The Climate Majority

By Jon A. Krosnick

Read the Full Article in The New York Times

Urban woods important for migratory songbirds

Small wooded areas in urban settings may provide sufficient habitat for migrating birds, a new study shows.  Researchers at Ohio State University placed small radio transmitters on Swainson’s Rushes, a close relative of the common robin.  They found that even small sites less than 2 acres seemed to provide enough habitat and food during the resting stopovers of many of these birds during their migration between South America and Canada.

This study suggests that as urban sprawl continues, it may be extremely important to keep available to support migratory birds, even if these patches are small.   Co-author of this study Stephen Matthews said, “The good news is that the birds in our study seemed to be finding enough food in even the smaller urban habitats to refuel and continue their journey.”

Over four years, Matthews and fellow researcher Paul Rodewald glued tiny transmitters to the backs of the thrushes.  The transmitters eventually fall off as the bird loses feathers.  But the few weeks the transmitters stay attached provide information on where the birds are going and how they’re using the habitat.  Bird activity depended on the size of the woodlot, which varied from 1.7 to 94 acres, but also on the weather and the condition the bird was in.  Light birds tended to stay longer in a patch to forage for food and bulk up for the rest of the journey.

“These findings suggest that remnant forests within urban areas have conservation value for Swainson’s Thrushes and, potentially, other migrant landbirds,” said Rodewald.  “Obviously, larger forest patches are better, but even smaller ones are worth saving.”

Click here for the full story; posted on 6/12

Big Oil’s Chernobyl

“Need to Know host Jon Meacham speaks to Carl Safina, founding president of the Blue Ocean Institute, about the ecological and political fallout of the gulf oil spill, and what it might mean for America’s future as a world leader.”

Watch Carl Safina’s PBS interview; posted on 6/5/10

God Blessed Them First

By Ken Wilson

Maybe it’s time for us to take a step back from the shrill voices of the culture war, and consider the wisdom of the ages.

As the engineers seek to contain the gusher in the Gulf of Mexico, how do we get our hearts around what’s happening there? An ancient take on the world around us might help. Few people seem to notice that in the creation account of Genesis, chapter one, God blessed the sea creatures and the birds of the air—the very creatures affected by the British Petroleum oil spill—first. Yes, before any other blessing had been uttered over this blessed planet, God blessed them first. “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth….God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.’ “ (Genesis 1: 20, 22-23, TNIV) Anyone familiar with the Hebrew concept of blessing knows that any subsequent blessing cannot impinge on this first blessing. The second blessing, of course, is ours: “God created human beings in his image…God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky” (Genesis 1: 27-28) For better or worse, we are the dominant and dominating species on this planet. For better or worse, we rule. Increasingly, the other creatures thrive, survive or suffer, in the space we allow them. Our rule over the sea creatures and the flying birds in the Gulf of Mexico has missed the mark of our calling. We were the ones chanting “Drill Baby Drill” when the price of oil started to rise. We were the ones looking out for our own interests first, the blessed interests of the other creatures be damned. Maybe it’s time for us to take a step back from the shrill voices of the culture war, and consider the wisdom of the ages. What does it mean that God blessed them first?

Read the original article in the Salem-News.

Oil spill could damage Gulf region beyond repair

Workers are attempting to stop the flow of oil from the Deepwater Horizon wellhead.  However, if the cap doesn’t hold, millions more gallons of oil could spew into the Gulf of Mexico, causing the fragile ecosystems in the region to be altered permanently.

The Gulf region is home to dwindling areas of sea grass meadows, coral reefs, salt marshes and important commercial fisheries.  It also provides habitat and food for millions of migrating birds each year.  These habitats serve as home to many important foundation species, such as sea grasses, which provide habitat to many species of fishes and other organisms.  Marsh wetlands are especially vulnerable to oil because they have extensively channeled, possibly leading to oil reaching a greater area of wetland habitat.

If the oil is contained and the damage limited, it is possible that the hardest hit ecosystems will recover in just a few years.   “What worries me is that this could turn into a chronic problem, not just an episode,” said Louisina State University ecologist, James Cowan.

The Gulf ecosystem has suffered over the past century from damning of Mississippi River tributaries, extensive pollution and nutrient loading leading to harmful algal blooms and overfishing.  It is an ecosystem that is hardly pristine, but continues to support many coastal communities.  Healthy coastal ecosystems also act as barriers to coastal storm events, which is essential to an area that is likely to see increased numbers of hurricanes as the climate changes.

“If a perturbation is extensive enough, and lasts long enough, you can shift an ecosystem to an entirely different state,” says senior marine scientist, John Valentine, at the University of Alabama. Valentine stated that if the oil spill goes unchecked, “there could be serious consequences for foundation species.”

For the full story, click here. Posted on 5/12/10

Digging out of America’s energy deficit

America’s dependence on foreign oil—as well as our lack of renewable energy technology—has put us in a deep hole.  It is one that we will all need to work hard to dig out of.

