George's letter for February

Dear friends

There has been a great deal of disappointment at the lack of meaningful agreement coming out of the recent meeting in Copenhagen of international leaders on climate change. It is all the more disappointing given the amount of extra carbon emissions resulting from the meeting itself!

Perhaps I am too optimistic. But I can see some encouragement. First of all in some quarters there was an apparent greater commitment to doing something about the current environmental crisis than we have seen to date. Secondly it raised the profile of the issues. Thirdly some countries will plough on with or without universal agreement. Finally it was good that there was some agreement to help developing countries grow economically without exasperating the current situation.

Another part of the Way of Life suggested by the Community of Aidan and Hilda is to care for creation. It is something that we have not been very good at. Indeed we might not see it as a priority. With some suggesting that the whole thing as a bit of a myth, we may feel justified in ignoring the issues.

But in Genesis, when God created the world, he told us: ‘Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ (Genesis 1:28) At first sight this may appear to give us a mandate to exploit the world and its resources. But it is in the context of God’s goodness in creation. So, we are to live in harmony with the rest of his creation and care for it as he cares for us. In other words God has given us the responsibility of being stewards of his creation.

In the light of the ‘failures’of Copenhagen, we should pray for continued change and progress in the way our world is treated by everyone. But we should seek to take greater care of the environment ourselves and the Community makes a few suggestions: ‘recycling, keeping a bird table, two ‘meat free’ days a week, walking/cycling instead of using the car.’ The latest campaign to get us to drive 5 miles less a week illustrates that although apparently insignificant, collectively our actions can make a big difference.

Reform (the URC magazine) has regular articles about environmental issues and Eco-mum talks honestly about the struggles to be environmentally friendly. This month she has written about how she had hoped to get some farmyard manure for Christmas and is now begging for some for her birthday!

Think of a world without any flowers,
Think of a wood without any trees,
Think of a sky without any sunshine,
Think of the air without any breeze.
We thank you Lord for flowers and trees and sunshine,
We thank you Lord and praise your holy name.

Doreen E. Newport