Issue of justice

The recent announcement by the Bush administration to pull out of talks of the Kyoto climate change treaty is shocking and disheartening. Coming in the wake of broken campaign promises to cut carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, it only adds to the disbelief that he really believes, as he had said he does, that climate change is a most pressing problem that must be addressed at all levels.

Those of us in the religious community are deeply concerned about global warming. We are mounting educational programs, doing advocacy work and including care of earth in our prayers and liturgies. And we are particularly concerned that global warming disproportionately affects the earth’s most vulnerable – the poor, the elderly and the sick, making this an issue of justice.

Global warming may very well have already lead to species loss, habitat destruction, flooding, storms and disease. And to the degree that our action or lack of actions as individuals, corporations and nations have contributed to this degradation of our biosphere, it is a serious matter. More than that it is sin against the created order we are called to “tend and protect.”

We in Maine are proud of Sens. Collins and Snowe who are working to ensure air quality by co-sponsoring Sen. Jeffords’, R-Vermont, Clean Power Act of 2001, as well as opposing Bush’s reversal on CO2 emissions. I urge readers to call in support of our two senators on these issues toward an energy policy that avoids the pitfalls of fossil fuel extraction for short-term benefits. Conservation and cultivation of alternate energy sources are the prime avenues we should now be treading.

Rev. Roger S. Burkhart

Chair

United Church of Christ

Maine Conference

Task Force

on Ecology and Spirituality