The Valley Catholic April 23, 2013 | Page 14

14 April 23 , 2013 Commentary The Valley Catholic

Environmentalists -- God ’ s new prophets

By Gerard McGuire

At his installation Mass , our new Pope Francis said , “ Let us be protectors of creation , protectors of God ’ s plan inscribed in nature , protectors of one another and of the environment .”

Today , we are facing many challenges in protecting the environment . The most urgent is the unfolding catastrophe of rapidly expanding climate change .

A protector in our faith context is someone who speaks the truth and acts fearlessly , regardless of the consequences , much like a prophet – he or she is the one who shouts out “ we need to change and act .”

Many of us still refuse to hear the prophets in our midst -- the environmentalists , the scientists and politicians who tell us something MUST be done NOW . The increasing rate of CO 2 in our atmosphere is unsustainable . The 350 parts per million limit is what climate experts and scientists agree is our red line , the safe upper limit for

CO 2 in our atmosphere .

Today the planet has about 392 parts per million CO 2 and the number is rising by about two parts per million every year . Yet we continue to spew more

CO 2 into our environment , refusing to give up our increasing use of fossil fuels .

For example , the Keystone XL , a pipeline which if built , would transport tar sands oil from Alberta , Canada through America ’ s heartland to Gulf Coast refineries for shipment overseas . It will be one of the most visible symbols of our rush to exploit and profit by the extraction of one of the dirtiest , most carbon-intensive fossil fuels on the

‘ We forget the Earth does NOT need us , we need her .’

planet today , ( as ranked by the National Resources Defense Council ).

Tearing up the carbon-rich soil under the boreal forest in Alberta will release carbon pollution equivalent to 37 million new cars on the road -- an ecological horror story . It is as if we are taunting the Earth to see how far we can push her before she reacts . We forget the Earth does NOT need us , we need her . What are we doing ?

We hear stories about of the number of jobs Keystone XL will create and how it will help make U . S . energy independent . However , according to a recent State Department study , the pipeline will only create about 35 permanent jobs and 5,000 to 6,000 temporary jobs during its two years of construction .

In the end , what do we achieve ? The tar sand oil will be EXPORTED to Asian markets . The only oil the U . S . is likely to see from this pipeline will be from the oil spills that will inevitably happen , just as occurred recently in the town of Mayflower , Arkansas . An estimated 12,000 gallons of noxioussmelling crude oil flooded streets and yards . Families from 22 homes had to

be evacuated .

As Catholics we can ’ t turn our backs on the crisis about to be unleashed . Following the direction of Pope Francis we must become well-informed citizens and not be fooled by sound bites that promise prosperity for the masses while only corporations will truly profit -- the emperor ’ s new clothes .

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‘ Today , we are facing many challenges in protecting the environment .’

Together , in action , we can rise up fearlessly , awakening others to God ’ s call for stewardship of his creation . Let us be like the Lark , destroyer of the darkness , who in the spring awakens God ’ s creation to a life of light and love . Let us be God ’ s new prophet protectors .

Please join other concerned citizens to urge President Obama to REJECT the Keystone XL pipeline . Access the Interfaith Power and Light petition at http :// bit . ly / Yc8p5T

• Gerard McGuire is Chair of the Diocese of San Jose ’ s Catholic Green Initiative ’ s Advocacy Committee .

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