Monday was supposed to be the first day of spring. Then on Tuesday it snowed.
Rhonda wins the bet. :) I have met with success! My parking ticket appeal paid off... Literally... I got my ticket refunded in full. I was, in fact, in the wrong. But since I wasn't a student and only a "visitor," they upheld my appeal. So they were merciful (and my appeal still held water since the sign was unclear). My faith is renewed in finding justice in this world. ;)
Turmoil in Belarus continues. I support the cause for freedom and justice in this country. At the same time, it is folly to place one's trust in something like democracy. Democracy will not solve all problems. This is evident, I think, not only in our own country, but also abroad where we spread democracy, like in the Middle East. The issues of the Middle East extended way beyond their corrupt political structure... Just look at the rampant tensions between classes and faiths... and the same is true of Belarus. All problems will never be solved this side of faith. It is the other side of faith, in the Kingdom come, where there is any hope. I hope Belarus is able to institute democracy if that will help them regain some of their freedoms that are currently denied them - freedoms of religion, speech, assembly - but it won't give them a political utopia either.
An Afghan man faces the death penalty for converting to Christianity. With all the troubles in Belarus, it is a sober reminder that in other nations, there are even harsher limitations and laws against religious freedom. In Belarus, it is not illegal to be a Christian; but in a country like Afghanistan, a Christian could face death.
And since we have so much cheerful news already, let's mull over the global warming crisis. I confess I know very little about global warming, so someone jump in here. But it is a shame to think about what a poor job we are doing as mankind to take care of this earth, not to mention, our own bodies. We who are stewards of what God has given us are doing a shoddy job of it.
Where was cancer 100, 500 years ago? Where was obesity? Disease continues, and a lot is at our own hands. As I drive to work I think about all the pollution of all these cars, and that I breathe in this pollution day in and out. I think about the shampoo and soaps I use, and how they are filled with proven cancer-causing agents like propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, aluminum, among other products, not to mention the fatty oils that derive from plants that process dead animals... ugh. Though there are alternatives that are chemical free, they are costly.
The populace used to be employed outdoors, regularly walking everywhere, which gave great opportunity for exercise. This is no longer prevalent in the U.S., but in Europe where there are fewer vehicles, they also have less of a problem with obesity. Hmm... wonder why. So instead, the smart Americans are chained to desks and chairs in fluorescent lit buildings, staring at computer screens. The only walking we do is to and from the parking lot and to and from the bathroom down the hall. We develop bad eyesight, carpal tunnel, arthritis AND weight problems. Let me reiterate.... "UGH."
by love.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Turmoil around the world
Posted by Kristi at 8:10 AM
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4 comments:
I don't even understand global warming well enough to say whether I believe in it or not. Did somebody decide what temperature the world is supposed to be? Who? How?
My 50 year old Dad told me the other day that when he was in school the scientists were all worried that another Ice Age was coming.
All in all, I don't understand a lot of things that scientists say.
Don't make yourself crazy, girl. I think you'd have a tough case arguing people were healthier 100 years ago. According to CDC statistics, the average life expectancy in 1906 was 48.7 years. Less if you were male, and much less if you were black. Now it's up around 75 or 80, so take some comfort in that...if you want.
LAM
hmm...life expectancies. there's always the question of quality of life, not just quantity. are the extra years that human beings are living spent in better health? or are they spent in ill health from all the physical factors you mentioned? are they spent in anxiety and malaise? are they spent disconnected from a vital relationship with their Creator?
I don't know. but the questions spring to mind. my thoughts.
About the ice age: There was a period of cooling in the '70s (not sure when Matt's dad was in school) that interrupting the general trend of warming throughout this century because of the massive amount of sulfur dioxide (SO2 rather than CO2) that was being put into the atmosphere. SO2 reflects sunlight, thus the world was cooling when large amount of SO2 were spewing into the atmosphere. However, SO2 causes acid rain and coal plant emissions, etc. were forced by regulation to use scrubbers which reduced SO2 emissions but allowed CO2 emissions and thus SO2 was not able to counteract the large about of CO2 in terms of global warming. That is why scientists were predicting an ice age - but it does show how human changes can drastically effect the environment.
About life expectancy: the primary reason life expectancy has increased is because infant mortality has been substantially reduced in Western countries in general and the USA in particular. Since "average life expectancy" is calculated by averaging everyone's life, then high infant mortality rates would REALLY lower the average. A better comparison of the effects of environmental issues (rather than medical, sanitation, and food supply issues which resulted in descreased infant mortality) would be to look at life expectancy of someone who is 25 years old or so and see how many years they would live. This would counteract the high infant/child mortality rates prior to the 20th century, and it turns out that there have been some improvements for us over prior generations but certainly not as substantial as 45 years to 75 years or so.
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