Peter's Epistle - A 156 Week Offering

The Civil War

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:47:00 +0000

July 23, 2010

Recently I was drawn to reading a concise illustrated version of The Civil War. This retrospective venture was prompted by looking at several copies of Harper’s Weekly from the 1860’s. By now you are thinking, was has this got to do with the environment, or Peter’s life, or my life for that matter.

The period between 1861 and 1865 was a holocaust of staggering proportions. Approximately 3 million men and boys served both sides in roughly 2200 battles from Vermont to Arizona. When the statistics were in an astonishing realization pervaded the nation – in a Civil War no one wins. There were as many deaths in this one period in our history than all other wars combined, and this was brother against brother, American against American. Hopefully, we have learned our lesson and the vitriol and name calling so pronounced prior to armed conflict between the North and the South does not escalate today.

I am embarrassed for the infantile posturing and name calling of supposed educated adults in the media, halls of congress, and forums around our country – not only are the words ‘liar’ and ‘baby killer’ wrongly attached to two of our nations leaders, they were yelled out as if the combatants were on a playground in junior high school. Words precede deeds and that is why I am concerned.

430 soldiers died each day of the four year Civil War in our country. Angry words preceeded the bullets.

Now, we are seeing angry words directed at well meaning scientists trying to grapple with melting glaciers, warming seas, migrating sea life, disappearing species, vanishing habitats and changing climate patterns across the globe. The scurrilous attacks are offensive and indicating a larger and more serious problem. Words anticipate violence, is not an empty slogan.

Yet, few of us realize that denial of the truth about what is happening globally may lead to millions of people losing their lives; at a rate much higher than 430 a day. In the Concise Illustrated History the writer states: “The war came from the fanaticism of a group of hotheads on each side. The great mass of Americans succumbed to radicalism and therefore exhibited the traits of a blundering generation.’

My generation is now blundering along as the collapsing of creation accelerates. There are 3 groups of people in my generation. Those who feel that it is not their problem, many who deny the truth because to accept the reality would require dramatic changes that few are willing to accept, and those who see the problem and move along with personal changes. There needs to be a fourth category: Those willing to speak truth to power and express the importance of over-throw, paradigm shifting, re-thinking whole systems while sacrificing for the greater good and the future of those we have brought forth in record numbers.

Inner Environment

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:04:00 +0000

July 16, 2010

Balance is key. Not just being able to walk without falling over, though that becomes more of an issue the older we get, balance is the silver bullet to a healthy life. My body got all out of whack a few years ago. Trying to eat vegetarian without realizing I was a diabetic led to a reduced immune system and a likelihood that my body became susceptible to my eventual lymphatic cancer called mantle cell. However, simple research led me to realize heredity was a factor; both parents had cancer – my mom died of lymphatic cancer and my dad lived on one lung for almost 40 years because of losing it to lung cancer. But the research did not stop there. Why did I get cancer in the first place? I called the Center for Cancer and the Environment in Chicago and talked with the head of the center. We determined that my life as an athlete playing on grass fields in the 50-70’s and being around my mom with her bouffant hairstyle and the spray that kept it in place all day had their impact on me. The key ingredient was however, from my perspective, is that I lost my balance.

All work and no play – over-tired and too serious – I began to see the glass half empty rather than relying on my old positive attitude and the theology in seminary that helped guide me through life’s rigors – The theology of Hope by Jurgon Moltmann. Problem was the brain and the body was simultaneously going out of balance. And, then the old cigarette addiction from age 20-40 came into play.

If this old body had not been hit with that little carcinogenic white stick around 30 times a day for years I might have weathered the storm. I can safely say the unintended consequences of all of the above reared their ugly head. I had no idea playing football on turf, or visiting my mom while she was starching her hair, or smoking would have un-tended consequences.

In looking into the idea of a healthy body the challenges mounted. Chemicals in our food, water, and atmosphere are unavoidable. The lure of an addicting substance like tobacco was strong as I matured. In a 1919 magazine called The Veteran there is an article entitled Ask the Returned Doughboy what Tobacco did For Him.

‘Right now the war cry is ‘Anti-tobacco.’ Picture the man who recalls the day in his front line dugout when the ceaseless roar of shell fire would have driven him stark mad had it not been for the occasional drag on cigarettes he happened to have that day. Then consider these same men coming back into America to find that some of the ‘stay at homes’ those for whom he was risking his life in France-have embarked upon a senseless crusade to take away from smokers the one thing more than any other that helped make the war even a little more bearable for America’s fighting men.”

This is humorous to us today, but the article was deadly serious – pun intended. Would it not be fitting that what we produce is not going to kill us? Systemic change is required in industry so as not to put into the environment, either externally or internally gases, chemicals, and ‘crap’ that is going to destroy the very fabric of our lives. The eco systems of the planet, as well as our own eco systems are damaged daily – it is just a question of time before someone you love succumbs with the unintended consequences of putting profit before people, period!

Thus, I advocate a rethinking of all that we manufacture and phase out all that does the human and animal families harm. Period!

Can we make a Rhino?

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:11:00 +0000

July 9, 2010

19 years ago my invitation read: “On May 6th (1991) 1000 guests will gather to join one of the world’s special people to celebrate 30 years of discovery and revelation, and raise critically needed support for animals worldwide.”

The event, honoring anthropologist Jane Goodall was chaired by the late actor/animal activist Jack Lemmon, and the honorary chair was none other than Michael Jackson.

“All the kings horses and all the kings men” were at the Beverly Hilton that night, but even they and Jane Goodall have not been able to stop the rapid decline in species throughout Africa and the rest of the world.

Polar bears on thin ice, no longer gorillas in our midst, African elephants poached for their ivory, tigers being decimated; as we humans put another 75-80 million new folks on the planet yearly. As the human animal breeds itself towards extinction we are already assuring the homeland of many of the majestic creatures of the planet will no longer be viable to sustain a healthy population.

We hear the ridiculous cry of humans first with a right to take whatever they need for their survival; not recognizing that the gift of creation is a package plan where all is connected, related, and inter-dependent. Yet, many continue to preach and the spotted owl, snail darter, or the El Segundo butterflies be damned. For years we have been cavalier about the disappearance of the invisible workers in the soil and seas of the planet. Out of sight and out of mind works pretty well for millions of us, and microbes and phytoplankton do not rank high on our evolutionary scale; even though their disappearance will not be beneficial to the human family. Thankfully, most of us feel compassion for the plight of the black rhino, or the Sumatran tiger, or the blue whale and want to do something about their plight. We have feelings of empathy for the panda’s, orcas, koala’s to name a few of the cuddly among us, but someone we are becoming increasingly detached from the plight of animals that Jane and her colleagues have spoken about for decades.

Persons of scientific substance with a long history of commitment to the creatures of the planet; folks with etymology, or biology, or zoology as part of their life work has demonstrated how fragile the world of animals on the planet really is.

Happy Birthday America

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:08:00 +0000

July 2, 2010

Independence Day – a day marked by Nathan’s Hog Dog eating contest on Coney Island New York, parades and pageants, fireworks and fire crackers, and lots and lots of flags waved, displayed and saluted.

What it means, and how it is celebrated is different for everyone. If we have lost a member of our family to the ravages of war we may view the day with an inner quiet reflecting upon service to country. Perhaps we feel that this is the one day of the year we can show off our red, white, and blue decorations and no one will complain that it is not or is politically correct. Love of country is expressed in a variety of ways, as is how we choose to honor the 4th of July.

