7/22 CCC: Summer Books (Earth, Pandemic, etc.)

 July 2022 Creation Corner Column:  Summer Reading Suggestions

BOOKS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, NATURE, CREATION, EARTH, ECOLOGY

Above Sea Level (novel).  Douglas E. Congdon.

American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau.  Edited by Bill McKibben.  Foreword by Al Gore.

Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction.  Michelle Nijhuis.

Birdscapes: Birds in Our Imagination and Experience.  Jeremy Mynott.

The Book of Green Quotations.  James Daley, editor.

Chimpanzee Memoirs: Stories of Studying and Saving Our Closest Living Relatives.  Edited by Stephen Ross and Lydia Hopper..

The Coal Trap: How West Virginia Was Left Behind in the Clean Energy Revolution.  James M. Van Nostrand.

The Day the World Stops Shopping: How Ending Consumerism Saves the Environment and Ourselves.  J. B. MacKinnon.

Earthlings: Imaginative Encounters with the Natural World.  Adrian Parr.

Ending Fossil Fuels: Why Net Zero Is Not Enough.  Holly Jean Buck.

The High /Sierra: A Love Story.  Kim Stanley Robinson.

The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires That Run the World.  Oliver Milman.

The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet.  Leah Thomas.

Klimat: Russia in the Age of Climate Change.  Thane Gustafson.

On Earth as in Heaven: Daily Wisdom for Twenty-First Century Christians.  N. T. Wright.

Passions for Birds: Science, Sentiment, and Sport.  Sean Nixon.

Plastic Unlimited: How Corporations Are Fueling the Ecological Crisis and What We Can Do About It.  Alice Hah.

Power in the Wild: The Subtle and Not-So-Subtle Ways Animals Strive for Control Over Others.  Lee Alan Dugatkin.

Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste.  By Committee on the United States Contribution to Global Ocean Waste; The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Requiem for America's best Idea: National Parks in the Era of Climate Change.  Michael J. Yochim.

Saving Yellowstone: Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America.  Megan Kate Nelson.

Second Nature: Scenes from a World Remade.  Nathaniel Rich.

Sex in City Plants, Animals, Fungi, and More:  A Guide to Reproductive Diversity.  Kenneth D. Frank.

Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse.  Dave Goulson.

Sonorous Desert: What Deep Listening Taught Early Christian Monks and What It Can Teach Us.  Kim Haines-Eitzen.

Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less.  Leidy Klotz.

Surveying the Anthropocene: Art and Photography Now.  Patricia Macdonald.

Thoughts on People, Planet & Profit.  Amy Domini.

Urban Climate Insurgency (An issue of Social Text, 150).  Editors: Ashley Dawson, Marco Armiero, Ethemcan Turhan and Roberta Biasillo.

Waste: One Woman's Fight Against America's Dirty Secret.  Catherin Coleman Flowers.

Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluges.  Erica Gies.

Why Veganism Matters: The Moral Value of Animals.  Gary L. Francione.

Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World.  Emma Marris.

PANDEMIC LITERATURE

Dear Vaccine:  Global Voices Speak to the Pandemic (poetry). Naomi Shihab Nye, David Hassler and Tyler Meier.

Natural Immunity and Covid-19: What it is and How it Can Save Your Life.  William A. Haseltine and Josephine Gurch.

Next Time  There's a Pandemic.  Vivek Shraya.

Omicron: From Pandemic to Epidemic.  The Future of Covid-19.  William A. Haseltine and Griffin McCombs.  An on-line e-Book updated regularly.

Plagues & Pencils: A Year of Pandemic Sketches.  Edward Carey.

Variants: The Shape-Shifting Challenge of Covid-19.  William A. Haseltine.  An e-book updated regularly.

Victories Never Last: Reading and Caregiving in a Time of Plague.  Robert Zaretsky.

The World the Plague Made: The Black Death and the Rise of Europe.  James Belich.

6/2022 CCC: Rights of Nature Movement

                                          June 2022 Creation Corner Column 

                                            The Rights of Nature Movement

"Learn to Love Our Planet the Way God Does" is a description of a new book,  A Christian's Guide to Planet Earth: Why It Matters and How To Care For It, by Betsy Painter.

God has a covenant with his creation; what is our covenant with God's creation?   The Green Bible (2008) helps us understand the Bible's powerful message for the earth, and we can look to the secular rights of nature movement to discern how we might try to express our responsibility, as God's agents, to care for the integrity of God's creation.

