The OT floods then and the ecological crisis today

The story of Noah and the flood is an interesting insight into the mind of God and the early historians who wrote that part of the Bible.  There is God frustrated with the evil of man.  He is driven to such a point as to do a complete 'formatting' of his creation.  

What is interesting is that due to the evil of the human beings, even the rest of creation is wiped out!  The animals, and birds, and reptiles did no wrong.  They did not sin.  It was basically the humans who fell out with God and his initial plans.  So why destroy them? The humans deserved punishment and only they should have been eliminated.  

I think there is a parallel for this in the new testament when Jesus speaks of the parable of the wheat and the darnel.  The farmer realising that uprooting the weed would actually harm the wheat, lets them all grown and at harvest, everything is cut up.  There is no selective elimination.  God even if he wanted couldn't have wiped out the human race alone, without in some way affecting the rest of creation. 

The present ecological crisis of climate change that we are coming to terms with offers another perspective of the OT narrative. Perhaps it is not God who risked the lives of all the other creatures.  Perhaps it was actually the greed and sin of human beings that caused the extinction of the rest of creation.  God only tried to salvage what could be.  For one who created the world, from nothing in the first instance, it would not have been a great challenge to do it again.  But in spite of what humanity did to the rest of creation, God was keen to preserve as much as possible - two or seven pairs of creatures, not just one like that of the humankind! God didn't destroy the rest of creation - human beings had already done it by that point! 

Nothing called 'waste' or 'away'

Yesterday at Egham Hythe for the blood donation session, I carried with me the plastic cup I had picked up during the previous session, four months ago.  The plastic cup has been on my side table, used now and then for drinking water - when I decide to kill time leisurely!

When I arrived at the session to inform of my arrival, the young man there checked my form and then asked me to take a seat and have a drink.  And when he saw the plastic cup in my hand, he said, "Oh, I see you already picked up a drink." And I told him, "That's from the previous session! I didn't throw it away."  At first, he looked a bit puzzled, but when he understood, he beamed broadly and said, "Great!"

I still have the cup with me.  I think it's going to stay and be used for a while!  

British use of wood and ecology

The British tend to use timber a lot.  Wood is used extensively and for varied purposes.  Besides the usual furniture, both household and garden, wood is used for making shelves and racks.  The roof structures of the houses are made of wood.  So is the flooring in most houses.  Fences are all of wood. Even telephone poles are of wood.  All the pews and lecterns in the Churches are made of wood.

My first reaction when I noticed the extensive outdoor use of wood: "Thank God there are no white ants here!" The liberal use of wood only goes on to show the abundance of trees and growth in the country.  Though fiber and other materials are gaining ground, wood is still much in demand. To keep up with this great demand of wood there has to be a proportionate and planned growth of trees, for  wood certainly does not become available overnight.  It takes years for a tree to grow!

It is officially stated that (as of February 2018)

• The area of woodland in the UK is 3.17 million hectares. This represents 13% of the total land area in the UK, 10% in England, 15% in Wales, 18% in Scotland and 8% in Northern Ireland. 
• The total certified woodland area in the UK at 31 March 2017 is 1.39 million hectares, including all Forestry Commission/Natural Resources Wales/Forest Service woodland. Overall, 44% of the UK woodland area is certified. 
• Seven thousand hectares of newly created woodland were reported in the UK in 2016-17, mostly with coniferous species. (Source: Forestry Commission)

Source: BBC

On the whole there is a greater appreciation and awareness of ecological concerns among the people than back in India - though not everyone shares the responsibility of doing something about it.  However, I think the Indians share a much closer bond with nature than the Europeans. 

Grit of nature

After my driving theory test, while on my way back home, at the Staines railway station came across this particular piece of wood in the fence.

I realized it was once a large tree which has grown into the fence. The tree has long been cut down but that part of the tree that enveloped the metallic fence has been left intact. I'm sure it was because whoever cut the tree would not have been able to separate the wood from the fence without damaging the fence.

Must have truly been years of growth! Unfortunately the tree has been chopped down.

Need garbage

Ever heard of a country running short on garbage... Sweden just has! Read this.

I was intrigued when I read that Sweden is now importing garbage from other countries. Really?  Then I read the article and was in awe.  Not so much about the sophisticated and complex recycling or garbage disposal process, but most particularly that less than  1% of its household waste has been directed to the landfill.  Now that's amazing.

I suppose it takes more than just a handful of environmentalists or politicians to achieve that.  To get the country's whole population to really be in sync with nature and the surrounding environment is indeed a great achievement.  Understandably the population of Sweden is much less than most of the individual states in India, nonetheless to achieve this high level of awareness and community action, people need to be conscientized and convinced.

Mass in the open

Another delinking factor between the Church and ecological concerns is perhaps the Holy Eucharist. Or the very institution of this sacrament or the model adapted by the Church.  I've stated this earlier as well but not this dimension of it.

If only the church had adopted the scene of the feeding of the five thousand as the Eucharist model and not the last supper, we would have had the Eucharistic celebrations out in the open. Not in some well built, brightly lit and highly decorated churches.  The open meadows would have been the places of worship, the altar and the celebration.