The day reminds me of the requirements asked of immigrants to the country and the quiz that they must take prior to becoming citizens. I wonder if I could pass the test? I also reflect on the hometown parade, which this year experienced controversy over the idea of parading an elephant down the streets and through the neighborhoods. Many rose up in favor of the elephant and the invitation was withdrawn in the ninth hour. I was proud of my fellow citizens who learned a little bit about the treatment of elephants and saw the wisdom in not having ‘Kitty” lead the parade. Parades are important, fun, and teachable moments to our youth. When the child waves the flag or views the color guard, or listens to the marching band from the local high school, a signal is offered, a reminder is presented, and it is the parent’s responsibility to share what this day is all about. Waving the flag is not patriotic, in and of itself. So what is patriotism and what is flag waving?

The answer should come from within each one of us. How we serve our country and why we wave the flag should be a part of every Independence Day reflection time. Enjoy the day, and remember Joey Chestnut ate something like 68 hot dogs last year in 10 minutes at the world championships. My record is 4 veggie hot dogs at one sitting.

We Must Protect Our Heritage

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:56:00 +0000

June 25, 2010

Never in the history of our country have our natural resources meant so much as they do right now. Our forests, our waters, our soil, our minerals, and our wildlife are serving a purpose so great that it makes all the years and millions spent conserving them seem infinitesimal.

Without them our economic, social, and recreational structure would soon collapse. They have meant much to us in times of peace. They will mean more during war.

We should be thankful not only that we are endowed with these priceless heritages of abundance, but that we have been able through proper management and wise use to protect and preserve them.

Let us never forget that they are treasures which cannot be measured in dollars and cents; that some of them once destroyed cannot be replaced. Protect them! Protect forests from fire, streams from pollution, soil from erosion, and wildlife from its natural enemies and starvation.

Protect and enjoy them. It is through their enjoyment that we have become a healthy outdoor-loving people—a spiritually, morally and physically strong people—a people who will sacrifice everything, even life itself, to preserve the country and the freedom which has given us so many treasured gifts.”

- Editorial from Pennsylvania Game News March 1942.

Words of wisdom from the past too often forgotten should never be part of our accepted practice. Some look to ancient scripture to inform behavior today. Many look to the writer’s who lived in times of crisis to pinpoint necessary behavior so essential for our well being as a people. Thanks Mr. Ross L. Leffler for standing up for those who did not have a voice very often.

The Gulf oil spill is speaking to us and the words of 1942 are too late. Now what? May we resolve to shift the paradigm over-night beginning with each of us in power, each with a platform, and each with a commitment to the larger good. The oil has been released; the genii is out of the bottle; it can not be put back in? Our only salvation is large scale cooperative efforts for the good of the whole. And that means – the balance of sound economics with sound ecology and our present system is not working within that framework so it must change; immediately!

Too Stupid To Notice

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:52:00 +0000

June 18, 2010

When you hit 90 you are entitled to be listened to carefully. Scientist James Lovelock has been a voice articulating a vision of a united self regulating organism called earth for much of his adult life. Now, at that magical number 90, he believes the human family is too stupid to save itself. I agree, and I am only 67 and 11/12th s –

There is nothing that describes us any better. We have the data. We see what is happening before our eyes. And…we continue as if nothing is the matter and all will be fine if we trust in either God or technology to save us; or both. I trust neither to save us. I trust the human who has been given a free will and a brain to use both in the time of crisis; yet we seem to use neither.

Back to the creator of the Gaia hypothesis; Sir. James Lovelock. My mentor Dr. John Seeley died at 95 – a wise and benevolent man he and I would often discuss ‘the end times’ and how that all might come about. On occasion we would introduce the possibility of nuclear holocaust and felt in the end that was unlikely. Ultimately we felt that the environments neglect would be impossible to rectify and like Lovelock felt that the unraveling of creations web of interaction and inter connectedness would make it harder and harder for the 7 billion of us to survive. We wrestled with the class 4 viruses that are carried about by the air we breathe and felt they might take a hold someplace and eradicate millions over-night, but that the earth could tolerate massive epidemics. On the other hand, sea level rise, if a catastrophic collapse of ice shelves worldwide were to occur and the sea would rise perceptively ‘over-night’ we would not be able to cope, even in the developed countries like ours. Lovelock advises building barriers already!

The realization of the macrocosm of the human family becoming increasingly stupid about what is happening is sadly reflected in many with whom I am in contact who deny the reality of the global change taking place. All I can say is that my well educated friends, all of who will continue to be my friends unless they choose to distance themselves further from me, and I am already seeing the big P in the hands of many; P for pariah!, are stupidly buying into the rhetoric that all is OK and all we have to do is keep the economic engine running and that technology will fix it all.

As a sailor I check the barometer before setting out in my 8 ft Dyer Dinghy sailing pram. The precautionary principle is second nature to anyone who hikes, sails, flies a plane, white water kayaks, hang glides, or goes outdoors when rain is forecast. In other words, we already have built into our DNA the willingness to plan and prepare so as not to be blindsided by a line squall, or running out of gas, or facing a freak snowstorm in July or rain in March in California.

Why are we so darn stupid about the big picture? The OIL SPILL may well indeed signal the end of civilization as we know it. I had no idea when I committed to writing a blog for 156 weeks that the day in December in 2012 looms as the day of prediction about the future! Please help me understand why our hubris prevents us from seeing the future.

I Love Our Flag

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:49:00 +0000

June 11, 2010

HARD TO WRITE ABOUT OTHER ISSUES, BUT I MUST, IN SPITE OF MY FEELINGS ABOUT THE DISASTER IN THE GULF WHICH BEGAN THE DAY OF MY 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY; APRIL 20, 2010 – A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY, BEYOND THAT OF SOMEONE WANTING TO MARRY ME!

Flag Day – the day in 1777 that our first flag was authorized as authentically American. A day set aside to reflect upon our most iconic and ubiquitous symbol. Flown daily in front of all government installations, on the campuses of most schools, and in the front yards of homes across America, the ‘Stars and Stripes’ should be understood and its story told.

Like the Liberty Bell, the Star Spangled Banner as anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance, the history of the flag has been a story of process, change, and evolution. With its varying iterations through the years, the essential characteristics of the blue canton and the stars, combined with the 13 stripes has been the defining colors of The United States Flag. With the addition of new states, the last two being Hawaii and Alaska in 1959, our flag has gone from 13 stars, to 15, to 35, then 48 and finally 50. Along the way the dimensions were established so the proportion of length to width was consistent. In addition, the once grand flag of the battle of Ft. McHenry, the original Star Spangled Banner (with the addition of Old Glory we now have referenced the flag with its 4 most commonly used names), which has been restored is of 15 stripes. This did not work so the original 13 colonies or states became the representative number of 7 red and 6 white or 13 stripes.

I love our flag. Have flown it my whole life as I was taught by my maternal grandfather during the Second World War to raise and fold and present the flag properly at an early age. Now it is my turn to teach the grand kids and flag etiquette is part of passing on a tradition that became incorporated into my life through experience. I do not worship or wrap myself in the flag however. What I worship are the values the flag stands for. I will fight for freedom, liberty, justice – the desecration of these is much more important to me than the desecration of the flag itself; much more!

Bees and Butterflies

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:45:00 +0000

HARD TO WRITE ABOUT
ANYTHING OTHER THAN
THE WORST DISASTER
EVER TO BEFALL THE
HUMAN AND NON HUMAN
FAMILY SINCE THE EXTINCTION
OF THE DINOSAURS – BUT I MUST!

