Signs of the Times & a CBC Poll

Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.

Charles Dudley Warner (September 12, 1829 – October 20, 1900)

 Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens.  You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
 Luke 12:54-56 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Canadians seem to be finally waking up to the urgency of climate, which is resulting in climate chaos and global heating. An increasing number of faith communities are aware that this is a spiritual issue both practical in the day-to-day, an existential threat, and an affront to God, the Creator. How willing are we to alter our lifestyles though, to undergo the conversion which will make a difference for generations to come. Here are some of the results of a CBC poll of 4,500 Canadians. There is both encouragement and disappoint.

Where do you fit in all of this, and does your Christian faith influence your outlook?

Canadians are deeply concerned about climate change and are willing to make adjustments in their lives to fight it — but for many people, paying as much as even a monthly Netflix subscription in extra taxes is not one of them, a new poll suggests.
The survey results, the first in a series from a poll commissioned by CBC News and conducted by Public Square Research and Maru/Blue to capture a portrait of the country in this election year, found that while nearly two-thirds of Canadians see fighting climate change as a top priority, half of those surveyed would not shell out more than $100 per year in taxes to prevent climate change, the equivalent of less than $9 a month.
The findings point to a population that is both gravely concerned about the heating of the planet but largely unprepared to make significant sacrifices in order to stave off an environmental crisis.
The CBC News poll, which was conducted online between May 31 and June 10, interviewing 4,500 Canadians who are members of the Maru/Blue panel, found that 19 per cent of Canadians listed climate change as the issue they are most worried about — second only to the cost of living, which topped the list at 32 per cent.
That concern appears to be deeply felt by many Canadians — and particularly younger Canadians — as 38 per cent of respondents said that "our survival depends on addressing" climate change and 25 per cent said it is a top priority. Another 20 per cent said "it's important, but not a top priority," while 11 per cent said it wasn't a priority.

 

Only six per cent of respondents said they did not believe in climate change.
The poll also found 65 per cent of respondents agreeing with the statement "Canada is not doing enough to fight climate change," topping out at 76 per cent in Quebec.

Canadians say they are willing to do more

To help prevent climate change, three-quarters of Canadians polled said they were willing to make major (25 per cent) or some (50 per cent) changes in what they do in their daily lives. Only four per cent said they were not willing to do anything, while 15 per cent said they don't need to make changes as they already have a small carbon footprint.
 
The poll asked those respondents who said they were willing to make changes in their lives what they were willing to do or had already done.

Most Canadians are concerned about the impacts of climate change. One of those potential impacts is increased flooding in certain parts of the country. The  most popular options were buying local (75 per cent) and reducing the thermostat (66 per cent), while 55 per cent said they were willing to purchase fewer things in general. Just under half, or 47 per cent, said they would be willing to drive less, while 37 per cent would take public transit or use a bicycle more often.These options were the more convenient, less expensive and, in some cases, cost-saving ones when compared to the actions Canadians were less willing to take.Just 34 per cent said they would go without air conditioning, 30 per cent would purchase a vehicle with an energy-saving mode and 25 per cent would fly less frequently. Fewer than one in five respondents who were willing to make changes to their lives said they would purchase an electric car (20 per cent), move to a smaller house or apartment (19 per cent) or give up eating meat (17 per cent).Combined with the survey's findings of such a high level of concern about the cost of living — it ranked as both Canadians' biggest worry and their top election issue — the numbers suggest that while Canadians care about climate change, their financial concerns are more important.Still, only six per cent said they'd like to make changes in their lives to fight climate change but "can't afford it."

Trinity Uncontained

 

 

 

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
 Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
 holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
 God in three persons, blessed Trinity!


With the Church through the ages,

we speak of God as one and triune:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We also speak of God as
   Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer
   God, Christ, and Spirit
   Mother, Friend, and Comforter
   Source of Life, Living Word, and Bond of Love,
   and in other ways that speak faithfully of
the One on whom our hearts rely,
the fully shared life at the heart of the universe.

Song of Faith -- United Church of Canada 2006

It's always a tough choice to ditch church but we have been hankering to get out on the water for a couple of weeks so headed to the Salmon River north of Napanee early in the day. Our put-in spot near Roblin gives access to a portion of the river where there are no buildings and often (today included) we see no other human beings. We were in our kayaks for 2 1/2 hours, taking some breaks to experience what was a deep solitude with very little “anthrophony" (sounds made by humans) and a lovely choir of  “biophony” (sounds made by any other living organisms).