The Church would have fought for vacant lands and greenery rather than compound walls.  Instead of competing with neighbouring villages or Parishes in rebuilding 'magnificent' churches, the ecclesial resources could have been invested in preserving the ecological balance of the neighbourhood.

The RO water purifier

I did some online research about the RO water purifier system we have installed here in the community for safe drinking water. I was led to this purely aghast at the amount of water being wasted from the purifying plant. I basically wanted to know how best to use the waste water discarded. None of the sites I visited ever spoke of any means of utilizing the water. All those whom I asked told me that it cannot be used for anything sensitive... not even washing clothes, leave alone watering the garden or bathing!

Today's paper carries a small write up by a common housewife on the disadvantages of installing an RO system. Basically she was citing the moral issue of wasting precious water in a country like India which is already classified under 'water stressed'. What of those who have already installed a 2000 litre plant? Install another tank to collect and use it to wash the cowshed and the school verandahs!

Bread & fish vs Bread & wine

One interesting fact pointed out by the author, Richard Rohr in his book Jesus' Plan for a New World, is the overshadowing of the 'bread and fish' tradition by the 'bread and wine' tradition.

According to Rohr, the bread and fish meal stood for surplus (everytime Jesus multiplied bread and fish or there was fish involved, there always was a surplus of it, even after a mass consumption).  Secondly such meals involved the poor and hungry, not those already fulfilled, those who really came for Him and did not think of food and drink and all that - for such as these, He multiplied bread and fish. Thirdly, this meal was always an open meal - out in the open, under the blue sky, in the open fields, along the sea shore (I don't remember all the Biblical references, but I know there are).  Everyone was welcome - everyone!  Not just a select few or privileged ones.  Given these factors, I wonder how this was superseded by the one-time 'bread and wine' meal.  Of course, the bread and wine meal has a personal touch - Jesus says it is HIS body and blood that He is sharing.  Perhaps a combination of all these positive aspects would help us get a better picture of the 'Eucharist'.

And here's what Rohr has to say about the two meals:

The bread and wine tradition lent itself more to cult and ritualization. The bread and fish tradition, if retained, might have contributed to issues of justice, community and social reordering.  

Well, he has a point there. 

It's a wonderful world

The smallest stop-animation ever

Nokia 'Dot' from Sumo Science on Vimeo.

I know not what exactly is the director (team) trying to convey through this but the idea is simply great, of course besides the technology. I think it is a great example of the ecological crisis we are battling in the present world. I think it is high time to stop running or turning our back to the issue and address it headlong, before we run out of space and time!

The plastic bag

A living gift - Sapling

During the philosophical symposium on Ecology and Religion - I should add, perfectly well coordinated and organised by Fr Wilson... hats off to him! - Fr Devadas made a very interesting and practical suggestion. Speaking during an ongoing debate about the role of the Church in the ongoing ecological crisis, he suggested that during major feasts and celebrations, the faithful could be given a sapling - blessed by the Priest - to take home and take care of. It would be a 'living gift from a living God'. That is great idea!! Rather than give medals and statues and so on, a plant is a living gift. People would naturally begin to see nature as God's gift and not something merely to be used for personal benefits.

Good suggestion too to link the Church, God, Christianity and nature... of course with human beings!

The paper dilemma

One of my conscious efforts over the last three years has been the use of paper - or rather the reuse of it. With great care I've avoided using fresh paper even to the extent of ridicule by confreres. But I really don't mind. On the contrary, I feel good when people poke fun at me for being stingy about recycling paper and used envelopes. Of my three years in office I managed to collect nearly 60 kgs of just A4 size paper. Of this 35 was purely two sided used and good for no reuse. This I recently sold and 'earned' Rs 175! Even for that my staff was fooling me! Never mind. Another 20 kg I have been using for printing all sorts of drafts and e-mail conversations that go into the files. I still have half of it stacked up in the cupboard under the printer. Another 5 kgs I recently sent across to the Philosophate for the Brothers to use, especially for the third years who will be beginning their thesis work. Of course, from time to time, I've also been setting fire to confidential stuff (that needs to be discarded) but that too after making use of it in some way or the other.

But now I practically waste half an hour (or more) staring at nearly 6000 sheets of paper (single side used) but highly confidential matter. I will no more be in this office (just two weeks left for me to move out) and I don't know what to do with this 'forest'. I don't have the heart to set fire to it (being highly volatile matter, it will certainly catch fire faster, but...).

Any suggestions??

Of power cuts and failures...

Last evening there was this Earth Day power saving campaign... well, not very much of a possibility in my place as there is normally a power cut the same time!! But I greatly appreciate the effort. However power cuts have long since begun and as the summer gets hotter and hotter, it will be worse too... officially there is a two hour power cut here (better than 7 or 9 hours of cut in some other communities/areas of the Province) and for the rest of the time there is power failure!!