The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) is one example of such an effort.  Founded by Thomas Linzey (full disclosure, my acquaintance with him dates to the 1990s), a recent article by Elizabeth Kolbert in The New Yorker of April 18, 2022, "Testing the Waters: Should the natural world have rights?" is an interesting overview of CELDF's history and attempts to fulfill its mission.

Also noted therein is a law review article and book profiling the efforts of Christopher Stone, "Should Trees Have Standing?---Toward Legal Rights for Natural Objects".

Worth mentioning too is the recent special issue on the environment published by The Progressive magazine of  April/May 2022, wherein one finds the "Vox Populist" column by Jim Hightower, "Protecting the Rights of Nature",  that surveys worldwide enactment of enforceable Rights of Nature provisions.

As Bill McKibben (founder of 350.org) notes in his June 2022 "Deep Economy" column article, "The Greatest Dereliction of Duty", in Sojourners magazine, we've "...long known that we needed to do something about climate change---after all, the Arctic is melting, which seems like the kind of sign that doesn't require much interpretation."

Further, as the McKibben article "pull-quote" emphasizes, "We must take evil seriously when it arises, not putting it off in the hope that someone else will take it on."

One example  of climate change deniers and doubters is profiled in a new PBS Frontline docuseries, "The Power of Big Oil".

Finally, as the motivating description of reasons for reading the new book by Martin Puchner, Literature for a Changing Planet, puts it: "Why we must learn to tell new new stories about our relationship with the earth if we are to avoid climate  catastrophe."

That sentence expresses, in my estimation, what the purpose of  Lutherans Restoring Creation is.

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5/22 CCC: Reasons for Hope

                                   5/22 Creation Corner Column: Reasons for Hope.

Hope is a discipline.  Our job is to cultivate hope.   Mariame Kaba.

THIRD ACT: Our Time is Now!  A new organization, Third Act, is mobilizing the generation (Boomers, born 1946-1964) with the most political and economic influence to fight for a working climate, among other priorities.  Such "experienced Americans", some seventy Americans over the age of 60 are being encouraged by environmentalist and United Methodist layman Bill McKibben to help stabilize the climate.  See their home page.

RESTRAINT OF GLOBAL HEATING IS POSSIBLE IF ALL MEASURES TAKEN.

For the first time, the world is in a position to limit global heating below 2C, according to the first in-depth analysis of the net zero pledges made by nations at the UN COP26 climate summit in December.

Before these pledges, a temperature rise above 2C was almost inevitable, bringing more severe effects for billions of people.  Now it is more likely that the peak rise will be about 1.9C.  However, the researchers said this depended on all nations implementing their pledges on time and in full, and warned that the policies to do that were not in place.  The pledges include some that developing countries have said will happen only with more financial and technical support.  (Source: The Guardian Weekly, 22 April 2022.)

RECENT TITLES

Climates, Habitats, Environments.  Edited by Ute Meta Bauer.

From Big Oil to Big Green: Holding the Oil Industry to Account for the Climate Crisis.  Marco Grasso.

Natura Urbana: Ecological Constellations in Urban Space.  Matthew Gandy.

Pandora's Toolbox: The Hopes and Hazards of Climate Intervention.  Wake Smith.

The Pivotal Generation: Why We Have a Moral Responsibility to Slow Climate Change Right Now.  Henry Shue.

Rewilding: The Radical New Science of Ecological Recovery, The Illustrated Edition.  Paul Jepson and Cain Blythe.

Waste: One Woman's Fight Against America's Dirty Secret.  Catherine Coleman Flowers.

From the "Earth, Inc." cover story of TIME magazine for April 28/May 2, 2022:

ESG refers to  prioritizing environmental, social, and corporate governance concerns in investing.

COP26 Coalition: a climate-justice group.

"Ecopreneurs" are environmentally focused entrepreneurs taking risks for the critical work of fossil-fuel reduction and increased awareness.  Such individuals, innovators and businesses around the world help promote technical and nature-based projects, develop new energy sources, and support climate-vulnerable communities around the world.

Examples of climate terminology in corporate 10-K SEC filings:

Climate change references include broad climate terms (climate change, global warming, climate crisis); climate effects (sea levels, biodiversity, wildfires, extreme weather); climate causes (greenhouse gases, CO2, carbon emissions, methane).