The experience was deeply worshipful and at one point Ruth sang the opening verse of the traditional hymn Holy Holy Holy. She didn't know that this is Trinity Sunday but she intuitively got it right in this cathedral of water and trees and creatures great and small. The breath of the Spirit moved gently over the waters and in the treetops, we had a profound sense of the interrelationship of Creator and Creatures, and we celebrated God-with-Us in human experience through Christ -- all without actually articulating any Trinitarian creed or formula.

On our drive back to Belleville Ruth found the lyrics of the hymn and the final verse which proclaims:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
 All thy works shall praise thy name in earth
  and sky and sea;
 holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
 God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Amen!

Stemming the Tide of Plastic

Yesterday our plan was to paddle on the Salmon River but the strong breeze and wind gusts convinced us to visit Lodge Point in Sandbanks Provincial Park for a ramble instead. It certainly wasn't a hardship to go with Plan B. With wind there are waves, a spectacular gift of sight and sound. Sadly, the water level remains destructively high in Lake Ontario and one beach has all but disappeared. The high water mark is a jumble of litter, including a lot of plastic. We're told that plastic has become a terrible problem in our oceans but we saw, first hand, that the same is true for one of our Great Lakes.

I was encouraged that the federal government in Canada announced a ban on single use plastics by 2021, which may be an unattainable goal, but a good one. The cynic in me wonders if this a response to proposals in the environmental plans of both the Green Party and the NDP. In some respects the motivation doesn't matter. It's the implementation which is important.



1963

We've talked a lot as a couple about the proliferation of plastics since our childhoods in the late 50's and 60's. We grew up in a world of paper bags and sandwiches in waxed paper and tiny wooden spoons and stir sticks. Oh, and actual cutlery and crockery. Still, the use of plastics was on the rise, And t

here's no point in insisting that was an ideal time -- Ruth commented recently about the disturbing amount of roadside litter when we were young and communities didn't organize Trash Bash clean-ups. Still, we have to do better and I'm pleased to see the feds making an effort. Let's also remember that parties such as the Greens have been "salt and light" in nudging us toward positive change. Hey, I had to work in a biblical metaphor!



Theo Moudakis Toronto Star

Faith for Creation in Downtown Toronto

Faith for Creation in Downtown TO

I heard Cheri De Novo on CBC radio this morning and realized that she was speaking as the Rev. Cheri rather than as an NDP politician in Ontario. She hasn't been an MPP for a couple of years, but I hope I can be forgiven for the challenge of keeping up with De Novo. What an active and varied life! In her early years she was a street person for several years, eventually ran a successful corporate head-hunting business, and eventually studied for the ministry. It was while she was in a ground-breaking ministry in Toronto that she decided to enter politics. She eventually left and returned to minister for the Trinity-St. Paul's Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts.  



Rev. Cheri De Novo

Today she was talking about the climate crisis and the planned rally/protest/awareness raiser involving a number of faith leaders in the heart of Toronto. Here is the notice for the event:

FAITH FOR CREATION: Declare a Climate Crisis

Monday, June 10, 2019 - 5:45pm to 6:15pm

Yonge & Dundas, Toronto
 

Faith Leaders and Extinction Rebellion Toronto call for action! 

Gather on the corners of Yonge & Dundas at 5:45 p.m.
At 6:00 p.m. sharp, we will occupy the intersection for 15 minutes.

Mike Layton, City Councillor for University-Rosedale
Rabbi Aviva Goldberg, Congregation Shir Libeynu
Imam El-Farouk Khaki, Masjid el-Tawhid - Toronto - Unity Mosque
Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, Trinity-St Paul's United Church & Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts

Extinction Rebellion Toronto  with Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

 

 I appreciated that De Novo talked openly in the interview about how the climate crisis is a spiritual issue with a strong biblical mandate. It is essential that faith leaders step forward to take a role in this pivotal time and while this will take different forms, including within our worship life, we must act.

 

I'm not expecting that this demonstration will usurp Raptor fever, but at least they'll be in the right part of  the city!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oceans of Life

Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam sheh-a-sah et ha-yam ha-gadol.

Blessed are you, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, who made the great sea.

