9/22 Creation Corner Column
Books, Nature Therapy, Incineration, Quotations
BOOK TITLES
Animalkind. Ingrid Newkirk and Gene Stone.
The Book of Minds: How to Understand Ourselves and Other Beings, from Animals to AI to Aliens. Philip Hall.
EcoActivist Testament: Explorations of Faith and Nature for Fellow Travelers. H. Paul Santmire.
How To Sell A Poison: The Rise, Fall, and Toxic Return of DDT. Elena Conis.
Is Science Enough?: Forty Critical Questions About Climate Justice. Aviva Chomsky
The Next Apocalypse: The Art and Science of Survival. Chris Begley.
Plagues in the Nation: How Epidemics Shaped America. Polly J. Price.
Science for a Green New Deal: Connecting Climate, Economics and Social Justice. Eric A. Davidson.
Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic. David Quammen
The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide. Steven Thrasher.
Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge. Erica Gies.
FREE E-BOOK FOR A GREENER, FAIRER FUTURE
Resilience Matters: Opportunities for Action to Strengthen Communities. Laurie Mazur, editor. Available on-line at no cost, visit Islandpress.org/progressive. A publication from the Urban Resilience Project.
BOOKS re: EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM, see William MacAskill
BOOKS re: HISTORY OF FOSSIL FUEL USE, see Andreas Malm
NATURE THERAPY, AN "EVERGREEN SOLUTION". Free passes for patients to visit national parks are provided by some healthcare providers in four Canadian provinces. Prescribing nature to help people, the touted benefits include increased energy, decreased anxiety, pain reduction, reduced stress and improved heart health. Source: "This therapy is out there" article in Aug/Sep issue of Men's Health magazine.
TOXIC BURN PITS AND BACKYARD BURNER BARREL BURNING
A recently passed U.S. bill to aid veterans exposed to toxic burn pits might spur municipalities that permit backyard burner barrel burning to reconsider, and ban the practice.
With burn pits and burner barrels being used to dispose of trash, batteries, chemicals, cans, tires, petroleum products, plastics, human waste (used diapers), etc., and evidence linking the toxic chemical fume pollution and particulate matter from such incineration to some respiratory illnesses (asthma, bronchitis), certain cancers, skin and cardiovascular problems, migraines, some neurological conditions, etc., it could be argued that it is time for municipalities that permit the practice to "clear the air" and ban backyard burner barrel burning as an ounce of prevention to prevent any further exposure to such air-borne pollution.
QUOTABLE
"The distrust between faith and science is not just an unfortunate circumstance. It's actually costing lives." Francis Collins.
"The apocalypse is here, it's just not evenly distributed." Gregory Hays.
"Big climate bill: Spending green bucks to spur green energy." Associated Press headline, Aug. 12, 2022.
-------------------------------------------------30--------------------------------------------
Note: This column from Michael Ochs began 25 years ago, issued in the monthly print newsletter of the ecumenical United Churches of Lycoming County (UCLC), Williamsport, PA. He is a member of the UCLC Christian Social Concerns Committee.