Corporate ideals include sustainable principles (ESG, closed loop and other sustainability-jargon terms); climate goals (net zero, carbon-neutral, decarbonize); social responsibility (fair trade, social impact, shared value).

Corporate actions include energy transition (clean energy, renewables, energy efficiency); climate measurement (assessment terms such as carbon footprint, Scope 3, SASB or the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board); Offsets (compensating references for emissions, such as carbon capture, carbon pricing).

TIME Magazine has a 2030 committee project that will mark this decade's progress toward a better world and offer solutions for change.

                                                                    -30-

                                          Creation Corner Column for April 2022

            ANNIVERSARIES AND MORE THINGS TO DO FROM "YES!" MAGAZINE

ANNIVERSARIES

Celebrating 20 years and certifying hundreds of millions of dollars to environmental causes, while focusing on the next 20 years ahead is 1% For The Planet.  Everyone has a 1% to give for a better future.  Learn how you can get involved at onepercentfortheplanet.org .

It is the fortieth year in print for "ORION: People and Nature" ad-free quarterly magazine, publishing some of the best writing on the environment.  Go to orionmagazine.org .

Final List of "Things You Can Do Help In The Climate Crisis" from the Small Works column by Sarah Lazarovic in "YES! magazine: Journalism for People Building a Better World," used with permission.  See prior monthly Creation Corner Column blogs for earlier entries to this list of 100.

Talk climate all the time.

Two words: Refrigerant management.

Two more words: Methane management.

Start a climate book club.

Compost! Mulch!

Tell big polluters how you really feel.

Decarbonize shipping.  Don't choose 2-day.

Avoid shipping by shopping locally.

Electrify everything.

Consider community solar.

Start a community food garden.

Gardeners: Know thy cover crops.

Plastic is a fracking product.  Pass it on.

Reduce your use of plastic.

Pressure politicians to up their emissions targets.

Earth stuff 101: Read! Read! Read!

Dispel climate disinfo.

Understand off sets and their limitations (not guilt-free!).

Choose low-carbon, high-nature activities.

Support innovative tech solutions.

Listen to those who are most affected by the climate crisis.

Follow the money.

Learn from Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Take science tips from Katharine Hayhoe

Preach action, not doom.

"Remember that you are alive at just the right moment to change everything."  Eric Holthaus.

Take care of yourself so you can take care of the planet!

Forthcoming Events, Dates, Anniversaries

Sunday, June 5 is World Environment Day.  The 2022 theme, in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) is "Only One Earth", with a focus on shifting to more sustainable, greener lifestyles. This year marks 50 years since the first UN conference at Stockholm in 1972 that led to the creation of the UNEP and the designation of June 5 as World Environment Day (WED) every year.  This year the event will be hosted in Sweden.

June 1, Orca Action Month

June 8, World Oceans Day

June 19, Juneteenth 

July 1, 120th anniversary of Chickasaw National Recreation Area

July 2, International Save the Vaquita Day

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3/22 CCC: April Earth Day etc. events; Things to Do; Calendar dates

 

                                                March 2022 Creation Corner Column

                                   Upcoming March & April dates for meaningful events

March 31, 2022 On-line and free: A Q&A discussion with climate scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe on her case for hope and healing in a divided world.  Where do we begin?  What do we say when people are skeptical?  How do we stay hopeful in the face of some overwhelming trends?  And what is our call as Christians?  AustinSeminary.edu/savingus .

April 22, 2022, Friday is the 52nd anniversary celebration of Earth Day.  Look for events in your community, and check for your religious denomination's web sites, and/or see these web sites:

1.  "Invest In Our Planet: What Will You Do? theme materials at the earthday.org site.

2. Earth Day activities for churches via progressivechurchmedia.com/earthday2022

3. "Happy Mother Earth's Day: Save Earth to Save Many Lives" via earthreminder.com

4.GodSpaceLight

5.epa.gov.earthday 

6. earthdayinitiative.org (virtual stage)

7. greenmatters.com 

8. umcmission.org  resources from the United Methodist Church 

9. sciencemoms.com 

10. creationcare.org from the Evangelical Environmental Network

11. LutheransRestoringCreation.org 2022 Earth Day Virtual Worship

12. CreationJustice.org Weathering the Storm with Faithful Climate Resilience stories. 2022 resource download includes Bible stories, sermon starters, a liturgy, and action steps. 10 pages.  