Jewish Prayer

Our plan is to spend time this Summer/Fall by the ocean, which we do virtually every year. There is something extraordinary about being alongside and on saltwater. For us it is a spiritual experience, a connection with Creator and Creation unlike anything else. Being by the ocean is a powerful sensory experience as well, and the rhythm of the tides is both ordinary and mystical.



This is World Oceans Day and here are some facts, both astonishing and ugly.

Half of the planet’s oxygen comes from oceans
Oceans host 80% of life on Earth
Oceans are the planet’s largest carbon sink

Nearly 13,000,000 tonnes of plastic leaks into the oceans every year
 One million seabirds are killed every year by the plastic
At this rate, plastic will outweigh fish by 2050

We can all say a prayer for the mighty oceans of life.
https://www.greeningtheblue.org/event/world-oceans-day



 Children at the seaside --Willem Boshoff

An Inuit Climate Strategy

Today Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna, will make an announcement on an Inuit-led climate change strategy. Scientists tell us that the Arctic is warming at two to three times the rate of the lower regions of Canada, an alarming data-driven claim.

I immediately wonder why the southern, non-Inuit minister is making the announcement but as I read I was encouragted that it will be the Inuit people who will be at the centre of this initiative. Today's press conference will include the release of a 48-page document with a comprehensive plan addressing all aspects of Inuit life. Natan Obed of the Inuit Tapariit Kanatami says that this is more than a policy statement for people of the North. It is a matter of life and death for people still inextricably connected to the natural world.


Natan Obed

I am encouraged to hear about this, and it reminds me of Sheila Watt Cloutier's powerful book, The Right to be Cold. I read it and blogged about it in 2015 (link below). In that reflection I said: 

The Right to be Cold is also a spiritual book, something I did not expect. Watt-Cloutier describes how the "country food" of the traditional diet not only fuels those who live in a harsh climate, it is almost sacramental for her and her people. She notes as well that learning to hunt instills spiritual values of patience and perseverance, and respect for all living things.

Not only do I pray that this climate change strategy will help ensure a healthy future for Inuit Canadians, I hope it will be a wake-up call for the rest of us, including the politicians in this country who just don't seem to appreciate the climate crisis and the spiritual crisis we all face.

http://lionlamb-bowmanville.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-spiritual-north.html

Climate Change Isn't Funny?

Smoke Haze Over Edmonton

The Tower of Babel

11 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.

  ² And as they migrated from the east,they came upon a plain

in the land of Shinar and settled there. 

 ³ And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.”

And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 

 ⁴ Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city,

and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves;

otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” 

 ⁵ The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. 

 ⁶ And the Lord said, “Look, they are one people, and they have all one language;

and this is only the beginning of what they will do;

nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 

 ⁷ Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there,

so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” 

 ⁸ So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth,

 and they left off building the city. 

 ⁹ Therefore it was called Babel,

because there the Lord confused^[ the language of all the earth;

and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

Genesis 11:1-9  (NRSV)

I've always figured that God has a wry sense of humour, otherwise we'd be a bunch of crispy critters, zapped by an exasperated deity.

Actually, the Creator may have been inviting us all into a belly laugh at the expense of Alberta's Premier Jason Kenney and his United Conservative Party...or is than Unhinged? As the legislature killed the carbon tax in the province, members were coughing due to the smoke in the air from wildfires which have displaced 10,000 people, destroyed homes, and disrupted business. While scientists say that anthropogenic climate change is a significant contributor to these fires Kenney intones that climate change is complex and that their have always been fires in Alberta.

My thought is that yes, climate change is complex, so listen to those whose lives are dedicated to understanding climate based on scientific evidence rather than ideology. And, yes, there have always been fires in British Columbia and Alberta, but not with this intensity and scope and starting so early in the season. We have friends who've lived in central BC for decades who wonder if they can stay because of the pall of smoke which hangs over their area all summer now. There is an urgency to this issue which is being ignored.



Tower of Babel Pieter Brueghel 1 16th C

There are some excellent stories in the early part of the book of Genesis which were probably never meant to be considered factual, but are true. One is the Tower of Babel where the hubris of people leads them to build a tower higher and higher to "make a name for themselves," only to be scattered by God in their confusion.

This story sure seems applicable today as we talk past one another about the future of Planet Earth. Surely God, Creator, Redeemer. Spirit is losing patience with our species, filled with false pride and speaking in circles. For me it's just not funny.