The West Virginia coal miner’s life is tough by any standards. Yet, a miner’s best friend is a small little bird called a canary. Here is a beautiful little creature that unwillingly may sacrifice his/her life in order that a coal miner might have life another day. The phrase ‘the canary in the coal mine’ has now been adopted by our culture to reference something that indicates something else about to occur. It is a primitive early warning system, but it works. Now there are much more sophisticated sensors in mines and canaries are no longer sacrificed.

I do not know a lot about bugs, have never been particularly fond of the crawling kind, but do know a little about bees and butterflies and what I know is disturbing.

Perhaps the two most important living creatures in the whole of the earth they will signal trouble ahead before it happens. A canary tries to escape the gas fumes but can not because it is caged allowing the coal miner to free himself from the dangerous build up of gases in the mine. A bee comes back to home when all is well, but now with colony collapse disorder affecting bees worldwide the entire food production system is in jeopardy because the food we consume is often dependent upon the bee for pollination. In the agricultural heartland of California where 80% of all the almonds are grown there is a mounting level of anxiety because the 3 million bees required to keep the almond trees producing are harder and harder to come by.

Historically bees were symbols of diligence and eloquence. Their work ethic is unparalleled, their loyalty legendary, and the sounds they make communicate in the natural world across geographic boundaries. Besides the honey which is the nectar of the gods, they are essential in the balance of life.

The butterfly, for our ancestors, represented an unconscious attraction to the light as well as new birth, resurrection, and a fresh start. My encounter with the blue morpha butterfly of Costa Rica, on a path to the Rincon de la Viejo Volcano, represented for me a turning point in my life. The magnificent blue creature, as large as a bird, danced in the forest light in front of me after I had been threatened and surrounded by an angry troop of monkeys. Not one for superstitions, I recognized the butterfly came along to teach me.

Thus, the bee and the butterfly are rabbi’s, teachers from creation; elevated to a status of mentor so that we mortals may learn from their story.

Spring has Sprung and So Has A Leak

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 11:24:00 +0000

May 21, 2010

Growing up in New England had many advantages, and a few challenges. Winter seemed to go on forever, yet the snow meant sledding down the hills of Short Hills, and the freezing temperatures signaled time to sharpen the skates for a bit of pick up hockey on South Pond. However, as the months dragged along spring was a time of the crocus popping through the hard ground and the forsythia beginning to bloom and our spirits were lifted. New birth, new smells, new energy – all seemed to be associated with spring in New Jersey and Connecticut. I miss the transition from winter to spring.

Around the globe millions of people look for the signs of new beginnings. War torn nations yearn for a time of peace. Countries ravaged by tsunamis or earthquakes awaken to each day with a huge weight on their shoulders. Environmental degradation signals fear for the future, and the signs of increasing global refugees on the move yearly means that fewer and fewer have a spring to anticipate.

….and now as spring moves into summer the hurricane season approaches and the oil spill dominates my thinking. A hurricane would push the oil throughout the gulf and miles of wetlands would be choked to death. Life as the gulf states know it would be altered forever because you can not clean up wetlands; period! Once again we await the movement of the oil into the Gulf Stream – hitting that climate regulating current might prove that our giant pond’s shorelines are not exempt and that the unintended consequences of our un-regulated hubris might be oil on Nantucket in the near future.

We got a clue to the un-intended consequences of lack of foresight by leaders when a fellow named Hosea wrote: “The land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; and even the fish of the sea are taken away.” This was written by the Old Testament prophet who saw the proverbial handwriting on the wall.

“The land mourns” - Haiti, Chili, Indonesia, Congo, USSR – to name a few places where the land has been so degraded by human and so-called natural disasters.

“…all who dwell in it languish” – the plight of the people in Haiti, the whole of the African Continent, the Amazonian basin dwellers; just to name a few who suffer no spring and no hope

“…and also the beasts of the field” - scientists warn of declining species, the loss of bio-diversity and the extinction potential of some of the great animals of creation – look at the African Elephant, the black rhino, the tiger, and the grand gorillas to name a few.

‘…and the birds of the air” – air pollution, chemical fertilization and pesticides, and habitat destruction, and illegal trade in endangered birds are limiting the freest most diverse and beautiful peaceful creatures on the planet.

‘…and even the fish of the sea are taken away.” - all major fish populations are in decline around the globe – from Georges Banks and the prolific cod to the brackish waters of the Amazon and the spawning giant bluefin the alarm has sounded. To lose the protein of the sea is to lose our fight for survival…and now the Gulf catastrophe…

Why do we hold such anger in our hearts towards creation, the gifts that sustain and nourish us, to let this happen? Maybe we need a little more resurrection power that comes through celebrating spring and working to make spring work for the rest of the world at the same time shifting our strategies so that tomorrow’s generations may have at least a fighting chance of a healthy life. Oil deep, yes very deep in the ground under the sea should be left alone for we humans are not smart enough to manage it when it gets loose from its millions of years home. As the saying goes; the cat is out of the bag, and it is our fault; now what do we do?

An Oasis Amidst The Catastrophe

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:38:00 +0000

Roughly 6 months ago I was asked to speak in Orange County California before an inter-faith alliance of clergy who care about God’s creation. Wednesday of this week was the day. With the national news speaking of disaster in the Gulf I found myself grappling with how to address yet another symbolic declaration from nature that the human family continues to find ways to compromise the gift of creation. I mentioned briefly that 1 quart of oil contaminates 250,000 gallons of water – and then let them do the math of a 7,000,000 gallon spill.

Prior to the talk I went to my files and found one of the first environmental talks I had given. Sure enough, it was typed on a manual typewriter, and presented to the Barstow School in Kansas on Nov. 6, 1970. I had given a talk on Earth Day, but have no record of it. That was the year of the 1st Earth Day, and this talk came a few weeks after the 40th Earth Day.

My own words from 1970 continue to stir my soul – “It is pointless discussing ecology if we see it as anything less than the most vital, most all inclusive issue or crisis that has ever befallen man.” (Now, being politically correct, and very appropriate for today - I would finish the sentence – “befallen the human and non-human families.’) I went on to add ‘our entire systems, our entire consciousness, most of our secular values must change.”

I then referenced a talk I had given in Orange Country three years earlier; some of whom had heard that offering. But, enough about the talk, I will leave that for perhaps another epistle, but I really want to talk about the audience.

The host organization was the Sikh Center of Santa Ana California. Sikhism is a world wide religion with its base in India and its spiritual center in Amritsar, Punjab. I had forgotten that my invitation was to be hosted by this wonderful community, and when I arrived I was initially emotionally overcome. I had never been in a Sikh center since I was in the Golden Temple, the most holy of shrines, in Amritsar in 1963. As a 20 year old I worked in rural India for four months, until a little food poisoning, dysentery and malaria struck me down, and forced me to return to the States. I worked directly with the Sikhs doing agricultural missionary work and to this day wear a Sikh bracelet given to me in June of 1963. It has never come off my wrist and symbolizes brother/sister hood in their religion. My talk was in the presence of three large pictures of the Golden Temple, and the smells wafting from the kitchen during my talk was what really took me back to the villages of the Punjab 47 years ago. As a 20 year old celebrating his 21st birthday with two cold Cokes, far away from loved ones and familiar surroundings, in a strange village, I can attest to the fact how the human family is indeed one family with just a bunch of little variations. This profound experience changed me forever and cemented for me the belief that all in God’s realm belong and are here for a reason; some day we may become wise enough to figure this all out.