April 24---May 1, 2022 (both Sundays) Soil and Water Stewardship Week theme is "Healthy Soil: Healthy Life" sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts, with many educational materials for pastors, Sunday Schools, etc.  Go to nacd.net/general-resources/stewardship-and-education-materials/stewardship-outreach-materials-churches/ .  In past years materials included a litany and program insert, educator and church leader guides, student booklets, placemats and activity guides, posters and bookmarks.

April 29, 2022, Friday is Arbor Day (always the last Friday in April).  The first national proposal for tree planting took place 150 years ago, 1872, in Nebraska, and since 1972 the Arbor Day Foundation has inspired people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.  Look for activities in your area for this 150th and 50th anniversary. The theme this year: "Trees are Terrific...For Today and Tomorrow."  ArborDay.org 

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More things you can do to help in the climate crisis (List derived from the "100 Things You Can Do to Help in the Climate Crisis" column "Small Works" by Sarah Lazarovic in the Winter 2022 issue of YES! Journalism for People Building a Better World, with permission).  To be continued in future columns. (Note: YES! magazine in 25 years has produced 4 periodicals per year=100 issues).

Buy just enough

Live smaller

Nix "natural" gas

Green your banking

Green your investments

Pay a little extra to purchase clean energy from your utility

Plant for pollinators

Grow your own food

Write climate letters to your paper and call in to radio shows

Demand better climate coverage

Make climate an issue at local debates and council meetings

Minimize municipal red tape to implement net-zero solutions

Volunteer to make your community more resilient

Help those around you find low-carbon solutions

Adopt new technology that will inspire your neighbors

Ask your landlord to make green retrofits

Participate in peaceful civil disobedience (sorry to block the intersection but enjoy our climate dance!) 

Learn from indigenous land guardians

Learn about the land you're on

Share emissions data (Psst!, We're the biggest emitters)

Hot new options: Solar, geothermal, a heat pump!

Donate to trusted climate organizations (Q.: R U Legit?, A.: Yep!)

Volunteer! Volunteer! Volunteer!

Organize! Organize! Organize!

Join! Join! Join!

Some of the above are big, some are small; pick your thing, don't do them all.  The crisis is large and often bleak, but find your strength with action each week.

Upcoming Calendar Dates to Notice/Observe

April 10 Florida Gopher Tortoise Day

April 22 Earth Day

April 25 Defenders of Wildlife Anniversary, founded in 1947

April 24-May 1 Soil and Water Stewardship Week (nacd.net)

April 25 75th Anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

April 29 Arbor Day, began 150 years ago, 50 years ago the Foundation for it began

May 6   115th Anniversary of Lassen Volcanic National Park

May 14  World Migratory Bird Day

May 15-21 Bear Awareness Week

May 20 Endangered Species Day

May 22 120th Anniversary of Crater National Park

May 23 World Turtle Day

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Mike Ochs finds common ground between religion and politics in his concern for the environment.

Politically he self-published the first "Greens Bibliography" of the English-language literature on the international Green Party movement (1989), the project for his Master of Liberal Arts in International Studies degree at Lock Haven (PA) University. He also helped plant the seeds for the Green Party of PA at that time, and remains a cyber-activist with it.

For a monthly newsletter of the ecumenical United Churches of Lycoming County (PA), he has written the "Creation Corner Column" since 1997.  It became a blog in 2011 at 

http://lutheransrestoringcreationblog.blogspot.com/

He received a B.A. degree from Gettysburg College in 1965.

2/22 CCC: Lunar New Year, Anniversaries, Help Climate Crisis

 

                     Creation Corner Column for February 2022

Lunar New Year; Quotes, Anniversaries; Help the Climate Crisis; 2022 dates; books

February 2022 marks the Chinese New Year of the Tiger.  "Today there are as few as 3,200 tigers remaining in the wild, with some subspecies in rapid decline.  Three tiger subspecies have become extinct in just the last century!"  World Wildlife Fund.

Quotations for Consideration

"The end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience."

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"One day the absurdity of the almost universal human belief in the slavery of other animals will be palpable.  We shall then have discovered our souls and become worthier of sharing this planet with them."  Martin Luther King, Jr. 

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

Albert Einstein.

Anniversaries

50th (1971-2021) for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that you may associate with the name Morris Dees, its founder.  Based in Montgomery Alabama, its Vision Statement is "A world in which everyone can thrive and the ideals of equity, justice, and liberation are a reality for all."

Its mission statement is that "The SPLC is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people."

