All Posts Tagged With: "blog action day"

Today is Blog Action Day but I was already thinking of doing this post when I saw one of my Facebook friends ask why more Christians aren’t involved in the green movement. This might be a controversial post or it may not be. Sometimes we create controversy where none actually exist. I am a Christian AND a scientist. And such a combination is not as rare as many would have you believe. I believe that science explains how things work but not why while my Bible goes more into why by not the specifics of how. They are not mutually exclusive.

I can’t look at something in nature like Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina (pictured below) and not know that there’s something bigger than us mere humans. At the same time, I know that science can explain how glaciers are formed and why they are melting at an alarming rate.

While science tells us that we must take action to take care of our planet, the Bible does as well. Obviously, it’s not clearly spelled out but the groundwork is there. While Genesis establishes that mankind rules over all the earth, the concept of stewardship is pervasive. Are we not mere stewards whose job is to take care of all the natural resources that God has created? We certainly don’t own them and certainly can’t take them with us when we leave this earth.

Choices we make everyday are having a drastic effect on our planet now. The consequences could prove catastrophic if we don’t do something to prevent further damage. Climate change is not a political issue and politicians alone should not be expected to fix it. It is the responsibility of every individual on this planet. Are you onboard? Read Scientific American’s 10 Solutions for Climate Change now to see what you can do.

Photo credit: me

See more glacier photos here.

Today is Blog Action Day and this year’s topic is poverty. An estimated 1.4 billion people in the developing world are in poverty while 36.5 million people are in poverty in the United States. I am no means an expert on poverty but I have certainly lived there.

Many people equate poverty to hunger but poverty to me is not only the lack of access to food. I would say it’s the lack of access to healthy food, clean water, adequate housing, health care and a safe environment among other things. Simply providing these things is not the answer. Providing aid is noble but making people dependent on that aid does more harm than good. It’s only part of the solution; education and training is also needed. One way that education can improve one’s life is the obvious – college or vocational school will improve one’s ability to have better employment choices. Another aspect of education and training is in the area of skills needed to live. This would include such topics as how to replenish the soil when growing crops, how to properly clean water for drinking and medical training. Self-sufficiency is key.

Some organizations that focus on education are:

• UNICEF
• Save the Children
• One Laptop Per Child

In the DC area, the following organizations are always looking for volunteers and/or donations:

• Coaching for College
• Capitol Hill Computer Corner

VolunteerMatch should be able to direct you to organizations in your locality.