For years, we have imported oil from foreign sources; the Middle East, Venezuela.  $1 billion is spent every day on imported oil and much of the oil tab is paid through loans from China.  This has led to a huge drain in our economy and even poses a national security risk if those oil sources are ever threatened.

In addition, the environmental aspects of oil dependence are staggering.  While China depends hugely on oil, it is racing ahead of the U.S. by developing renewable energy technology.  Over the past four years, China’s grip on the solar panel global market jumped from 3 to 50%!

Development of renewable energy technologies is one way to revive a sagging U.S. economy.  Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John Kerry (D-MA) are working on a bill to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  Their goals are to pursue renewable energy technologies, improve fuel economy and create jobs in new energy industries.

However, we need to tackle this issue as a unified country.  Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America and Larry Schweiger, president of the National Wildlife Federation write, “Divided, our energy policy will continue to serve those who profit from our oil dependency. Together, we can chart a new path on energy – that delivers greater security, more jobs and less pollution.”

See the full story by Roberta Combs, president and CEO of the Christian Coalition of America and Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.

posted on 5/3/10

Environmentalists look at 7 Earth Day lessons

The environmental movement has come a long way over the past 40 years, and still has far to go to create a sustainable planet for the long haul.  In his final post for the New York Times’ TierneyLab blog, John Tierney summarizes the 7 lessons learned by environmentalists, green stewards and Earth Day contributors worldwide.  Below is the summarized list.  While The Friendship Collaborative and the Blue Ocean Institute don’t agree with the entire summary, Tierney does make a few good points.

1. ‘It’s the climate, stupid.’ Earth Day originators didn’t have a handle on the problems that global warming would bring.  Instead, they lamented about catastrophic diseases, overpopulation, and the complete use of all fossil fuels on the planet.  While these events didn’t manifest themselves as they originally thought, global warming has presented itself as the #1 environmental problem of the century. 

2. ‘You can never not do just one thing.’ Many people resisted new technologies throughout the 1970’s and 80’s that would have advanced ‘clean’ nuclear power.  In effect, this lead to the increased demand for fossil fuels.  In effect, opposition to one environmental problem can create another.

3. ‘“Let them eat organic” is not a global option.’ Organic food has come to be seen as a luxury of the affluent.  Organic farming utilizes more acreage, demonstrates no scientifically proven health benefits over non-organic counterparts and discourages poorer nations from growing low-cost foods to feed their citizens.  The better alternative: buy local.

4. ‘Frankenfood, like Frankenstein, is fiction.’ The fears of “Frankenfoods” have prevented genetically modified foods from reaching store shelves throughout Europe.  However, the initial fears about these products have yet to be confirmed.  In fact, genetically modified foods have been mostly beneficial by reducing the need for pesticides and herbicides and by lowering growing costs to farmers.

5. ‘“Green” energy hasn’t done much for greenery — or anything else.’ Simply put, renewable energy from wind and sun account for only 1 percent of the energy used in the country.

6. ‘“New Nukes” is the new “No Nukes.”’ Climate scientist James Hansen stated, “One of the greatest dangers the world faces is the possibility that a vocal minority of antinuclear activists could prevent phase-out of coal emissions.”  Several vocal environmental groups are now supporting the development of small-scale nuclear reactors in order to reduce our dependence on coal and natural gas, while many groups still remain opposed to the development of nuclear power.

7. ‘We are as gods and have to get good at it.’

For the full post, click here.  posted on 4/28/10

Hope for Creation: A Live Simulcast

On Wednesday April 21, the eve of the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day, you can partner with Blessed Earth to share an international simulcast, Hope for Creation, to be aired live around the world at 7:30 p.m. (EST). The event will be one hour long. It will include prayer, musical guests, and an introduction of a new creation care film series by the makers of NOOMA. There will be a conversation between the participants around the globe using straightforward Internet, cell phone, and Skype technology.

Learn more or sign up to host an event here: http://www.blessedearth.org/simulcast/

Just how big is your “water footprint”?

Many of us consider our carbon footprint when purchasing new appliances or switching to compact fluorescent lightbulbs.  But how many of us consider our “water footprint” when purchasing items?  For example, it takes 40 gallons of water to produce one cup of coffee, the equivalent of 20 flushes of your home toilet.  And satisfying that sweet tooth with a small bag of peanut M&M’s uses 300 gallons of water.  That’s enough drinking water to last a person one full year.

A recent study by Brad Ridoutt published in the journal Global Environmental Change points out that manufacturing of a product can have a significant impact on already dwindling water resources.  According to the study, 90% of the water consumed goes toward food and energy production.  Ridoutt calculated the water footprint of several commonly used products by including both the amount of water used and the environmental impact of the manufacturing of a product.

For example, a single, 18 oz. jar of pasta sauce uses an average of 52 gallons of water, which is dramatically less water than it takes to create that bag of M&M’s.  However, cocoa and peanut crops rely on rainwater, whereas tomatoes are commonly grown in arid climates and these farming operations pump water from reservoirs to irrigate otherwise dry soil.  Ridoutt’s point is that considering both the amount and the source of water can help consumers make educated choices about the products they purchase.