Also celebrating 50 years is the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), America's Food and Health Watchdog.  CSPI "envisions a healthy population with reduced impact and burden of preventable diseases and an equitable food system that makes healthy, sustainable food accessible to all.  CSPI values independence, scientific rigor, and transparency."

Among its 2022 priorities are emphases on food labeling, navigating the COVID crisis, improving access to nutritious food, additive dangers (salt, sugar, chemicals, dyes), food supply safeguards, etc.

Ocean Conservancy notes its 50th year in 2022.  As a non-profit environmental advocacy group  located in Washington, D.C., it helps formulate ocean policy at the federal and state levels, based on peer reviewed science.  Projects include trash-free seas; coastal clean-ups; sea turtle, whale shark, and manatee protection; and initiatives to replace the single-use plastic retail bag, among other efforts..

Defenders of Wildlife celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.  Founded in 1947, it is one of the country's leaders i science-based, results-oriented wildlife conservation.  Its mission is to protect all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities.  Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Defenders has field offices all around the country and represents nearly 1.8 members and supporters nationwide.

Common Cause at its 50th year continues to promote participatory democracy, acts against the spread of disinformation, helps shift the power away from wealthy special interests in formulating public policies, and works on behalf of people everywhere whose voices and perspectives too often get lost in the politics and actions of elected and appointed officials seeking to secure and consolidate unearned power.

Greenpeace, on its 50th anniversary, is known for not accepting money from corporations or government, thus permitting it to pursue peaceful protest, non-violent action, and creative communication in advocacy for people and the planet as it challenges the systems of power and privilege that result in pollution and the prioritization of profits.

Among its campaigns are those that put our economy on a climate-safe trajectory, protecting at least 30% of the high seas as ocean sanctuaries by 2030, and tackling the drivers of deforestation.  One recent report is "The Climate Emergency Unpacked: How Consumer Goods Companies are Fueling Big Oil's Plastic Expansion".

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Twenty-five things you can do to help in the climate crisis.  "Some are big, some are small; pick your thing, don't do them all.  The crisis is large and often bleak, but find your strength with action each week."

Vote for real climate action.

Hold your leaders accountable.

Commend politicians when they support meaningful change.

Share and contextualize important climate stories.

Encourage friend to talk about the climate crisis.

Amplify climate voices.

Call out companies with poor environmental stewardship.

Understand emissions.

Tackle your biggest household emissions: fleet, heat, meat.

Can you go far without a car?

Push for public transit, safe streets, and more bike lanes.

Hey Leader, clean the grid (please).

Insulate, insulate, insulate.

Plug your leaks.

Change your lights.

Fly less (or not at all).

Eat less meat.

Waste less food.

Eat what's in season.

Understand your carbon footprint, because individual action inspires systemic change (and because the average American emits 2.5x as much as someone in the United Kingdom).

Replace clothes and devices less often.

Mend before you spend.

Maintain your things.

Don't idle. Don't pollute.

Combine trips.

(List derived from the "100 Things You Can Do to Help in the Climate Crisis" column "Small Works" by Sarah Lazarovic in the Winter 2022 issue of Yes! Journalism for People Building a Better World, with permission).  To be continued in future columns.

Calendar Dates in 2022 Worthy of Consideration, past, present, and future.

January 10, 5th anniversary of Harriet Tubman National Historical Park

January 13, 5th anniversary of  Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

January 24, 100th Anniversary of Great Basin National Park

February 11, International Day of Women and Girls in Science

February 22, World Spay Day

February 27, International Polar Bear Day

March 3, World Wildlife day

March 8, International Women's Day

March 19, Save the Florida Panther Day

March 20-26 Lobo Week

March 22, World Water Day

March 30, Manatee Awareness Day

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Climate Change Books Worth Considering

The Case for Climate Hope.  Katharine Hayhoe.

Fire and Flood: A People's History of Climate Change.  Eugene Linden.

Environmental  Books Worth Considering

Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace.  Carl Safina.

Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel.  Carl Safina.

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Mike Ochs finds common ground between religion and politics in his concern for the environment.

Politically he self-published the first "Greens Bibliography" of the English-language literature on the international Green Party movement (1989), the project for his Master of Liberal Arts in International Studies degree at Lock Haven (PA) University. He also helped plant the seeds for the Green Party of PA at that time, and remains a cyber-activist with it.

