Global warming & other
environmental concerns

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Warningd to humanity:

James Hansen startled a U.S. Senate committee meeting in 1981 by saying that he was 99% certain that human activities were already warming the climate. Ironically, the speech was given during a stifling heat wave. He coauthored an article in Science in August of that year that begins:

"Atmospheric CO₂ increased from 280 to 300 parts per million in 1880 to 335 to 340 ppm in 1980, mainly due to burning of fossil fuels. Deforestation and changes in biosphere growth may also have contributed, but their net effect is probably limited in magnitude. The CO₂ abundance is expected to reach 600 ppm in the next century, even if growth of fossil fuel use is slow."

On 1992-NOV-18, over 1,500 members of national, regional, and international science academies from 69 nations signed the World Scientists' Warning to Humanity. The introduction to the Warning states:

"Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course. Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damage on the environment and on critical resources. If not checked, many of our current practices put at serious risk the future that we wish for human society and the plant and animal kingdoms, and may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner that we know. Fundamental changes are urgent if we are to avoid the collision our present course will bring about."

Almost a decade and a half have passed since this Warning was issued. The earth's environment has further degenerated.

The public is becoming increasingly aware about threats to the environment. Air quality is degrading and contributing to the early deaths of tens of thousands of North Americans. Global warming appears to be an established fact. It is having repercussions in the number of high intensity hurricanes, violent storms, erratic weather, etc.

A topic like this might normally be considered a scientific matter, without a significant religious component. It might not be expected to appear on this web site. We have included it because environmental concerns and religion are linked in at least two ways:

About the main author of this section:

Vladimir F.J. Tomek (1922-) donated most of this series of essays because of his concern that "we are sleepwalking into an ecological disaster." He graduated from Charles' University in Prague as 'Doctor of natural science' (chemistry and physics) in 1947. After a most eventful life, he settled in Ireland in 1968. Now in retirement, he writes papers in the fields of religion and the environment.

1. "World scientists' warning to humanity," Union of Concerned Scientists, 1992-NOV-18, at: http://www.ucsusa.org/
2. "Publications," Union of Concerned Scientists, at: http://www.ucsusa.org/
3. The Plurality Calendar is a resource of information about cultural and ecological celebratory times as well as religious/spiritual holidays and national/global events. See: http://www.festaviva.ca
4. Uniblue Research Labs has produced a beta version of a LocalCooling program to help you save energy consumed by your computer. See: http://www.localcooling.com
5. Become a biter! Ideal Bite "offers bite-sized ideas for light green living." You can sign up to receive free easy eco-living tips delivered in a short, sassy email each weekday. See: http://www.idealbite.com/