See the water footprint for a variety of manufactured products

Click here for the full story; posted on 4/2/10

Earth’s report card failing, but it could be worse

In 2009, 28 top environmental and climate scientists got together to analyze how far human development has pushed the Earth’s support systems.   Of the 9 key support systems, including freshwater, the oceans and the ozone layer, the Earth is doing a lousy job at keeping up with our activities.

But it’s not the Earth’s fault.  These key systems support life on Earth and have been hit with enormous population growth, changes in land use and pollution over the past 10,000 years of human history.  The study, recently published in Ecology and Society, demonstrated that three of these support systems–climate change, biodiversity and nitrogen fixation–have been overwhelmed and others are dangerously close to exceeding their threshold for supporting the planet’s population.

Yet, there is a silver lining.  For example, the depleted ozone layer that was destroyed over the last century has been nursed back to health by our actions over the past few decades.  Fortunately, this suggests that even systems that have been pushed to the brink can recover with immediate action.

Click here for the full story; posted on 3/15/10

Ocean acidification rivals that seen during the reign of the dinosaurs

Global climate change is rapidly changing the world’s oceans.  On top of already warming waters, oceans are becoming more acidic.  The ocean acts like a sponge, soaking up carbon dioxide that is released from burning fossil fuels.  That carbon dioxide then reacts with water and forms an acid, increasing the ocean’s acidity, from the surface waters to the deepest depths of every ocean.

Scientists have known that the ocean’s acidity changes over long time spans.  The last time the oceans were as acidic was during the reign of the dinosaurs, beginning around 65 million years ago.  A recent study published in Nature Genetics shows that the ocean is becoming acidic up to 10 times faster than it did when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Increased acidification makes it difficult for organisms with structures made of calcium carbonate to make their shells, which dissolve under acidic conditions.  Some of these organisms are phytoplankton, which produce oxygen and are the base of the ocean’s food web.

Deep sea organisms are particularly vulnerable.  Study director Dr. Andy Ridgwell of the University of
Bristol notes, “Unlike surface plankton dwelling in a variable habitat, organisms living deep down on the ocean floor are adapted to much more stable conditions. A rapid and severe geochemical change in their environment would make their survival precarious.”

Green products to get government stamp of approval

Have you ever wondered if that recent notecard purchase actually comes from a sustainably harvested forest?   Or are those carbon offset schemes just scams?

Green marketing, often called greenwashing, is expected to become more transparent in the near future.  It’s been twelve years since the Federal Trade Commission adjusted its guidelines for environmental marketing which helps prevent consumers from being misled by companies offering ‘green’ products.  Many of the environmental terms used today in marketing did not exist in 1998 and the commission will alter the marketing guidelines to fit today’s products.

Many environmental groups are thrilled at the idea of tighter regulation, while industries are concerned about being able to claim, for example, their products are ‘carbon neutral’ to increase profits.  The proposed changes went through public comment in 2008, but the FTC has yet to set a date for release of new guidelines.

“If they can’t get climate change regulations passed through Congress, the [Obama] administration is going to do whatever it can to keep moving the ball forward,” claims environmental attorney Hamilton Hackney of Boston, MA. “Sometimes, these ‘collateral regulations’ can have almost as much of an impact.”

Read the full story; posted on 2/5/10

Trans-Pacific swimmer to tackle garbage and awareness

Australian filmmaker, Richard Pain, 45, will attempt to be the first person to cross the Pacific by swimming.  He’s not doing it for fame and glory, but to re-energize a global interest in environmental issues.

Pain plans to swim 9000 kilometers which he estimates will take 45 weeks and put him smack in the middle of the Pacific ‘garbage patch’.  He will have to swim through a floating sea of plastic and garbage that gets trapped in the middle of the northern Pacific Ocean by currents.  And he’ll do it in a cage made of plastic bottles that will act as a shark barrier.

“I realise it’s completely mad,” said Pain, “But I’m aware there is a lot of green fatigue in the broader population. This is a way to try and raise awareness by doing something more compelling. It’s like trying to do an environmental version of Super Size Me.”

Pain is selling his house to raise money for the endeavor and expects it to take 18 months before he’s ready for the journey.

Apart from increasing public awareness about the garbage patch, Pain’s goal is to raise 1 million dollars for scientific research of the oceans.  He will be accompanied by his wife, Natasha, who plans to stay on board the vessel that will be towing his plastic bottle ‘cage’.

“The ideal would be for me to walk in the water in Japan…and emerge months later on Santa Monica Beach with Richard Branson handing me a cheque and looking at his watch and saying, ‘You made it with five minutes to spare.’”

Read the full story; posted on 1/31/10

Marine reserves give reefs a fighting chance against climate change

New research suggests that closing reef areas to fishing can delay the effects of one of their biggest threats: climate change. Such ocean “parks” may give reefs a fighting chance.

