A (Green) Psalm for the New Year

Psalm 1

 ¹ Blessed is the one
   who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
   or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
   and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
   which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
   whatever they do prospers.
 ⁴ Not so the wicked!
   They are like chaff
   that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
   nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
 ⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
   but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Developing countries - A threaten to climate change too?

A new analysis of 2009 global greenhouse gas emissions published in the journal Nature Geoscience has found that increased coal use in the developing world (especially in China and India) boosted global greenhousegas emissions to the second highest level of record. China and India's growing coal addiction seems to be at the heart of the problem.

A Growing Population

World Population Growth Slows Modestly, Still on Track for 7 Billion in Late 2011

World population passed 6.9 billion in mid-2010, according to United Nations demographers, and is on track to reach 7 billion in late 2011. The number of people added to the population each year—79.3 million—has been consistent for nearly a decade. Since the world population is larger each year, of course, this consistent increment equates to a slow fall in the annual growth rate. From mid-2009 to mid-2010, the population grew 1.16 percent, compared with 1.32 percent annually a decade earlier and with slightly more than 2 percent four decades ago.

AGAPE Consultation - Budapest Call for Climate Justice

Delegates of churches from 32 European countries and participants from churches from all over the world met in Budapest from 8-12 November 2010 for consultation on the theme "Poverty, Wealth and Ecology in Europe". The consultation was a broad ecumenical process initiated by the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Porto Alegre in 2006.
It was criticized of economy over people and creation as a whole. The participants recognized the fundamental interdependence between human societies and the rest of creation and their ultimate dependence on God.
There were discussed the great challenges that call for a great transition. Climate change, limitation of fossil fuels, climate change induced migration, food crisis, water crisis, energy crisis, biodiversity crisis is affecting individuals and states. Climate justice requires social justice and should be a central goal of policy-making.
European countries and the EU should politically and financially support green growth in developing countries. Tax systems must be reformed in order to be at the service of just, participatory and sustainable societies and communities. Prices of goods and services should reflect true social and ecological costs and benefits. Coal-fired power stations and nuclear power stations should be replaced by renewable energy as soon as possible. a redistribution of wealth and income as a key element of environmentally sustainable societies is necessary. The EU should commit itself to more ambitious  greenhouse gas emission reduction targets regardless of policies of other large economies.
It was also discussed the encouragement given by God, the Creator. Christians are meant to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world (Mat. 5:13-14). The salvation of mankind is the restoration of  a broken relationship with this whole created order. Through the death and power of the resurrection, Jesus Christ has overcome the powers of death and has become our hope. Therefore, the church is called to be a sign of the hope to this world.
European churches decided to be prepared to use their influence and positions; to acknowledge the close link between fight against poverty and the struggle for climate justice; to reflect on the impact of their policies as well as the lifestyles of their members; to be pioneers and examples on the way to sufficiency by implementing practical programmes on reducing CO2 emissions.
Let's hope that this consultation will end up in practical actions.  

A Poem

This is my Father's world
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols rise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare the maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my father's worls.
O let me ne'er forget
that thought the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901

An Interesting article in Der Spiegel

European Union has been the leader and a model in ecology. Is Europe tired of this?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,735594,00.html

The Birth of Jesus and Ecology

The birth of Jesus stresses the importance of our (natural) world and thus of ecology. He came to proclaim the transformation of our world, and also the need of keeping nature (creation) safe. His parables use nature as an essential background. He uses images from nature in His discourses and proclaims a new glorious future for this world. Jesus had a mission: to restaure the creation.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firtborn of all creation; for in Him all things in heavenand on earth were created, things visible and invisible...He Himself is before all things and in Him all things hold together. (Collosians 1:15-16)