I noted on a comment at The Air Vent that I have started trying to make a mental note on references to all things “Green” lately. Obviously, due to the nature of this blog, I have been well aware of policy initiatives, scientific debates, and so on regarding the global warming/climate change/phrase du jor issue.
Even I was surprised, once I really paid attention, just how pervasive this has become. Now, don’t get me wrong – I am completely on board with reasonable and cost-effective efforts to reduce pollution, clean up our planet where we were irresponsible, and save energy. My reasons for this, though, are not sue to a fear of catastrophic global warming. Some of it is due to my own theological and philosophical position that we are to be good stewards of creation as an obligation to our Creator. Part of it simply has to do with an appreciation for the beauty of earth, and a willingness to sacrifice some amount of continued expansion of brick, metal, and pavement to preserve that beauty. A lot of it has to do with safety and health. Preserving energy has to do with both saving money and hopefully prolonging current resources while we search for alternatives.
But in all these things, there is a balance. Being a good steward of earth is a good decision precisely for the followign reasons in the above list. And if you’ll notice those reasons, the beneficiary of those three things are human beings. That would be people. Yes, non-human animals, too. But primarily people. I know, I know. Such an old-fashioned attitude that people matter first is something from the dark ages. Well, call me Sir Joe, then.
The earth is a thing. The entire purpose of it is to house life. The most important life is the human being. That in no way dismisses other life, because without other life we not only couldn’t survive, but our own lives would be much less fulfilling.
And so I get back to my observation. More and more, I see the Celebrate Earth movement move into pantheism. It’s Gaia-worship by a different name. And it is pervasive. It’s all about “Saving the Earth,” and it’s not abouot people. I say that confidently, because of the irrational arguments that reducing population will save the earth. This implies that people are the problem, not the target worth saving. If not people, then what is worth saving? The earth, of course.
Global Warming alarmism is just the first step in bringing about a form of modern day Earth-Worship. The alarmism effectively targets the human psyche with fear of the consequences from a human perspective. Hurricanes, floods, droughts… yeah, they all really suck. When it becomes evident that this won’t happen immediately, then we move on to our children. We want the good old days of cold and snowy winters for our kids. Because we love them.
Pretty soon, we move away from using “Global Warming” because we’ve now successfully got people scared enough about something, that we can just tweak things a bit and fairly easily keep the insanity alive. “Climate Change” is a good catch-all to cover all potential future events. High-five to the Environmental fear-mongering PR Department. Elect politicians, get a few scientists on board, get the media on board, and come up with a few seemingly benign phrases like “Green” and pretty soon we’ve shifted the entire psychology of the movement. Hammer away, hammer away, and hammer away. It’s good to be green. Why? Most people probably don’t even know anymore. They’re not really scared of anything at this point, but everyone is saying there’s a problem, so there must be. And since there are people who tell us they can solve the issue with some taxes and credits and firing the President of GM, then that means I don’t have to worry anymore. As long as I buy compact fluorescents, drive a Hybrid, and celebrate Earth Day, everything will be OK.
And so after a few years of this, we will more and more put this movemebt into the context of Celebrating the Earth. I’m trying to figure out exactly what this means. What am I celebrating? Is it Earth’s birthday? Am I celebrating as if she knows I’m celebrating? In my mind, do I start thinking of Earth as something more than a thing?
And the answer to that is “yes.” Oh, very few “environmentalists” would say that they worship the earth. But, in fact, there is a continual movement into the realm of Earth as goddess, it’s just not well-defined, and most people really don’t connect the dots. And most are not really worshipping her – at least not yet. I may be off-the-wall, but I predict that over the next 20-30 years, we will see a more and more explicit, unapologetic and vocal movement into the religion of some form of Pantheism. Right now it’s very indirect and discreet.
OK, this actually isn’t at all what I intended this post to be when I started. I just get going and sometimes I don’t know where I’ll end up. Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about being fired by the Editor.
Back to my log: I may or may not add to this, but here are my recent observations:
1) April 20 – drove by the local YMCA. They are having a Celebrate Earth Day something or another. I think to myself, does the Earth exercise?
2) April 20 – I catch the headline in our local paper (I don’t subscribe, saw it in the stands). I won’t remember the headline exactly, but it highlighted how “Green camping” is catching on.
3) April 21 – Just received an e-mail at work:
Help Celebrate Earth Day 2009!
Did you know that the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, the year that the Environmental Protection Agency was formed? Since that time, many programs and laws have been implemented to improve the environment and our health. From the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974 to the ban on dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste in the oceans in 1988, these are only a few of the programs that make the earth a cleaner and safer place to live. Most recently, the Energy Star program (started in 1992) resulted in the prevention of greenhouse gasses equivalent to those from 27 million vehicles!
For a full history on Earth Day and many improvements to our world since 1970, log onto http://www.epa.gov/earthday/history.htm)
What can we do to contribute our part on Earth Day 2009?
- Consider carpooling to work (carpool list posted at: XXXX)
- Shut your computer down at the end of the day
- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!
For more ideas on how to be Green at home, at work and in the community visit: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/index.htm“
Then there’s an e-mail address given for the company’s “Green Team,” which we all know is necessary. One of the huge initiatives this team has managed to implement is kitchen-ware made from potatoes rather than plastic. Because it’s better to use a bunch of food to make utensils to eat other food with, than to wash siverware…
Total aside: It’s still snowing and 35 degrees. Happy Spring!
April 21: As I was paying for my lunch, I glanced up at the tv screen. I was supposed to visit nbc.green.com, or something like that. I haven’t bothered to find the correct web address, as I won’t be going there.
Digital Diatribes 