Coral reefs are complex, living structures.  It is their complexity that allows an extraordinarily diverse community of organisms to live within a reef ecosystem.  However, these fragile environments are threatened by increased water temperatures, ocean acidification, overfishing, coastal development, and other human activities.

Currently, about 2% of the world’s reefs are protected from human activity such as overfishing. As temperatures continue to rise and ocean chemistry changes, climate change poses a risk to all reefs.

However, scientists at the University of Exeter in the U.K. found that on reefs protected from fishing, fish graze off harmful algae that would otherwise cover coral and stress it, leaving it vulnerable to other stresses like warming water or pollution. Research in the Bahamas suggests that, within reserves, corals can recover from stress and continue growing and spreading.

“In order to protect reefs in the long-term we need radical action to reduce CO₂ emissions,” says study director, professor Peter Mumby.  “However, our research shows that local action to reduce the effects of fishing can contribute meaningfully to the fate of reefs.”

posted on 1/23/10

Climate summit highlights role of churches in environmental stewardship

December’s climate talks in Copenhagen illustrated the unique role that churches play in encouraging environmental stewardship.  During the climate talks, Pope Benedict XVI released part of his World Day of Peace message early to urge lawmakers to take action.  “We can no longer do without a real change of outlook which will result in new life-styles.”, he said.

The city of Austin, Texas is at the forefront of many environmental issues.  The city has proposed that 35 percent of the electricity used in the city will come from renewable resources and many religious leaders in Austin support this idea.  In November, the group Interfaith Environmental Network was created by religious leaders to encourage churches to take part in the shaping of environmental policies within the city.  The Trinity Episcopal School in Austin has already installed 270 solar panels at a cost of $300,000.  The final cost, however, was reduced to one-third because the City of Austin offered nearly $200,000 in rebates for the project.

“I hear wonderful stories of current, creative things churches are doing or enabling their members to do,” said Laurel Kearns, associate professor of sociology of religion and environmental studies of Drew University in New Jersey.  “By using alternative energies, creating green church guides or even by looking at ways that they are part of food systems.”  Kearns notes that the relationship between Christians and the environment dates back centuries.

Other churches around Austin are encouraging members to reduce their carbon footprint by promoting ride-sharing or backyard gardening.

Energy Star, the program that promotes the use of energy-conscious household appliances stated that a 10 percent reduction in the country’s 300,000 houses of worship could save nearly $200 million.

Pastor Lou Snead of Faith Presbyterian Church in Austin stated, “While faith groups often get divided over common themes… eco-justice seems to be a unifying position.”

posted on 1/11/10

Whales sing the blues

The planet’s largest animal just might be singing the blues.

Researchers recently discovered that blue whales are lowering the frequencies of their songs, year after year.  No one knows why, but scientists speculate that it is linked to human-caused changes in whale populations or in the ocean itself.

Whale populations were hunted almost to extinction in the 19^th century.  Some scientists speculate that lower frequency singing allows individuals to communicate with the remaining whales that are few and far between.  Other possibilities point to the whales adjusting their song to compensate for changes in their environment.  For example, shipping traffic has increased ocean noise by 12 decibels since the 1950’s and the whales may need to sing ‘louder’ to communicate.  In absence of ocean noise, blue whale songs can reach over 800 miles.

This study, led by researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a whale song monitoring company, Whale Acoustics, found this change occurred in populations in seven different oceans.

“It’s even more remarkable, given that the songs themselves differ in different oceans” said blue whale research expert, John Calombokidis. “There seem to be these distinct populations, yet they’re all showing this common shift.”

Read the full story; posted on 12/9/09

Nature can inspire changes in values

A short walk in the park can help make us re-focus our priorities away from personal gain and toward intrinsic aspirations.

That is what a recent study by researchers from the University Rochester found after having participants watch slide shows of nature and spending time in a room full of house plants.  Individuals in the study then had to write down their life goals and aspirations.  Those that “immersed” themselves in the natural settings or photos the outside environment were more inclined to list aspirations such as having meaningful relationships and helping their community.  Alternatively, those that viewed man-made scenery focused on goals that would result in financial achievement and status.

This research suggests that societies that are connected to nature may exhibit values that are focused more on the community, and less on individual needs and self-promotion.

What do the results from this study mean? It’s possible that the values of Americans have shifted over the past 50 years, since we are spending less and less time outdoors and more time at our computers.

So, if you’re feeling the need to center your priorities, take a walk around the block or buy a houseplant to get closer to the natural world.

Read the full story; posted on 12/3/09

Leaked climatologists’ e-mails “unfortunate”, incident reveals lessons

Climate change skeptics have jumped on the opportunity to use over 1,000 e-mails and discussions from scientists from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) to discredit aspects of climate science.  These documents were leaked to the internet after computers at CRU in East Anglia, UK were hacked into on November 20^th.