For a monthly newsletter of the ecumenical United Churches of Lycoming County (PA), he has written the "Creation Corner Column" since 1997.  It became a blog in 2011 at 

http://lutheransrestoringcreationblog.blogspot.com/

He received a B.A. degree from Gettysburg College in 1965.

1/'22 CCC: New Year Quotes, a MOOC, Creation Care, Pandemic Lit

                                     January 2022 Creation Corner Column

   New Year's Resolutions/Quotations; MOOC; Creation Care Viewpoint; Pandemic Lit.

Quotations for Resolutions in the New Year

"Drop the Patents" sign on a carboard coffin carried during a demonstration against Covid-19 patents in London on October 12, 2021, also signs  "A Grave Injustice" and "Greed Kills."

"You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.  You have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."   Jane Goodall, UN Messenger of Peace. Quoted in the 12/21 newsletter from the Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter.

"Everything that is done in the world is done by hope."  Martin Luther. First quote in the adult coloring book issued by the (Jacques) Cousteau Society.

"In the Face of Climate Change, We Must Act So That We Can Feel Hopeful---Not the Other Way Around."   Katharine Hayhoe, Christian and Climate Scientist, quoted in a recent letter from CERES (Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies).

"We seek a world free of war and the threat of war.  We seek a society with equity and justice for all.  We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled.  We seek an earth restored."  Friends Committee on National Legislation (fcnl.org).

"What God requires of us is that we not stop trying."  Bayard Rustin (1912-1987).

"If you assume that there is no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope.  If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, that there are opportunities to change things, then there is a possibility that you can contribute to making a better world.  The choice is yours."  Noam Chomsky.

"Put your heart, mind, and soul into even you smallest acts.  This is the secret of success."  Swami Sivananda (1887-1963).

"You are never too small to make a difference."  Greta Thunberg, young Swedish climate activist.

"The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it." Katharine Hayhoe.

Free Online Course

"Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community" can be found at fore.yale.edu/online-courses.  It is what is known as a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course).  This one is sponsored by the Forum on Religion and Ecology, based at Yale University, hosted by Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim (formerly at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, where I first met them).

A retired ELCA pastor's view of creation care:

"When God spoke creation into being, God's grace was woven into the world's fabric.  Creation's ecology, which is just right for sustaining life, is God's grace made flesh.  Yet as scientists have shown, a habitable planet is a rare occurrence.  We believe that amazing occurrence is a gift from a loving God.  This giftedness of a just-right creation also is God's grace.

We sing our praise of God for this just-right planet.  But we live out our praise as we tend Earth's diverse life, so that creation flourishes.  Life serving life is the best praise."

From the December 31, 2021 meditation by writer Wendy Wirth-Brock, in "The Word in Season" from Augsburg Fortress Publishers.

Announcements

The annual report of the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, linking river towns with education and outreach, land and water trails, may be found at their web site susquehannagreenway.org .

From the Archives:  The Spring 2007 issue of MS. Magazine featured a cover story, "Heat's On---We Respond: Rising Up To Stop Global Warming" with a story by Laura Orlando, "The Melting Point."

New Titles re: COVID-19 Pandemic

After the Virus:  Lessons from the Past for a Better Future.  Hilary Cooper and Simon Szreter.

Breathtaking: Inside the NHS in a Time of Pandemic.  Rachel Clarke.

The Covid Consensus: The New Politics of Global Inequality.  Toby Green.

Covid by Numbers: Making Sense of the Pandemic with Data.  David Spiegelhalter and Anthony Masters.

The Enablers: How Team Trump Flunked the Pandemic and Failed  America.  Barbara Kellerman.

Failures of State: The Inside Story of Britain's Battle with Coronavirus.  Jonathan Calvert and George Arbuthnott.

Intensive Care: A GP, a Community & a Pandemic. Gavin Francis.

Life Support: Diary of an ICU Doctor on the Frontline of the Covid Crisis.  JIm Down.

New Pandemics, Old Politics: Two Hundred Years of War on Disease and Its Alternatives.  Alex de Waal.

Plagues Upon the Earth: Disease and the Course of Human History.  Kyle Harper.

Shutdown: How Covid Shook the World's Economy.  Adam Tooze.

Spike: The Virus Vs. The :People---The Inside Story.  Sir Jeremy Farrar and Anjana Ahuja.

The Spirit of Green: The Economics of Collisions and Contagions in a Crowded World.  William D. Nordhaus.

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