But, enough about me, I want to share my feelings that what is happening in Orange County California should be a lesson for all. I spoke about the environment to clerics from the Sikh, Muslim, Christian and Jewish traditions. Their inter-faith coalition represents a key answer to solving the collapsing of creation dilemma. Unless the model being developed there is copied throughout the globe we might as well begin to build our bunkers, shelters, islands, or whatever we deem feasible to escape the eventual outcome of letting creation slip through our fingers. But, we have hope if all religions put aside their petty differences; which often seem huge initially, but when compared to the big picture become insignificant. So what if I believe in Jesus, and my rabbi friend or Muslim or Sikh counterpart does not – we all believe in a creator God and a world worth preserving for future generations.

What an affirmation of what can be when clerics from all traditions sit down at table and break bread together. When they begin to speak as one, act as one, and rally around a theology that affirms creation, then we will begin to see the change needed.

Thank you Margaret Henke and Sherri Loveland for your patience and persistence with the clergy of Orange County – You have discovered the answer to building a sustainable future for generations - clergy who get the fact that there first responsibility is to the garden and all in the garden and who can put aside everything else will and must lead the environmental movement with their vision and commitment. Into the hands of Adam and Eve creation has been entrusted – as representatives of the people of God clergy are the ultimate protectors and restorers of our fragile island home. Thanks, your friend Peter

Drill Baby Drill

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:25:00 +0000

May 14, 2010

The earth is a living breathing self contained entity floating in the vast expanse of inter-stellar space. Since its formation billions of eons ago it has been subject to vast changes in climate as species came, disappeared, and re-appeared in different forms. Life as we know it since 10,000 years ago has been pretty stable. That’s a long stretch of time and the human family has been blessed with relatively minor changes that has enabled us to flourish to the tune of approximately 6.8 billion folks living here today.

Modern society, let’s say since the mid-1800’s, has come to rely on one of those elements that took millions of years to develop. Buried deep within the earth, and perhaps deep within the earth for a reason, reside billions of cubic feet of gas, coal and oil. Hard to get to, not easy to extract, modern technology has beaten back the barriers and we continue to mine these resources for the living planet we call home.

Just a thought here: What if the oil, gas, and coal were deep down for the reason of keeping the inner part of the planet in balance. We know the atmosphere, the ocean currents and wind patterns all must stay in balance, an equilibrium that regulates our planet. Maybe there is an inner balance as well. Water, the essential ingredient in all life, appears from deep with the earth on its own in the form of springs, rivers, and lakes, yet the triple threat to humankinds long term survival have to be ‘taken’ from the earth – perhaps the earth did not want them taken in the first place because of reasons we are not smart enough to fully understand. Water is given; we must preserve it. Oil, gas and coal is taken; oftentimes at the expense of lives, and the environment – maybe we should stop taking what is not rightfully ours and harness what is given – wind and sunlight.

Granted we have seen the development of culture based on utilizing C O G – coal –oil – gas. We are completely and utterly dependent on their extraction for our lifestyle. Yet, today, we sit in absolute terror that the spill in the Gulf may change the human family forever. The big if – if we can not contain the oil from seeping out at the rate we see today the oil will eventually contaminate the earth pond. Ocean is not a good word because it conjures in our minds the sense of limitlessness. A pond on the other hand is simply a body of water that has limits. The water in the ocean has no place to go and all the oceans connect with all the others – hence it is just a big pond.

Consider this: 1 qt. of oil will contaminate 250,000 gallons of water. 1 gallon of oil will contaminate 1 million gallons of water. Currently the oil is flowing into the Gulf of Mexico at the rate of 200,000 gallons a day. Thus, on each day of continued pollution the Gulf will have its waters contaminated at the rate of 2,000,000,000,000 gallons. That is a lot of water. Consider this: the City of Los Angeles uses 300,000 million gallons a day. I would imagine that the entire country does not use 2 trillion gallons of water a day, but that is what is being compromised daily.

Now that we have thrown away the precautionary principle believing that we can ‘drill baby drill’ whenever and wherever we want, we have discarded our ability to save ourselves from ourselves. Continuing to treat the gift of creation, our fragile planetary island home as something we control will result in the collapse of civilization as we know it.

Perhaps our human self-centeredness and feeling that we can manipulate the Earth to our desires is beginning to make mother Earth not function at her best. Spewing ash from volcano’s or oil from the sea is nothing new, but at this level, and at the risk of sounding critical, my guess is that we are somehow to blame. I know I am to blame for global warming and climate change, but now the stakes are getting higher and life as we know it may be challenged if this rupture, caused by man, is not arrested today!

Oil and Water Do Not Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:07:00 +0000

May 7, 2010

Chernobyl sent contamination around the globe for the air currents know no geographic boundaries. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill will contaminate the entire globe, even if it is capped with an unknown technology, oil will continue to be dispersed because the oceans currents know no geographic boundaries. What we once called oceans are no more than big ponds for all salt water systems are inter-connected. Have you ever taken a pebble and thrown it into a body of water on a very still morning when the water resembles a mirror? What happens? That’s right the ripples continue across the entire surface until either out of sight or the ripples hit up against land. The oil of the Gulf may be here on our doorsteps as long as we may live, irrespective of where we might live.

In a visit with a concerned peer he exclaimed with toe tapping assurance that the words of the scientific community he is hearing about this human made blunder were beyond belief. “This is the end of civilization as we know it.” “This is the start of the end times.” He is neither religious, nor stupid, but a well read concerned citizen who has been around for 7 decades or so. If the well is capped the words will not resonate for very long as the amount of oil can be absorbed by nature’s natural corrective tendencies; albeit over a long time; however, if the oil continues unabated for let’s say a month or two, the consequences will be like nothing this planet has ever seen since modern civilization developed.

I have been in oil spills. The Malibu spill of a few years back prompted my visiting the clean up crew, camera in hand, and I snapped a few pictures of booms, guys in protective suits, and one guy with a white construction worker hat on with the Chevron logo proudly displayed. What a mess? One of my photographs was on the cover of The Palisadian Post. I have witnessed leaking fishing trawlers in the outer harbor of Wychmere on Cape Cod. There is always a smell, even from a few gallons leaked into a harbor. There is always residue on docks, boats, pilings, shellfish and anything in the way of the indiscriminate pollutant.

This issue of ‘drill baby drill’ so inappropriately declared by the likes of Sarah Palin has now illustrated the unintended consequences of man’s hubris. We think we can take that which is buried in the earth, perhaps deeply buried for a very good reason, and use it at our discretion. The answer for today is to stop using coal and oil to go to clean technologies immediately. We shifted into a wartime economy in the 1940’s over-night, now we must shift to a green economy over-night, or our children will be cleaning the pollutants from their lungs and bodies for the rest of their lives.

This is not a legacy any of us want to leave our children; and yes, we will have to sacrifice, maybe in suffer a little, but this is the American way when we all come together to make a difference.

Earth Day 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Sat, 01 May 2010 01:44:00 +0000

April 22, 2010

Today is the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day. I was in Kansas City Missouri on April 22, 1970. Little did I know that my ordination to the priesthood that had been set 6 months earlier by Bishop Spears for April 27th 1970 would occur only 5 days after the date that has really defined my ministry for 40 years. Thus this is a big week for me – 40 years is one of those Biblical numbers that means a long time – Moses in the wilderness for 40 years; Jesus in the desert for 40 days – in both cases we really have no way of knowing the exact amount of time but the round number 40 essentially means an extended period of time has passed. It is hard to believe 40 years have come and gone in the blink of an eye and yet upon closer examination a whole lot has transpired in this ‘long amount of time.’ Throughout the course of this epistle which will run for a short time, three years, these 40 years of mine will be unpacked in a variety of ways. However, there is one little fact I forgot to mention about this week.

