Friday, March 10, 2017

3/17 CCC: Climate Caretakers: Biblical, Scientific, Business

March 2017 Creation Corner Column

Climate Caretakers: Biblical, Scientific, Business

"The Good News is a 'lamp shining in a dark place.'"

John Elwood, of Climate Caretakers, combines biblical, scientific, and business approaches in his monthly Evangelical blog, www.BelovedPlanet.com , now in its 7th year.  It reflects his "hearing the gospel's call to care for an injured planet" as an elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Covering such themes of faith, science, and justice, his resources list includes 24 on-line, 42 books and 5 videos.

Tracking CO2, now at over 400 ppm, is Earth's CO2 home page, https://www.co2.earth.
 
The https://www.desmogblog.com  is about the global warming misinformation campaign, and tries to clear the public relations pollution that clouds climate science.

Other recommended sites include Climate Progress, Skeptical Science, the U.S. Drought Monitor, EcoWatch, 350.org, etc.

Following Elwood's "Action" suggestions, one finds www.theRE100.org.  It notes what corporations do to reduce carbon emissions by pledging to use 100% renewable energy resources.  The private sector uses 1/2 of the world's electric consumption, and some of the most influential companies' pledges come from Walmart, P&G, Nike, Nestle, Microsoft, GM, Google, FB, Johnson & Johnson, Starbucks, etc.

www.TheRE100.org is brought to us by www.TheClimateGroup.org.   It works with businesses, governments, NGOs, etc., and the Carbon Disclosure Project (https://www.cdp.net/en) that motivates companies and cities to disclose their environmental impact, thus helping to drive sustainable economics.

Both of these are members on the www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org, urging 100s of investors and businesses to create a low carbon revolution.

One Coalition member, The B Team, goes beyond Plan A ("business as usual") to Plan B, for transparency and anti-corruption.  "B" corporations are conscientious, not just for sustainability and minimizing harm, but also for maximizing their positive impact.  Thus, people using business as a force for good. 

There is a news-stand magazine, "B", www.bthechange.com and BestForTheWorld  http://bftw.bthechange.com/ web sites.

Another Coalition member, www.ceres.org, works with advocates, investors and companies to integrate environmental and social considerations into business decision-making, the goal being sustainable prosperity.

"All of my creation is an effort to weave a web of connection with the world.  I am always weaving it because it was once broken."  Anais Nin 
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This blog, seen at www.LutheransRestoringCreation.org began in March 2011, 6 years ago.  It originates with the newsletter of the Williamsport PA based United Churches of Lycoming County (UCLC) (www.uclc.org), where it began in 1997.  

The UCLC is a 70-year old ecumenical body partnering with 180 congregations, engaged in ministries such as the Shepherd of the Street, Food Pantry, Campus Ministry, Fuel Bank, Devotion Line, newspaper sermons, broadcasting,  institutional worship services (825+), social concerns advocacy, monthly print and on-line newsletter, interfaith outreach dialogue network, community ministeriums cooperative services, etc.

Its director is Baptist minister Rev. Gwen N. Bernstine.  The late Lutheran pastor Rev. Dr. Alton Motter (d. Aug. 5, 2003 at age 95), author of Ecumenism 101: A Handbook about the Ecumenical Movement, and other titles, was her predecessor.

This column blogger, Michael Ochs, may be reached at billtownmike@yahoo.com