Now This Is Just Being Silly!

Today I read the most disturbing thing.

The Smithsonian Magazine reported that scientists are now messing about with the DNA of cows.  Reason?  To combat climate change and the rise in global temperatures.

Image via Flickr - Lance Cheung

So, let's step back a minute.  The first thing is that these particular scientists have declared their belief in global warming ... which is a good thing.

Now that they've done that - they have realized that, in order for the meat and dairy industries to continue, the cows are going to have to change.  (We're talking for both meat and dairy).  So, they're busy at trying to change the DNA so that the cows can "beat the heat".

"...Scientists and ranchers have an idea of traits that can contribute to heat tolerance - metabolic rates, ability to shed their coats, hair color - but there is no silver bullet. ....Several independent studies, however, have managed to link heat tolerance - at least in part - to the color of a cow's hair...."

What does that mean?  A bit of GM will be going on.

The stupid part is ... Livestock (and the majority are cattle), is the largest source of methane gas emissions worldwide, contributing over 28% of total emissions.  So let's think about reducing the intake of meat and dairy  ????  Right!  As if that's going to happen while it's such a big industry.

And, talking about genetically changing animals - In Australia, pigs are being bred to have more ribs than normal!

image via Flickr - Martin Pettitt

At the moment, it's so they can have more piglets.  You see, the more ribs, the longer the pig, the more nipples, the more piglets.  But it does make you wonder if they will bring this idea into the pork eating side of things.

Read more.

My Take On Pope Francis and His Encyclical

Pope Francis has published his encyclical and the 192 page document holds a lot of good stuff, that, hopefully, is going to be taken on board and will begin the change that is needed in this world we live in.  

I’m not about to summarize the encyclical … that would be a lengthy blog post.  Instead I just want to say that he has covered a lot of topics from global warming to the issue of water, (even covering the pollution of the oceans), and the effects on the poor and developing countries.

It’s pretty obvious he has done his homework and presents both the scientific as well as the biblical and theology side.  Oh, and he also addresses the varying opinions about global warming that are out there.

He also has not been soft in his criticism of the way wealthy countries/corporations use and abuse poorer countries who sit on goldmines such as fossil fuels, but do not have the means to protect their environments from the ravages of the greedy.

All in all, this is a powerful document.  But one that gives hope.  He points out things that are working now as examples of what can be done.

One sentence that I was impressed with “…Politics must not be subject to the economy, nor should the economy be subject to the dictates of an efficiency-driven paradigm of technocracy….”
Oh now wouldn’t that be an ideal world!

Right at the beginning he opens with the words of St Francis …“Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs”….

and in the very next paragraph he boldly states “…This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters….”

It kind of sets the tone for the rest of the document.

Regardless if you are a devout Catholic, of other Christian faith, Muslim or other religion, Agnostic or Atheist, you can take out the religious part if you want and you will still find this is a powerful document.  This man packs a heap of a punch and has a fair amount of influence.  I’m hoping that it pays off.

Pope Francis Rocking the Boat .... Again!

Well blow me over with a feather and tell me it's a sledge hammer.  Now the Pope is being criticized for being concerned about climate change.  

It appears that the Pope, bless his plain white robes, met with the UN Secretary-General and in that meeting they discussed the upcoming United Nations Climate change conference which is going to be held in Paris at the end of this year.  (30 November - 11 December 2015)

But wait, there's more.  Not only did the Pope put his tuppence worth into the climate pot, but the Pontifical Academy of Sciences also met with the UN Secretariat and some other really important non government organizations.

 

 

Vatican & UN team up on climate issues

 

 

Now, the fact that all this climate change discussion was going on by the Vatican powers that be, created a bit of a stir in certain quarters.  Like the Heartland Institute, a right-wing American organization known for its global warming skepticism, got their knickers in a right twist.

 

 

And they weren't the only ones telling the Vatican that they have no business talking about climate change.  Another group, funded by a US climate drive in Chicago went off to Rome to rally against the Vatican's climate commitment.  Interestingly enough, one of these people was Christopher Monckton.

Who the hell is Christopher Monckton I hear you ask.

 

 

His fame is that he's the 3rd Viscount Monkton of Brenchley (to give him his correct title) a journalist right against climate change.  Now young Christopher (well he's not young as the photo above shows) caused an unprecedented step by the House of Lords who published a "cease and desist" letter demanding that Lord Christopher Monckton should stop claiming to be a member of the upper house. reference

If he purports to be someone he's not, then I'm not sure how much credence this man should be given and, I'm please to say, the Vatican thinks the same.

Getting back to the Pope.  He's been outspoken about climate change saying:  "I don’t know if it is the only cause but in great part it is man who has slapped nature in the face. We have in a sense taken over nature.”

 

So, as the Guardian reports   "The Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based conservative thinktank that seeks to discredit established science on climate change, said it was sending a team of climate scientists to Rome '...to inform Pope Francis of the truth about climate science....' ”
Just as an aside …. The Heartland Institute, guess who they are funded by???? Energy companies.  Say no more!!!

 

The Vatican is getting ready to have a Papal encyclical where it will declare it's position on the environment and humanity's relationship with nature.  When that comes out watch out for the flak - will be very interesting to see what sort of confrontation there will be between the Pope and the religious right in the USA.

 

All I can say is ….. stick to your greenness, Francis, the world needs people like you!

 

If you want to read more - BBC