To make the week even more special, April 20th is my 25th Wedding Anniversary. Katy and I were married at St. Matthew’s Church in Pacific Palisades California two and half decades ago.

Anniversary dates are important to honor. Reflection upon each has prompted me to affirm the importance of family, career, and community (in the broadest sense of the word). A wedding is not just the joining of two individuals but the union of families, mutual friends, shared singly and then corporately, and broader interests that each bring to the marriage. If we do marriage right then we maintain our unique individual characters but learn to grow with the wisdom and strong qualities of one’s spouse and children, if they may be. Marriage is never just about two people but an always widening circle. In essence, marriage is always becoming something else when done correctly.

Reflecting on a 40 year career is fun – 1970 to 2010. It has been a good ride; yet increasing frustration with the institutional church has demanded a re-look at some of the common practices of my Christian religion. Today, by many of the so-called self described ‘moral majority’ (which is neither) or the disturbingly descriptive words ‘religious right’ (which is neither) my whole understanding of how we are to proclaim Christ’s message to the world has been changed. Today, I find myself having to defend my religion against those who claim they are Christians for many have so distorted it that it does nor resemble what I studied in seminary and have practiced for 40 years.

Now we here preached that Christianity, which has always been inclusive and embracing, is basically a club with membership selected by a few. Not only that, they address as their platform two issues that are hot button issues, abortion and homosexuality, neither of which are either in the 10 Commandments or the teachings of Jesus – no where to be found – period - and yet you would think Jesus was railing against these folks daily and that Moses and the law was patently anti-homosexual. Even the passages from Paul, who was a mere mortal like all of us, are ambiguous at best.

Romans 1:26-27 and 1 Corinthian 6:9 place homosexuality alongside so many other issues that no one, that is right, not one of us make the grade. Isolating homosexual behavior is an abomination on face value.

Where is the voice on Earth Day? A few gestures to recycle, drive a Prius, bye recycled, and eat lower on the food chain are not getting the job done and the voice of the church is still.

Too often the voice of the church is emasculated by the culture. Afraid to lose the financial base of generosity which pays the salaries and the upkeep, clergy modify the intensity of their religious message to accommodate the culture; rather than speaking against culture which is what is asked for by Christ. Stand against the prevailing mindset and you are somehow branded un-American, or worse a heretic; yet, the heresy is clearly in the distortion of the gospel and the message of Christ. He was always for fairness, justice, the rights of the poor, the protection of the natural world (his parables were always right out of the book of nature), and the marginalized. Time to get back to the basics!

And…how to preserve creation, the community within which all animal, vegetable and mineral have their being- that is the theological issue of any day. The chemical soup we pour into our environment damages all in creation. The ruach elohim, the breath of God no longer can be called clean; thus we contaminate our temple with every breath- etc. etc. etc. We know the truth but do not want to hear its implications.

I celebrated this day at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria Virginia by introducing the 3rd Annual Speaker at the Kreitler Environmental Lectures created in memory of my parents. Bill Baker, head of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation spoke of the importance of saving the bay. He was right. If we do not save the bay we lose a huge indicator region of the planet that is biologically diverse and essential to the over-all well being of millions. That’s good – non-profits seeking to preserve God’s creation. Time for the churches to join hands with the environmental community every day of every year.

None of My Business

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:25:00 +0000

Engaged, meaningful conversation is often hard to come by at social gatherings called ‘cocktail parties.’ An excuse to drink for many, reconnect with old friends for others, and for me a chance to engage someone for the sake of gaining new insights or information, justifies my attendance. However, wading through inane superficial conversation is an art form designed as a way to get to substance. Yes, we all entertain ourselves too much with trivia, superficial conversations and irrelevant chatter as the world around us implodes.

Years ago a friend who sired 5 children was critical of large un-educated families across the globe as to the cause of so many problems. Right on the idea of there being too many of us, but let’s look a little deeper. I know many of us have entered that often combative arena of discussion on occasion – so let’s honestly assess the impact of children on the already over-burdened planet. Being the devils advocate with a collar on is a pastime of great pleasure, and I informed him that he might want to temper his anger in the light of the fact that a child raised in America will consume anywhere from 3 to 75 times the earth’s resources of a poor child in developing nation during the course of a lifetime. In other words, criticize the family of 375 children in Ethiopia; or 9 children in Japan – representing the two ends of the scale that I am referencing. His five children, my three, and your…..? are disproportionately using up the resources of the planet by many factors because of our consume – discard way of living.

Discussing population is contentious at best; especially with Catholics and their rigid stance on this issue. The old saying still seems to hold; ‘no one has the right to tell me to give birth or not, no one” – …and if I can afford kids I can have as many as we want.” Au contraire – we have over-shot the carrying capacity of the planet by two-fold, much less the caring capacity by billions, not millions, on this planet and it is time to take responsibility for our birthing practices.

Time for reason to prevail – we have limited space and the infinite capacity to procreate. We are diminishing the earth’s resources currently faster than they can be replenished and we see billions more coming to join us in the years ahead. Catholic hierarchy, Muslim mullahs, corporate capital executives not withstanding; archaic thinking about birth rites and birth control compromises the very promise we give to a newborn. As I lifted thousands of children in the air at baptism my personal prayer for each was a healthy, happy and fulfilling life. When I began doing this in 1970, ironically the date of the first Earth Day was 5 days prior to my ordination to the priesthood, my words had a ring of authenticity to them. Now I baptize with trepidation that the promise of a healthy life can not be attained because of the world into which a young child ventures today. Already we read of touching stories emerging daily from the reality of Lagos Nigeria, or the Sahel, or many degrading parts of the planet that millions of our fellow parents agonize over the suffering of their children; in part, because there are two many of us and what we have is no longer capable of sustaining a quality of life.

The collapse of Haiti brought home to all of us the dire circumstances of millions because of unchecked growth where infrastructure has collapsed.

The UNESCO Director General Sir Julian Huxley in his annual report wrote: “Somehow or other population must be balanced against resources or civilization will perish.” This was penned in 1993 - 17 years ago; about the same time global consciousness was reaching the pinnacle of environmental awareness.

Remember, the Earth Summit was just the year before in June of 1992 and the Union of Concerned Scientists gave their concise Warning to Humanity in November of the same year. “No more than one or two decades remain before the chance to avert the threats we now confront will be lost and the prospects for humanity immeasurably diminished.”

Let’s see two decades: 1992 – 2002 and then 2002 – 2012. Their warning coincided with the end of 2012. There is that interesting year once again.

Back to the subject few wish to address – population. The question is perhaps how to make all these numbers like 7500 new mouths every hour, 180,000 per day, or 75 million a year hit home? Dr. Malcolm Potts, Berkeley professor and expert on population, poured a bag of rice on our table on the set of EarthTalk Today and said this is how many people join us every 3 hours. Ouch!

Yet, many in this country say I’ve had my kids, not much I can do about it now. Au contraire: dialogue with the next generation must include a discussion of how many children they would consider bringing into the world. Hard discussion, indeed and still many bristle at the thought of population control or even the suggestion that it is anyone’s business but the couples. I recently had a stern look on my face when they announced their 30 year old daughter just gave birth to her fourth child. They were delighted, I was mystified how intelligent thoughtful families do not see the connection; or am I just an old grouch?