Religion and eco-consciousness

One of the good insights that I picked up while reviewing the papers of the students of Philosophy, was this: the intrinsic relation between religion (formal and institutional) and eco-consciousness. I now understand the anxiety of Fr Joshtrom when he speaks of ecology and the need of the Church to get involved in speaking about the need to preserve nature and its resources. Religion (at least institutional religion) has long harped on the idea that the world is a passing world. That we are but 'pilgrims' on a journey. The destination is what we must set our eyes upon!! In the bargain, we miss out the grandeur of nature. We turn a deaf ear to the cry of nature for survival. We are so 'lost in heaven' that we never notice the extinction of species after species of plants, animals and bio-life.

If only we start realising the divine in and around our nature... and not just in the 'heavens above' or stay aloof from the destruction of nature, saying this is not 'our' concern; that this is not the subject-matter of religion... , the world would be a better place for all living beings to grow. Religion, especially Christianity, can and should consciously now speak up and stand for 'natural causes' - lest there be only heaven and no earth!!

Avatar, human rights and ecology

Last night we watched Avatar ... it was worth watching. Though I do not appreciate sci-fi movies, this one didn't appear to be so. It is basically an alien vs human movie, but with a simple twist whereby, it is the humans who have overstepped the line of sense and sensibility. For me it came across as a movie which basically speaks of the small and voiceless in their struggle against the powerful and mighty. The three best moments of the movie that appealed to me most were the following:

1. The scene where the Na'vi's are shooting arrows at the gigantic space ships: that's exactly the equation of people in real life when they are up and against the powerful sections of society or bureaucracy.
2. The next was when Jake softly prays to the 'tree' to take his side and his partner, Neytiri states that the Eywa does not take sides but just sees to the balance of life. Now that's a very sensible stand. No bribing or emotional blackmailing!
3. The third is when the whole Na'vi tribe are in sync with the nature. This is the part I liked most of the movie - it shows a group of people who are totally in sync with nature. They do not exploit it but respect and co-exist. Even when they have to kill another creature, it is done with respect and regret.

A powerful message on human greed, need to respect nature and the dignity of life - but perhaps the presentation overshadows the message! All the same, the effort to convey a message is praiseworthy!

Education, ecology and happiness

This morning I came across a news article which states that Costa Rica is the happiest nation on earth. Though there are no real means of 'quantifying' happiness, all possible means of survey and experimentation saw Costa Rica top the list. The primary reason cited for this was the decision of the country to disband its military some years ago. The government decided to invest in education rather than in artillery and it has worked wonders. The second most important reason is the ecological balance that is preserved in the country. It is said that the country only narrowly exceeds the limit of natural exploitation.

Now there are two important features that have proved to be the success factors of a whole nation: education and ecology. Time to learn our lessons!

Climate issues, awareness and action!

Last night we managed to finally make it for 2012. It was worth it (minus the a/c which was on full blast and we three of us there we perhaps the only ones in the theatre with no warm clothing!). All the same the movie was good. Roland Emmerich, the director is really specialising in this genre! I enjoyed his other movie, The day after tomorrow too.

Coming in the time when the world leaders are discussing the climate change and related issues at Copenhagen, the movie has special significance. Though I would have loved that the movie make explicit the insensitivity of the human race in contributing to the destruction of the earth, (more than the heroism of one man to save his family), I appreciate the way it is envisaged. The ethical element of who would survive too is a very crucial and delicate issue touched upon. Adrien, the scientist makes a very powerful statement towards the end: The moment we stop fighting for each other, that's when we lose our humanity. We need to wake up to the serious threat of the ecological crisis we are contributing towards. Hope by the time we are aware, we still have time for action!

Conserving the earth: Copenhagen summit

The Copenhagen Climate summit on climate change (stats) and policy decisions is the talk of the world scenario. I was glad to see The Hindu paper give a front page write up on this and joining in a media campaign requesting the world leaders to take seriously the issue at hand and endorse corrective measures. The other day, there was a small graphic description of how much fuel Obama is going to burn to attend this meet, which is basically a call to cut down fuel consumption and conserving energy resources.

I am hopeful, that if not major changes, the growing awareness itself will pressurise the governments to act sensibly. But I think the media can play a very decisive role in this noble campaign. I very well remember participating in the national campaign held last year in August (8.8.2008) for awareness on conserving energy. What's more, there was an international meeting of Sisters (85 of them) going on and when I sought their permission to help the whole house partake in this campaign by putting off all lights for 8 mins. ... they all readily agreed. Good willing is not lacking, but some decisive measures and steps are! Hope this summit will bridge the gap.

Nature, colour and power

Here's a nice picture of a transparent butterfly.A butterfly with transparent wings is rare and beautiful. As delicate as finely blown glass, the presence of this rare tropical gem is used by rain forest ecologists as an indication of high habitat quality and its demise alerts them of ecological change. Rivaling the refined beauty of a stained glass window, the translucent wings of the Glasswing butterfly shimmer in the sunlight like polished panes of turquoise, orange, green and red.

Looks like Fr Joshtrom through his passionate "secular" goodnight about ecology and the ecological crisis has rubbed something onto me. This pic was sent to me by Fr Koshy and there was a nice statement in the same mail:

All things beautiful do not have to be full of colour to be noticed; in life that which is unnoticed has the most power.