Many of these documents demonstrated everyday exchanges between scientists at CRU.  However, one of the e-mails that bloggers have particularly jumped on used the word “trick” in reference to the display of climate data.  This e-mail was written by Phil Jones, the director of CRU.  Jones confirmed the e-mail’s authenticity and released a statement saying, “The word ‘trick’ was used here colloquially as in a clever thing to do. It is ludicrous to suggest that it refers to anything untoward.”  Jones stepped down from his post at CRU while an investigation is underway.

While many scientists don’t believe these documents will discredit the major findings of climate science, others have pointed out the need for increased transparency.  Judith Curry, a climate scientist at Georgia Institute of Technology, pointed out that this incident demonstrates the need for scientists to better communicate their research to the public in order to fight climate change skepticism.  Curry stated, “The need for public credibility and transparency has dramatically increased in recent years as the policy relevance of climate research has increased. The climate research enterprise has not yet adapted to this need, and our institutions need to strategize to respond to this need,” in a letter posted on climateaudit.org.

Many climate experts have weighed in on this incident, labeled as “unfortunate” by the chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Rajendra Pachauri.  Resoundingly, most climate scientists believe this incident will not hinder research.  The overall feeling by many experts is that this incident has prompted the need for a more open and accessible discussion of climate change.

Read the full story; posted on 12/2/09

Ocean acidification may pose bigger threat to marine life than warming

Ocean acidification has long been considered “the other carbon problem”, taking a back seat to discussions about global warming.

In reality, scientists are beginning to see signs indicating that ocean acidification is a serious and immediate threat.

The Gulf of Maine, for example, is exhibiting signs of acidification, both real and speculative.  Mark Green, professor at St. Joseph’s College studies the effects of acidic muds on survival of juvenile shellfish.  Green studies clams in Casco Bay and points out that ”a huge amount of these juvenile clams are dissolving when they hit the sediment.” Clams from this area were once thought to be disappearing due to predators.  Green’s research points to acidification as the main culprit.

These clams, and other organisms with hard shells made of calcium carbonate, are dissolving because of increased acidity.  The ocean acts like a sponge to absorb about 25% of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.  It is carbon dioxide, that when introduced into water forms an acid that reduces a buffering compound called carbonate.  Carbonate is an essential compound that these organisms use to form protective shells.  When these organisms can’t make a proper shell it is left vulnerable to predators, diseases and other stressors.

Other researchers in the Gulf of Maine are studying the impacts of acidification on the hardening of lobster shells and even the growth of tiny, calcium carbonate covered phytoplankton that are the base of the food chain.   William Balch of Bigelow Laboratory in Boothbay Harbor has seen a reduction in these types of phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine and in locations like the Patagonian shelf off of Argentina.  While these drops in abundance are only speculated to be the result of acidification, Balch points out that is important to have a baseline to study the effects of an acidified ocean on plankton.  ”That’s the bottom of the marine food web, on which all life in the ocean depends.”

For decades, many people assumed any excess carbon dioxide would be absorbed by the ocean with no change to the acidity of the ocean.  ”But it turns out, if you produce the quantities of carbon dioxide that we’ve been producing, the buffering effect is not there,” he said. ”When all is said and done, I think it might be the more significant problem.”

posted on 11/30/09

Bishop in support of new climate change legislation

“The Evangelical Lutheran Church supports strong climate protection legislation at the national level because the damage done by global warming pollution can only be resolved by government action.” So wrote bishop Chris Boerger of the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in an opinion letter published in the Bellingham Herald.

Further, Bishop Boerger called on members of the faith community to encourage senate representatives in his home state of Washington to pass current climate change legislation.

The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act bill was introduced by senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions extensively by 2010.

Bishop Boerger writes “By passing the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act this year, Senators Murray and Cantwell can care for Earth’s climate and poorest people while insuring a clean and healthy future for our own children. We ask them to act on our behalf this year, and not to look away.”

Read the full letter; posted on 11/25/09

Endangered Species Act Proves Successful for the Brown Pelican

The brown pelican is a common sight for the locals in Florida and other Gulf Coast States.  But this species has fought a long, hard battle to become the coastal feature it is today.

For nearly a century, brown pelican populations from the Caribbean to the Pacific were dangerously close to extinction due to the combined effects of hunting, habitat loss and reproductive failure from the pesticide DDT.  To protect the remaining population and rebuild, the species was placed on the Endangered Species list in 1970.  After decades of protection that began under president Theodore Roosevelt, the species was removed from this list on November 11^th, 2009.

In the early 2000’s, the US Fish and Wildlife Service considered removing the species from the list.  Unfortunately, this hope was temporarily dashed when several oil spills and Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the pelican habitat along the Gulf coast.

While this story for the brown pelican is a success, scientists will continue to monitor this species in the future.  Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar excitedly claimed “ …we once in a while have an opportunity to celebrate an amazing success story… The brown pelican is back!”

posted on 11/24/09

International agreement greatly helps albatrosses

Getting hooked and drowned on fishing gear has been the greatest causes of death for adult albatrosses for several decades. The main problem is lines dozens of miles long with thousands of baited hooks, called long-lines. For a decade, conservation groups including Blue Ocean Institute and Birdlife International’s Global Seabird Program (birdlife.org) and others have worked with fishing boat owners and with governments, partly through an international treaty called the Agreement of the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.