No longer will the earth tolerate an attitude that says I can afford 5 kids so it is my right to bring them into the world. Nor can we justify tax breaks for more children – frankly, we should penalize past two and heavily increase the penalty as the #’s increase. Putting an economic disincentive to work, in addition to sex education, parent education, family education beginning at age 5, and media attention to exploding populations might begin to make us aware of our wanton disregard for common sense. Birth control education, dissemination, and validation does no harm and lots of good and should be a part of every school curriculum across the globe beginning at age 5.

A few years ago Alexandra and I hosted Bob Gillespie, population expert and Michael Tobias, documentary film maker par excellence on Earth Talk Today. Their fascinating footage from around the globe offered hope. The highlights were where they showed the empowering of women and the giving them access to education and birth control had made a huge difference in the quality of life in developing nations. Ironically, US nemesis Iran has one of the most progressive family planning programs on the planet.

Population growth is the key environmental issue because it is the cause of most of the problems we face on the planet, including climate change, resource depletion, and refugees looking for a place to call home. To whom the child is born, and into what type of culture and physical setting determines what Mathis Wackernagel and others define as the ecological footprint. Yours and mine is the size of the basketball giant Shaq O’Neal; whereas an African adults footprint is the size of our infants at birth. This is a clear visual image of our consumptive lifestyles impact.

Limiting population matters, especially in rich countries like ours. You may take some heat for even broaching the subject, but I can provide facts if you give me a call.

Too Many People Not Enough Dirt

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:14:00 +0000

April 9, 2010

My maternal grandfather was born 100 years after our Independence from England. Born in 1876, Pop married Nana around the turn of the 20th century. As the year 2000 rolled around, 100 years later our eldest daughter Jennifer married Mark. In those 100 years between marriages 5 billion people joined the human family.

100 years does not seem such a long time when I knew both grandparents who married around 1900. What will our fragile island home resemble after the addition of another 5000 million or more folks? Some statisticians estimate a 12-14 billion aggregate population total in 100 years; each seeking a quality of life that only ¼ of the world population have today – and that does not even account for the challenges we face with climate change of even the smallest estimation of impact.

Ironically economic systems based on limitless growth want more people to feed their machine. Sadly, leaders of large religious families promote population growth to enhance their numbers; Catholic bishops deny birth control to even the neediest among us and seemingly glorify large families. Fundamentalists across the religious spectrum build arguments for increasing their numbers. (Reminds me of the tribes of Israel competing against the large civilizations of the Middle East 2000 years ago while advocating against certain sexual practices because the seed of life was being spilled and they desperately needed to increase their numbers.)

Yet we remain silent or mutter under our breaths at cocktail parties. Are we destined to keep our heads in the sand on this issue? Not to decide is to decide and we clam up in the face of religious leaders who claim direct communication with the ‘higher realm of authority.’ This is nuts. Humans have become the cancer of the planet.

Thus, at the root of most of the earth’s ills is the age old human response; denial, coupled with antiquated religious concepts and arcane economic polities and we are like the toast forgotten in the toaster – burnt. Putting the issue of population on the back burner is suicide; and according to many and scripture, that is not a good idea.

By all accounts, and by human rights standards, we are unable to sustain our population of 6.9 billion today at a level any of us would find acceptable. And yes, it is ok to foster reasonable family planning opportunities for all. If we choose not to we will bury ourselves under our own weight.

Was the Malthusian hypothesis correct; just a little pre-mature? Was Erlich a little too early in his predictions? Call the Pope for starters, and get him to deal with the issue of human sexuality with an enlightened approach; just to get the ball rolling; and give him my best! Please!

Bye Bye Beef

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:00:00 +0000

April 2, 2010

I am writing today’s offering, epistle, blog, thoughts from someone beginning to see the beginning of the tunnel towards wisdom, at least if Dr. John Seeley’s testimony to wisdom accruing around the age of 75 is correct, in the form of a letter beginning appropriately Dear Friends.

Dear Friends,

Personal choices are what enables us to rise in the morning with a sense of hope and optimism. This country, under our flag authorized June 14, 1777, affirms that free choice is part of our DNA. Maintaining our right to choose is essential in maintaining our right to be free.

Through a personal process of discernment, and behavior modeled by others I respect, the consumption of beef, which is always based on choice, was eliminated from something I had to choose on a regular basis. For 20 years or so I have just said no. This has been one of the more interesting choices of my life. Branded un-American, vilified in my own extended family, and scorned by many I have watched in utter dismay as the proliferation of feed lots for cattle has expanded exponentially around the globe.

My dear friends are well aware of my not eating beef, yet when asked why and I lay out the facts of what raising cattle does to our planet and the future of our children, they continue to ignore what I have to say and continue to consume cattle in its varying forms.

At the same time, many engage me on environmental issues, and invariably ask what is the one thing an individual can do to make a difference? When I say ‘give up eating beef’ the response is usually, ‘wrong answer Peter, give me another.’ There is no other answer; period – save not having anymore children; which is really number one, but most of my friends at this point are past the children raising age.

Dear friends, we must say bye bye beef especially produced through the integrated system we call industrial agriculture. If you are reading this and live in California you can see this first hand on a drive between San Francisco and Los Angeles on Highway 5.

Take my word for it – no other single choice is as effective on beginning to heal our fragile island home than giving up the consumption of meat; beginning and most importantly with cattle. In addition, you might try almond milk instead of cow milk. Tasty, lactose free, and from almonds; this alternative is great on granola, almond milk or in protein shakes. It is often the little imperceptible changes in life that end up making the biggest difference.

Sincerely, and thanks,

Peter

Where’s The Outcry

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:38:00 +0000

March 24, 2010

When was the last time any of us picked up the good book of Amos, Isaiah or Jeremiah for a little challenging reading?

Book reading, a dying art in many sectors, if still a part of our regular routine, is more likely romance novels, spy stories, maybe a few historical biographies thrown in, but most often entertaining books that capture our time and energy, and not ancient Old Testament tomes by a bunch of old guy prophets.

I like looking at picture books; I did as a kid, still do today. I am particularly attracted to the work of photographers working outdoors like Art Wolfe, and especially the work of a Brazilian photojournalist by the name of Salgado. I believe he is the finest and most important photographer living today. His work reveals the human story like no other artist. I first came across his haunting imagery of the gold mine workers carrying sacks of mud up make-shift ladders in a gallery in Los Angeles fifteen years ago. No other photographic essay was as powerful for me, with the exception of Eugene Smith’s poignant study of the mercury poisoning of the people of Minimata Japan. The camera has a way of isolating a segment of the unfolding drama of the human family and firmly etching into our psyche. Whether the images are of the starving families in the Sahel of Ethiopia, or of the displaced millions in earthquake Ravaged Haiti or Chili, no one can sit back and say they do not care. Or…of the floating icebergs and melting glaciers, or disappearing islands and habitat destruction – all well documented with Nikons, Canons, Leica cameras. Salgado’s one image of Amazonian fisherman, to me the most significant photograph taken this century, speaks of the ultimate disappearance of the human family as we know it; unless we focus our energies on re-working how we live on this planet home of ours the Yanomomi of the Amazon and other indigenous tribes will be gone – they are but the human canary on our fragile island home.

