Mr. Obama, here are three points to consider during your Alaska trip this week: 1. Roughly 70% of Alaska is federally owned, and much of that is off-limits to any kind of economic use of natural resources. Compare that with 10% or less in most of the original 13 U.S. colonies. Instead of “helping” native Alaskans by changing the name of Mt. McKinley to Mt. Denali, a better idea might be to either 1) reduce the percent of federal land or 2) open more of it up for job-producing natural … [Read more...]
Fear Not, Climate Alarmism Unfounded
In my position as environmental manager for one of the largest university systems in the U.S., I regularly make it a point to ask scientists and engineers working in the real world, solving real day-to-day problems and stewarding our natural resources and environment, about their professional views on the issues of climate and energy. Their responses almost uniformly reflect disagreement with, practically a disdain for, the climate alarmists’ and sustainability activists’ premise that manmade … [Read more...]
Socialist Papal Advisor Caricatures Our Concerns about Forthcoming Encyclical
Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, thought by many to be Pope Francis’s closest advisor, went out of his way at a press conference in Rome before the start of an assembly of Caritas Internationalis, a federation of Catholic charities, to condemn efforts by the Cornwall Alliance, the Heartland Institute, and others who met in Rome in late April to present an alternative view to the global warming alarmists who have had Francis’s ear heretofore. “The ideology surrounding environmental issues is … [Read more...]
My Sister and I
When we were kids my sister and I were best friends, inseparable even. Something changed during adulthood and we ventured down separate paths. I’m a rock ribbed conservative, she’s just as firmly entrenched in political liberalism. I’m a fundamentalist evangelical (in the classic meaning of those terms) and sis leans a little new age. Perhaps one of our most stark contrasts comes at the point of our outlook towards environmentalism and the green movement. I wrote a novel about an extremist … [Read more...]
Alley Sheep at the El Station
Thinking back on the Cornwall Alliance’s 25 Days of Prayer for the Environment and the Poor, reminded me of some work I did in 2010. As a church planter in Evanston, Illinois, I led our folks to serve as “alley sheep” (as opposed to alley cats) in the lanes beside and behind the downtown restaurants. Dumpsters were overflowing with offenses to eye and nose, and we ventured to clean things up as both a service to the community and a witness to the gospel. Sporting our theme T-shirts, we raked … [Read more...]
The Tula Context
For two summers, I was on staff at Boy Scout Camp Tula on Lake Greeson in western Arkansas. It was wonderfully rustic. We slept in tents and padded about in our hand-sewn moccasins, up and down the hilly trails on the fragrant pine needles. Dark was really dark, so we could pick out the constellations on most nights. Paw prints were all over the muddy stream banks. We’d stage Indian dances around bonfires and go skinny dipping to wash off the greasepaint after the guests had left. There was a … [Read more...]
Campus Green Initiatives
College and university campuses are places to debate and experiment with new ideas. Unfortunately, a few of the “bright ideas” turn out not to be so practical, or ethical. Then we can be thankful that the consequences were limited to a campus and weren’t inflicted on society at large. One ivory-tower idea with less than ideal consequences is the popular “campus sustainability initiative.” The National Association of Scholars recently released a report showing that colleges trying to reduce … [Read more...]
Today Thousands Are Joining in Prayer for the Environment and the Poor!
Today is the Cornwall Alliance Day of Prayer for the Environment and the Poor! We chose today because it is Norman Borlaug's birthday. Dr. Borlaug is known as "The Man Who Fed the World" because of his work increasing crop yields. To learn more about his life click here. For a recent article by Dr. James Wanliss regarding Borlaug, click here. Today we are posting reflections and prayers hourly regarding a variety of topics relating to the environment and to those in poverty. Here is a list of … [Read more...]
We Pray for Truth, and Those who Proclaim It
Dear Father in Heaven, Thank You for making us in Your image to know You and to be known by You. We give all glory and honor to You, and You alone. Help us to know and believe the truth, and let us not succumb to the lies of the enemy. Remove our fears and keep us from sin. Make the rough places smooth. Help us to love unconditionally with hearts that are whole and humble and forgiving. Thank you for the privilege to disciple our children. Give us confidence, courage, and strength to do this … [Read more...]
We Pray for Those Working in the Jardim Gramacho Landfill, Brazil
BACKGROUND REPORT by The Rt. Rev. William Mikler The Jardim Gramacho landfill is the largest garbage dump in South America. No longer active, this enormous trash heap is home to 12,000 people who have neither running water nor sewage. Most all live in shacks made of cardboard or tin, and share the dump with wild pigs, vermin, snakes, and buzzards. Many of the inhabitants are children who do not know who their father is. The Life Change Project Rio team that serves in the dump is comprised of … [Read more...]