Positive results have been dramatic. For instance, from 2007-2008, measures taken by predominantly Japanese fishing boats reduced albatross mortality by 85% off of South African waters.  This is a huge success and an important step toward seabird conservation for a country with an enormous longline fleet. Other areas with great reductions in albatross fishing deaths in recent years include waters around Hawaii, Alaska, the Falkland Islands, Australia, New Zealand and some other places.

In the mid-1990s, many people feared this problem would cause the extinction of many albatross species (more than 20 species exist). Now, there is definitely hope.    -By Carl Safina; posted on 11/23/09

Fewer salmon mean hungrier grizzlies, unhealthy forests

Declining salmon runs on the west coast of North America have triggered a cascade of fishery closures over the last few decades.  Now, biologists are interested in seeing how the loss of salmon is affecting one of their top predators; grizzly bears.

Grizzlies in British Columbia, Canada rely on the migration of millions of adult salmon from the ocean into streams throughout the spring and summer.  As salmon swim upriver in search of habitat to lay their eggs, bears snag these fatty, nutritious fish.  This diet allows bears to bulk up and store the fat needed to get them through winter hibernation.

However, fewer salmon may mean many bears, including cubs, won’t survive the harsh Canadian winters.

Researchers from the Canadian government and universities are teaming up to study the health of the grizzly populations that depend on salmon.  Carrying out helicopter surveys and using genetic analysis on grizzly hair samples, they are able to see how grizzly numbers fluctuate between years with healthy and poor salmon runs.

Bears play an important role in fertilizing the floors of the forest they live in.  Bear droppings are rich in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus because of their diet.  Often, these nutrients are in scarce quantities on forest floors.   Therefore, the bears act as a “conveyor belt”, moving nutrients  into the forest.  “As we lose bears or salmon or both…” says retired wildlife biologist Barry Gilbert, “…then we’re also affecting the health of the forests”.

Read the full story ; posted on 11/23/09

Restoring Eden: Ankle Deep in Reality Speaking Tour

Events in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio:

Come hear the story of Sara Kaweesa! A first-hand account of the real impacts of climate change upon the land, ecosystems, families, churches and the vulnerable communities of Africa .

Event Flier

Events in Virginia, north Carolina, and South Carolina:

Come hear the story of Rev. Tafue Molu Lusama! A first-hand account of the real impacts of climate change upon the land, ecosystems, families, churches and the vulnerable communities of the South Pacific.

Event Flier

Conference Call w/ Sen. John Kerry (11 am, Oct. 6)

Please join Senator John Kerry and faith leaders from around the country on Tuesday, October 6 at 11 am Eastern to hear first-hand what can be done over the coming months to rally our communities in the fight against climate change.

Senator Kerry serves as the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. Last Wednesday, Senator Kerry, together with Senator Boxer, introduced the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, which would significantly reduce US carbon emissions while also seeking to protect the poor and vulnerable from the worst predicted impact of climate change.

WHEN: 11 am Eastern, Tuesday, October 6 2009

AGENDA: 11 am – Welcome

11:05 – Senator Kerry

11:30 - Adjourn

WHO: Senator John Kerry (MA), Chairman, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee

MODERATED BY: Rev. Dr. Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland, A Church Distributed, Longwood, FL

CALL-IN: 1-866-931-7845 (dial-in #)
727028 (conference code)

Climate in Peril

Every 5-7 years, members of the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) meet to discuss future changes to Earth’s climate. Over the past two decades, near-unanimous agreement exists amongst them that the Earth’s warming over the past century is due mostly to man-made causes. The IPCC reports themselves, however, can be completely overwhelming to the casual reader. To account for this, many various documents have been produced which attempt to explain the IPCC reports more succinctly and simply. One that does a particularly good job, is Climate in Peril, a guide you can download by clicking on the link. It’s a very convenient guide for someone looking to get an overview of the important aspects of climate change science, without needing a PhD to do so.

Behold the Earth

David Conover, producer for years of Discovery HD Theater’s Sunrise Earth, is currently working with his team to produce a groundbreaking musical documentary currently in production titled Behold the Earth. It is described as “An Inquiry Into America’s Divorce From Nature,” and with good reason, given the rampant proliferation and over-saturation of electronics that our culture faces today. This documentary seeks out the lost relationship between man and the natural environment, and concludes that is time for religion and science to meet on common ground. I’ve embedded the trailer below…

Reclaiming Creation

I’m happy to announce the recent arrival of a great new resource in the creation care arena. The UNC News21 website has gone live, and is titled, ‘Powering a Nation.’ This website serves as an excellent source point for individuals interested in learning more about where our energy comes from, and the costs (seen and unseen) that are associated with it. In particular, an excellent section, Reclaiming Creation, offers a look at how the Christian creation care movement is adding fuel to the fire of a renewed environmental push. This website supports the belief that people of faith and those of a more secular background can work together for positive change when it comes to environmental conservation.

