new.

Happy New Year!

No Impact Week

get into it!

peace

nh

root.

Can all our social problems be unified?

Looking at two social problems 'Abortion' - a distinctive of the social conservatives and 'Climate Change' - a dinstinctive of the social progressives have more in common than one might imagine. I'm not trying to give these issues equal weight, but looking at something at the heart of each issue.

For a pro-choice supporter, a woman has the right to choose (before I continue I am an advocate for human rights especially those who rights have been marginilised by society, and I am not anti-abortion from state-rule, I believe we ought to address the roots of the issue of abortion, not the symptom itself). However what is lacking is reponsibility and I'm not solely referring to a woman's responsibiliy, I'm also referring to the responsibility of a man. So carelessness + lack of responsibility of both genders may lead to an abortion.

However in comparison environmental issues, namely climate change a free market and private enterprise supporter might ask the state ought to stay out of private business, claiming their own right to make decisions and perhaps pollute as they feel is neccesary. Again there is a lack of responsibility, and decisions may only benefit the pockets of the CEO. So again carelessness + lack of responsibility might lead to making capital at the expense of the environment.

Although this is only one example, is it fair to maybe argue that there is a unified cause to all our social problems??

Perhaps?

copenhagen.

here's definatley something to consider... based on the idea that climate change is human induced.

prayer.

With world leaders gathering for the United Nations conference on Copenhagen this week, I feel it's appropriate to keep them and the conference in our prayers. A prayer for world leaders is also a prayer for the Earth.

Brian Mclaren and Tim Costello have put together a prayer for Christians (and beyond) to pray.

Most gracious God, creator of all good things, we thank you for planet Earth and all creatures that share it. Have mercy on us, Lord.

Through ignorance and carelessness we have poisoned clean air and pure water. For monetary gain we have reduced verdant forests to barren wastes. In our craving for more we have plundered your beloved creation and driven many of our fellow creatures to extinction. Only recently have we begun to realize the dangerous future into which our current patterns of consumption and waste are driving us, especially in relation to Earth’s climate. Only recently have we begun to see our need to find a wiser and better way of life in the future, before it is too late and our choices are limited by the consequences of inaction.

We who join in prayer today believe the time has come, Lord. Please guide us now, our God, at this critical moment in history, to better fulfill our role as stewards of this fragile planet. Guide the leaders of nations who (will) gather in Copenhagen (on Dec. 6). Give them courage to set noble goals that reach beyond short-range political expediency, short-term economic profit, and short-sighted self-interest. Impress upon their conscience our sacred duty to bequeath to our children and grandchildren a healthy and thriving environment rather than a world in climate crisis.

If our leaders fail, Lord, if they fail to take the necessary action, they will violate both our trust and your calling to use their power for the common good. If they fail, every person will be affected, including generations not yet born. Rouse us all to action, for we are all woven together in the fabric of creation.

This is the moment, God, when a great turning of hearts must begin. So through this prayer, we of many traditions who follow Christ — joined by friends and neighbors of many faiths — unite our hearts in a cry for change. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray in the name of Christ, through whom you have given yourself to the whole world in incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. Amen.

health

healthy people, health planet - noimpactman.com

A few weeks back I with a band of friends, went vegan-for-a-week for no real reason other than - 'why not?'.

Benefits? less amounts of ridiculous packaging, little travel distance for the food and dropped 5kg :)

It's good to be enjoying meat, dairy and honey again - but certainly makes you think.

Reminds me of Colin Bevan's familiar phrase 'healthy people, healthy planet' - noimpactman.com

At the moment I'm helping a friend by not buying/accepting plastic bags and bottles for the next 3 weeks - should be fun... can't see how this will help me lose weight though :s.

peace.

nh

earth.

"Your love O Lord is like the ocean - deeper than endless seas
Your faithfulness is like the mountains - and your word never fails."

In our day this is an odd lyric to sing.

I wonder if we consider ocean acidification, ocean dumping, oil spills, marine pollution and over fishing when we sing about God's love being like the ocean?

Do we consider over-mining, consumerism and the destruction of our habitat or melting ice-caps and avalanches when we sing about God's faithfulness like the mountains?

Quite possibly not.

We have the potential to do so much to taint and pollute God's love - yet it remains the same for his creation.

All of our experience, knowledge and drive has the possibility to exploit God's faithfulness - yet his grace still present within the created.

noimpactman.com

have a read of this guy's blog - http://noimpactman.typepad.com/