January 2012
Bill McKibben, in his book “Eaarth,” makes the convincing case that global
warming is no longer a threat or something to worry about for the sake of
our grandchildren. It is no longer a threat because it is now a reality.
Real people are getting hurt, real ecosystems are suffering, and real
financial damages from climate related disasters are spiraling out of
control. We will need to adjust to this new planet. Earth is gone. Earth
modified, or eaarth, is now the reality. How painful the adjustment will be
depends on how seriously we take our moral obligation to do what we can to
wean ourselves from our addiction to CO2-dependent growth.
700 years ago, Dante wrote that “the hottest places in hell are reserved
for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality”.
The effects of climate change pose such a great moral crisis. Neutrality is
no longer an appropriate response.
It used to be inappropriate to ask someone to refrain from smoking inside
your home, your office, or public places. Within just a few years, social
etiquette shifted. If someone lights up in an enclosed space near you, it
now seems perfectly acceptable to ask them to move out of the room and
smoke outside.
I believe it is time to feel similarly empowered to speak out as we hold
each other accountable for the climate impact of our energy consuming
habits. Let’s challenge ourselves and each other to become the
energyefficient person, family, and community we need to be. Keep me
honest, inform me, be in my face about how I can be a better co-steward of
this planet – and I promise I will do the same.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am all in favor of everyone’s right to cause
whatever global warming they prefer to cause, as long as they don’t do it
on this planet.
~Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger
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