ICMA Moral Imperative

In February 2008, members of the ICMA ( International City and County Management Association) met to discuss the importance of sustainable communities and how to promote them. The result was a document titled “The Moral Imperative for Sustainable Communities”. It’s a a brief and excellent read for anyone seriously concerned with moving forward into a future in which the environment is not too heavily burdened by human means.

ICMA Moral Imperative – download pdf

Interview with Bjorn Lomborg

Recently, Bjorn Lomborg, called by The Guardian (U.K.) “one of the 50 people who could save the planet,” spoke about climate change, and the best ways to approach it. He says we need to focus on making green energy cheap as opposed to making fossil fuels expensive, and that in general, we need to be smarter about how we approach the problem. The interview, conducted by Barron’s, can be read here.

New Feature Films: “Behold the Earth” and DisneyNature’s “earth”

Behold the Earth is a new feature-film discussing our connection with the natural world, featuring interviews by prominent scientists and evangelicals.  Weaving together insights from E.O Wilson, Cal DeWitt, Theo Colborn, and Richard Louv with original, inspired music by Dirk Powell and Tim Eriksen, this movie is a unique exploration of this most intriguing topic of our time: the relationship we have with Creation.  Check out the website: www.beholdtheearth.com for details.

DisneyNature’s release of “earth” by the producers of “Planet Earth” offers an opportunity to not only view some of Creation’s most spectacular characters, but learn how earth stewardship fits into the Christian landscape.  The organization, Different Drummer, has put together a creation care study guide to accompany this feature film.  See our resources section for details. Check out the movie at: http://disney.go.com/disneynature/earth/.

IN THE NEWS:

Friendship Collaborative Update: The University of Michigan, represented by facilitator Howard Hu, hosted a Friendship Collaborative workshop this past Friday at the beautiful Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor, MI. Some great scientific minds were there as well as a number of local and regional evangelical leaders. Why such a gathering? Simply put, to form friendships that will act as bridges of communication between two groups of people which for some time now have fought either passively or actively against each other’s efforts. Because there are people in both camps with great passion for the cause of environmental stewardship, hopes are high that enough common ground can exists to enable strong cooperation

Facilitators Carl Safina from the Blue Ocean Institute and Ken Wilson from the Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor both did an excellent job of fostering thought-provoking discussions. Dr. Safina focused on the effects humanity is having on the Earth, concentrating on his personal area of interest, the sea and the life that thrives there. Wilson offered scientists an idea of what a well-informed layperson’s scientific knowledge might look like. He also suggested that the evangelical community should honor the virtue of prudence with respect to climate change science, and both men exhorted all present to work together in hopes of being more effective as environmental stewards.

The event, however, was not all business. As its namesake implies, the Friendship Collaborative seeks to build continuing relationships between environmental scientists and evangelical leaders. This was fostered at the workshop by allowing for a series of roundtable discussions, including lunch, where groups of scientists and evangelicals were able to sit in a relaxed environment and discuss things held in common. All participants in attendance were exceedingly gracious; conversations were honest, but always in good spirit. One common theme mentioned as the entire group reconvened was that of trust between the two groups, which unfortunately are too often polarized.

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ARCHIVES

Sustainable Seafood for Lent: see below for the full story of how Blue Ocean Institute, with the help of our friends at Vineyard Church, Ann Arbor, produced an ocean-friendly guide to sustainable seafood for the weeks of Lent (www.blueocean.org/seafood)—another example of how together, we can help better care for creation.

One Fresh Opinion: Friendship Collaborative co-founder, Ken Wilson, is author of an op-ed piece in the Detroit News on evangelicals and the environment. Find the full text article at http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080715/OPINION01/807150377

Hot Off the Press: The June 2008 Creation Care Magazine includes a double feature by Friendship Collaborative staff. First, a full-length interview between Friendship Collaborative’s founders Carl Safina and Ken Wilson explores what each has learned from their relationship. Second, an article by Blue Ocean Institute’s Marah Hardt, who oversees the Friendship Collaborative program, explores a different relationship–that between the ocean and all life on Earth. You can order a copy of this edition of Creation Care Magazine, with its extended focus on the ocean, at http://www.creationcare.org/magazine/

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Nourishing bodies, spirits, and the sea

How one woman’s story is helping us help churches serve sustainable seafood during Lent
—Marah J. Hardt, February, 2009
This story is a simple tale, of one woman, working in her church, distributing meals to her community. Every Friday night, for 6 Fridays during the Lenten period, individuals from surrounding cities come to purchase affordable, delicious fish dinners.  The bounty of the sea is delivered Cajun-spiced, battered and baked.  For twelve years this tradition has connected the community, connected individuals to their faith and their custom of fish on Fridays.  The dinners are made with love for each other, and love for God.