By now you are probably wondering where I am going with all this. I started off with a question about 3 prophets from the Old Testament. They were outspoken critics of the status quo – actually they expressed outrage at the lack of justice and the eventual erosion of community life because of greed, avarice, and being blind to the needs of the people by the ruling elite. Prophets of old were not ‘mere gazers’ and they did not use crystal balls, tea leaves, tarot cards or some other device to predict the future – no, the future warnings given to humanity were as a result of keen observance described by myself as an insight into the obvious. Metaphorically you might say they were essentially mirror bearers – yes they held a mirror to the faces of the people and asked: What the heck are you doing? In the vernacular, something like Jay Leno inquiring of the actor Hugh Grant whose dalliances on Hollywood Blvd could not be explained away by being at the wrong place at the wrong time – and then – Leno asks “What the heck were you thinking.”

This is the question we must put to ourselves as the collapse of creation accelerates – in part because of natural disasters (though that term is less and less real for me), and human made tragedies (the latter able to account for the majority of the suffering today and in the future.) What in the heck are we thinking today?

To often the church wants us to either pray our troubles down the drain or lift up heaven as the answer to the pain of the earth – neither particularly helpful. The business community thinks the same old paradigm has worked so why change. Politicians serving themselves well and maybe a few paying constituents, but serving the greater good seems to be a forgotten reason for getting into politics in the first place. So let’s borrow Amos’s mirror for awhile and the mirror of the camera of documentary photojournalists around the world and really look at what they show!

Put the mirror of Amos to our own face in the morning and let the skilled photographers give us the pictures of the earth at night, and what is happening will be revealed to us very quickly. We can stick our heads in the sand and deny our own complicity in the collapsing of creation, and many of us do – and we can say, as many have, the pictures are ‘photo-shopped’ and the scientific data has been distorted To deny either process is to continue living like two creatures – the ostrich and the lemming running off the cliff en masse. Neither behavior is befitting a human being who says they care about tomorrow and the children and creatures of the world.

Look in the mirror and look at a few pictures of earth and the lessons are there to be learned!

This blog has moved

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:42:00 +0000

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Freedom Fight

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:59:00 +0000

March 19, 2010

My grandmother was quick to point out the older you get the faster time seems to pass. It seems like just yesterday, but it was Friday a week ago when I commented on the human beings propensity to favor entertainment over education. I went so far as to say we are entertaining ourselves towards extinction. An antidote can be reason and knowledge.

I try and read a paltry 60 minutes, or 1/24 of a day about something other than my usual reading about matters environmental. I focus there because the collapse of creation is the single most important issue I will face in my lifetime. That being said I also appreciate the magazine Economist which I find I am beginning to read almost cover to cover. Its portrait of news contemporaneous to the day is helpful and informative. I am also prone to grabbing one of the 3000 magazines from my collection. I like reading and reflecting upon the writings of the past.

Recently, while thumbing through the 1942 issue of THINK (I love the title) I came across this admonition written for the employees of the IBM Corporation. Tucked amidst a few pictures of patriotic sites in America was this:

“The reason freedom has suddenly become the constant pre-occupation of intelligent people throughout the world is that for the first time in history there is the danger that it may successfully be terminated.”

In my meanderings I have learned to accept the fact that I am a lightening rod for many, yet a universal comment from all sides of the political spectrum is that 2010 may be a turning point in our lives in America when it comes to our long held freedoms. I paraphrase:

“9/11 changed everything – we are no longer free to travel anywhere and when we do it is a complete hassle”

“Free discourse is increasingly scrutinized and free expression is constantly being reined in any venue”

“Censorship and the re-writing of established scientific principles is becoming accepted in many sectors’

“Branded as un-patriotic, the freedom to dissent is being taken from us, as is the right to free assembly”

What makes me proud to be an American is that diversity that makes our country great is a diversity that helps me grow as a human being. No culture, religion, ethnicity, or race has the answer for the blessings of this country come from the totality of experience. Our freedom to be who we are, yell if we might, challenge when appropriate, and salute when necessary is what makes me like this great nation.

Entertaining Ourselves to Extinction

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:47:00 +0000

March 12, 2010

I like to be entertained and a good laugh can melt the most hardened feelings or attitudes. Humor is an essential ingredient in a balanced life, and when I find myself taking myself or the issues too seriously there is always a member of the family to encourage me to ‘lighten up.’ Point well taken, and I recognize humor’s prominent role in a healthy life; that being said, we, the human family especially in developed nations, are on a dangerous path towards entertaining ourselves to extinction.

Perhaps providentially, though I am certain the creators of the two popular reality shows named ‘Survivor’ and ‘Lost’ had no idea that their shows were pointing the way towards the challenging years ahead. Already, we think of people surviving, or barely surviving in many parts of Africa, and now our awareness has grown of the plight of the Haitians. Islands in the Pacific watching water levels creep across their sand bar homes are starting to talk about survival. For many of us, our hearts are softened by the images we see on television, but the long term response to the trajectory we are on has been to increase access to that which entertains and amuses us; rather than to educate ourselves to enlightenment and understanding of the issues compromising the integrity of millions across the globe.

Technologic innovation, television programming, movies story lines and production, best selling authors, countless magazines, and even the presentation of the religious message have all been packaged to entertain. Watch the TV programming guide cycle through its offering and you are privileged to hours and hours of often mindless entertainment. Occasionally educational programming suspends my channel surfing and I watch a National Geographic Special on polar bears, or listen to Jeff Corwin lament about vanishing species, or admire cogent commentary on the health care plan; but more often than not I am forced to listen to sound bites and the entertainers posing as journalists. And our gadgets, my goodness, a phone has now become a directional GPS, a link to everyone we have ever known, and a window into the world of websites far and wide. We can attach our Game boy to the TV, play countless games on Wii and amuse ourselves forever with DVD’s CDs, Ipods, and countless other marvels of modern minds. I too like my music but a record player still works, and a phone is not different than 100 years ago in terms of end result; except for the fact that our telephone # on Cape Cod used to be 431 and now it is so long that I can not remember it. Yes, I can entertain myself all day long on my daughter’s I phone!

In addition, and this phenomenom is growing; I don’t know about you, but the internet and the game machines are addicting. I know addiction. I am addicted to searching for old magazines. Not a bad thing in itself, but the addiction side is very interesting to note. I can not seem to go more than a day or two without checking EBay to see what is new. Have I become a part of my own self fulfilling prophecy – am I entertaining myself to extinction?

A wise mentor once reminded me that certain behaviors can be addicting, rarely our relationships – the exact quote was: “Peter, work is addicting, marriage is not.” I now add, entertainment is addicting and often the couple seeing me for some advanced marital training or a marriage check up complain of the hours dedicated to entertainment, rather than partner participation in shared activities. Breakdown of family is high on the list of people reflecting on modern life, and when examined TV, or our entertainment gadgets are often a baby sitter. Cars now have TV’s in the back seats so our children can watch videos or movies, play games, and not have to interact with anyone for hours on end. Has the internet become a necessity, and is face book replacing face to face interaction with family and friends? I think we all know the answer and the acceleration of the extinction of playing outside and getting in touch with nature is already underway.

Are we entertaining ourselves too much? Is that even possible?

The facts: Who get the big salaries in our culture? Celebrity corporate executives, professional athletes, movie, TV, and radio personalities – NOTE: when a culture pays Howard Stern 500 million dollars to entertain us with inappropriate behavior, language, innuendo and salacious offerings on a 24/7 basis you know we have slid into the extinction track. Our young watch hours and hours of television, much of which is designed to sell more stuff to them via advertising that seems to increase in frequency and intensity every year; and why? - so the young can be entertained some more, rather than educated to the reality they will face.

