Under this plan, permits are auctioned, but the revenues do not go to the government; they go back to citizens in the form of dividends, distributed equally among everyone, perhaps even wired directly to people’s bank accounts or debit cards. The plan is modeled after the Alaska Permanent Fund, which pays equal dividends to Alaskan residents from the proceeds generated from state oil leases.
In essence, cap and dividend treats the air as a managed commons in which everyone owns a share. Liberals such as former secretary of labor Robert Reich and conservatives such as Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee support the approach, as do a growing number of climate scientists and economists. Some U.S. states as well as other countries are also considering the idea.
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This article from Nature magazine Recession Watch: Boost the developing world points out that “Directing finance into sustainable infrastructure in the poorest countries helps the whole world, says Jeffrey Sachs.”
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Tearfund has a number of helpful resources dealing with climate change and especially its effect on the poor. These materials are from a Christian perspective as well.
My Global Impact This is a carbon emissions calculator it is geared toward UK users but can be helpful for others as well. It concludes with a place to make an offset donation towards “specifically helping to bring practical and spiritual transformation to poor people most affected by climate change now.”
Tearfund’s climate change campaign
Carbon Fast: 25 February to 11 April 2009 this is a carbon fast specifically geared towards Lent. There are a number of resources at this page.
How to link Climate Change and poor people?
Climate and sustainability Bible study series (pdf)
Should Christians care for the environment? (pdf)
Speak Up Bible studies series (pdf)
Simple lifestyle changes you can make
Protecting poor communities
There are many more outstanding resources available at the Tearfund website.
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