And this year, the connection expands further than ever before.  This year the community widens to include our fellow residents on this great blue sphere we call home. This year, the dinners are made with love for the fish, as well.

Through a simple, several-lined email, our heroine reached out to Blue Ocean Institute, seeking information about how to make the dinners they provide nourishing for the planet, as well as the people, they serve.  We sent her our Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood, and provided information for where the church can find local distributors to purchase sustainably caught fish.

Because fish today need all the help they can get. We know that the oceans are suffering from the combined effects of pollution and climate change, but overfishing has also led to dramatic reductions in many species, some of which are now nearing extinction.  Research also shows that demand for seafood increases during the weeks of Lent, a time of reflection for the Christian community. And, as Pastor Ken Wilson of Vineyard Church reminds us, Genesis provides inspiration for those seeking to care for creation:

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with the swarm of living creatures and let fowl fly over the earth across the vault of the heavens.” And God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that crawls, which the water had swarmed forth of each kind, and the winged fowl of each kind, and God saw that it was good.  And God blessed them, saying “Be fruitful and multiple and fill the water in the seas and let the fowl multiple on earth. And it was evening and it was morning, fifth day (from Genesis: Translation and Commentary by Robert Alter).

The good news is, we do not have to sit idly by, watching these vast swarms of the sea disappear.  Your Lenten seafood choices do make a difference. Imagine if the tradition of fish dinners begun by this one woman continues onward for another 12 years?

Imagine 400 dinners, every Friday night for 6 Friday nights. That is 2400 dinners.
For twelve years? That is 28,800 meals!

Twenty-eight thousand eight-hundred individual fish that will be replaced by their offspring, that did not harm other species when they were captured, or leave a wake of destroyed coral reef in their path.  It is 28,800 decisions made conscientiously, with love for Creation and love for the future generations that will come and enjoy all the abundance we have left behind. And it all can happen because of one choice, by one caring person.

Inspired by this woman’s initiative, Blue Ocean Institute, in collaboration with the folks at Vineyard Church, Ann Arbor, have developed a Lenten Seafood Guide to distribute to individuals and churches around the country.  Our friends at Vineyard helped us to develop the spiritual content of the guide, so that it represents a true collaboration between the science of sustainability and the religious ethos of caring for creation.

If you are interested in how your own dinners can serve as examples of just how savory solutions can be, simply visit the Seafood Program of the Blue Ocean Website (www.blueocean.org/seafood) and download your own Lenten Seafood Guide today. Or if you don’t have a guide handy when you’re out at the store, use FishPhone, our text messaging service that gives you access to sustainability info, when you need it.  Just text “FISH” and the name of the fish your curious about to 30644, you’ll receive an instant reply letting you know whether the species and catch method in question are ocean-friendly.  Through our guides and easy-to-use text-messaging service, everyone can have access to credible information on seafood choices that are good for our bodies and our planet.

Your one choice, magnified through the power of sharing, can shift an entire community towards loving stewardship of our shared Creation.

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Marine Reserves Expanded

–Marah J. Hardt, January 2009

President Bush declares three enormous marine preserves in the Pacific, offering full protection for shallow tropical coral reefs and the deepest canyon on earth.

In an uncharacteristically environmental but characteristically big move, President Bush on Tuesday, January 13, set aside three large areas of the Pacific ocean as a national monuments, offering immediate protection from fishing and other extractive activities. The deepest canyon on earth, the Marianas trench extends down 36,000 feet below the sea-you would have to fly round trip from New York to Los Anlgeles 6 times to reach the bottom of it. And, the waters around Rose Atoll, part of American Somoa, and those surrounding a string of United States protectorate islands in the Line Island chain, have all been declared national monuments, providing the same protection as statues and cultural sites.

The combined area of protection is almost 200,000 square miles (an area approximately 2 times that of all the great lakes) and offers a sanctuary for unique wildlife above and below the sea, including the only species of bird that uses volcanic heat to incubate its eggs. These coral reef ecosystems are some of the most pristine on the planet, offering scientists a rare view of what an intact, healthy coral reef looks like. They are windows back in time, a glimpse of how ocean wildlife functioned before overfishing, ship groundings, and coastal development entered the game. By protecting and studying these reefs, we might just learn how to put back together those that have fared so poorly over the last two centuries.

This designation, if passed, will triple the total area of protected ocean set aside by President Bush. Combined with his historic designation of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the northwest Hawaiian islands in 2006, the President has designated a remarkable 355,000 square miles of the ocean as national monument. That is an area almost as big as Texas and Michigan combined. It is a gift not only to those working to protect and restore abundance to our threatened oceans, but to the generations to come who will benefit from all that is learned and all that is conserved in these beautiful underwater realms. With less than 0.01% of the oceans protected worldwide (compared to over 10% of all land area that is protected), this designation is truly monumental. Cowboy hats off to you, Mr. President.

For photographs, interviews with scientists lucky enough to have visited these remote locations, and more information, see: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99036156