So last night dh and I finally saw An Inconvenient Truth.
One note: I know some are not fans of Al Gore. I won't discuss politics here. I am pretty neutral right now, but I did realize that the documentary was pretty politicized, since I guess, it was his movie.
I have also heard bad rep on him, as in that he has a huge house, that consumes more than four middle class homes together, something like that...let me just say this: that is really sad if it is the truth, and it is a shame, but we know there will be hypocrites. For example: that the church has a bunch of phonies is old news...but that does not diminish the truth about Jesus Christ.
That there are hypocritical politicians...that is definitely everyday news....but that we are excessive greedy people...that is still sadly the truth.
Since I was young, I remember talking about pollution, and its effects on nature, on ourselves, on our health. On our quality of life. Especially on our future. That pollution is bad, is a problem for the earth and for all humans has been know for decades. What have we done? It seems not much. Because it takes everyone to take action and to make changes.
Now that I have a child, for some reason, I feel even more strongly about taking care of the earth I live in. This home away from home. What legacy will I leave?
I think that for us modern rich westerners of the 21st century it is truly an 'inconvenient truth'...and I won't shy away from saying it is for all the business that make money off of unsustainable and polluting industries and technologies.
The equation is this: old habits x new technologies = unexpected and devastating consequences. In everyday popular media literature you will read all sorts of reviews about what is going on with climate change and other environmental concerns. But not so from scholarly journals, the ones that are reviewed by scientist and experts from all positions in life. Is there a change? Well...JRR Tolkien already realize that there was last century when he wronte The Lord of the Rings Trilogy! I might not sense it b/c I was born way past the industrial revolution (as all of us who are reading this of course)...and that is why it is inconvinient in so many ways. We need to learn ways that were not taught to us, we need to learn new healthier and moral habits about recycling, reusing, or just plain stop using. We need to change our patterns, and stop wasting, wasting, wasting our resources. We have so much, too much....cutting back wont' take away what we love, what we live for. I believe it will give back much much more. It will give back life, life for us, for the future generations, for the millions of people who are hurting because of our waste.
Mr. Gore, for all his faults, talks about morality, how it is an ethical, moral issue, this global warming, this pollution we are creating. What I have never understood is why Christians might think that this isnt' a moral issue, that it doesn't affect our lives as Christians. If we are hurting the earth, who are we hurting if not earthlings? Could we be hurting the heart, grieving the Spirit of God too? He created us, created the world....the heavens and the earth...
And it was good. Are we treating it as something good? Or are we taking so much advantage of it, just to profit, just to use and throw away?
There is nothing unChristian about it. I just wish we would take a greater stand. I am going to. Not because it is the cool thing to do. Because it is the right thing to do.
Here is one thing I have stop doing: using plastic bags at the grocery store, but bringing my own, and not using plastic bottles (or reusing the ones I have). Plastic is one of the most toxic waste we have, for it takes a very long time to disintegrate, and as it does it lets out a lot of bad chemicals.