Is entertaining ourselves to extinction simply another way of saying we are fiddling while Rome burns, or arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic? When I ask myself this question I am quick to discover I need to be very conscious of the allocation of my time. Wasting time is now bred into us. Once I, we, own this behavior it will lose its power over us. If not, we, you and I both, are contributing to the extinction of our own species. Amen!

Environmental Olympics

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:27:00 +0000

March 5, 2010

There is no such thing as an environmental Olympics, yet what is it going to take to get all the nations of the world to gather in one place to celebrate how unity out of diversity is possible when discussing our common interest in a healthy home?

The concluding ceremony of the Olympics in Vancouver, after the single greatest hockey game ever played, in the estimation of the experts, and this Connecticut Yankee who grew up skating on the North – South ponds in Short Hills, New Jersey, presented all the athletes marching together with smiles as wide as the Pacific on their faces. Now a blending of amateurs and professional athletes, the spirit of competition over, the final night could be a model for the world.

How about a competition on cleaning up a continent? What about teams working together to build a dam, construct a series of water works for irrigation, fashion school rooms out of locally obtained materials, develop sustainable gardens where easy access eliminates fossil fuel transportation of food? Instead of small pockets of Peace Corps type projects that make a difference, but are not of the scale and scope to shift the paradigm, why not Global Environmental Olympic events?

National resources, financial, educational, and certainly technological are poured into creating success on the bobsled track, or the Nordic combined so that our total medal count becomes a part of our national pride. I cheered when our 5 foot 7 inch ‘skipper’ of the sled won the Gold Medal. I applauded Bodi Miller for being the comeback kid and Shawn White for doing tricks on the snow board that no one even dreamed was possible as both took another Gold. I was proud of them, appreciative of our country devoting energy to their success, and wishful that we could all pour ourselves in to fixing the planet; beginning in the villages and cities where we all live.

Let’s start with a National Olympic Environmental program! Each state could compete for the Gold Silver and Bronze in a multitude of categories. How about solar installations? Victory Gardens? Alternative fueling Stations? Number of Electric Vehicles? Number of Vegetarians – each category could have local winners from the towns, then the over-all winner from the state, and then the national winner would get the Gold!

This is not idle chatter to amuse, but rather the outline of a blueprint that will be required sooner or later. We may not have ice in the same old places a hundred years from now. Our climate change under-way may dictate that certain countries can no longer host the Olympics because the snows at the ski resort did not return. If glaciers retreat, and snow packs shift locations, we may not be able to adjust or adapt fast enough; thus, the creation of a competitive and fun way to make a difference might be worth exploring. In the meantime – Hooray for all the athletes who participated. I wish I had been born a few years later so I could have tried the half-pipe with the double-triple mactwist, or whatever!

Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:06:00 +0000

February 26, 2010

Is there anything better in life than enjoying a meal with family or good friends? I enjoy ‘breaking bread’ with friends at noon, in part because I have a chance to work or walk off the indulgent calories, it is usually less costly than dinners, and we are more on top of our game midday than at night. I have taken to heart the idea that we should eat breakfast like a king, enjoy lunch like a knight, and refrain at dinner like a pauper.

I offer a caveat associated with lunching with me. The urgency of shifting our strategies as a human family has prompted my willingness to confront both my own behavior and that of my friends. A long time ago I recognized that a guiding principle that can transform lives is for one who cares to be able to confront. If I did not give a darn about the future of my grandchildren I would probably be playing gin rummy at the club; or indulging in some self absorbing ritual. I care about tomorrow for them, and thus I am risking confronting those systems that will prevent their having a healthy life today.

As warned by those who have experienced grandchildren before me, “they will change your life.” Yes indeed, for the last 10 years my inner angst has been about the future of 3 young children that call me Popeye; thus a constant evaluation of my attempt to make a difference in this world has become the primary focus of my life.

Here is where lunch comes in to play. I have now begun to ask our grandparent friends of their concern for tomorrow’s generations; and what, if anything we should all be doing? I intone poetically that bridge, endless travel, golf, and the pursuit of hobbies will not get the job done; though I must admit I like all of the above. Furthermore, adults do not need to be informed by another pretty sunset, magical fjord, African animal, mountain stream, or Cape Cod day – we’ve been there, done that and our touch with nature has informed us forever. But what about our grandkids having those same teachers?

I remember catching an 10 lb bluefish off of Monomoy Point, Cape Cod, only to return it to the sea explaining to my children that the fatty tissue of the larger blues contain pcb’s in quantities unsafe if consumed regularly. I caught these very tasty fish as a boy – now we only take the 4-7 ‘pounders’ and are careful to remove all the dark meat before eating. Yet, I want my grandkids to experience the pleasure of fishing for dinner.

Thus, in this context my lunch with good friend, and former children’s movie and television executive Bill Bauman resulted in an examination of his retirement plans; and mine as well. He is a bit younger, and looks it, and when he told me he had joined the Art Council of Cincinnati, I cared enough to confront. He has three grandchildren as well. Wrong answer - I thought to myself – he was joining the age-old paradigm for retiring executives - to serve on art, hospital, music, theater etc. boards is standard retirement practice.

Nothing wrong with this in principle and the arts need support, and Katy and I surround ourselves with art in our home, but the culturally accepted behavior is not enough; and in some cases it is almost like whittling on the front porch as the house burns to the ground.

It is clearer by the year that every able bodied voice must join the chorus, in one’s own unique way, to sustain the future. A good chorus, a well tuned orchestra consists of diversity of talents, voices, and instruments enabling harmony. Every person counts today. No one should be left behind as we build a full participation chorus echoing the cry – ‘this is not about us – we have already experienced the joy of creation; it is now our grandchildren’s turn.’

Call me for lunch – let’s talk.

Odd Word – Oikos – Good Word

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:33:00 +0000

February 19, 2010

Complex issues need bridge builders, persons who can take the esoteric and often complicated ideas and simplify them, so that the common folk, like most of us, can understand the issues more easily. Two people along my path, Dr. John Cobb and Mary Nichols, helped me begin to crystallize my ideas about the collapsing of creation. Today, with all the phony trumped up charges against legitimate science, we certainly need bridge scientists and bridge ecologists who can clarify the complex crisis you and I have helped create.

Dr. John Cobb wrote several important books, but the one he wrote in 1970 with the prophetic title Is it Too Late? got my attention immediately. I discovered Cobb in the early 80’s, but after his 1989 lectures at my parish of St. Matthew’s in Pacific Palisades California I was forever in his debt. His profound yet simple approach captivated the early adopters in our parish community. I have tried to emulate this man of the cloth who saw that the preservation of creation was the most important theological issue of our, or for that matter, any generation.

He began (and I paraphrase): Economics and Ecology come from the same Greek word oikos; meaning household. Economics is the management of the business side of the household as ecology is the understanding of the biological side of the household. Our only house is mother earth and sound management practices are essential. The practice of business must always take into account the impact on the biological if we are to maintain planetary balance. Respected scientists point to the increasing disequilibrium, that is the un-balancing of the natural in our world, in part because we have favored economics over ecology to the detriment of the whole. Balance is beauty, and as we pollute the skies, sully the waters, and destroy the forests the balance disappears with the beauty. We see it, we smell it, and we taste it and all because the management of the household has not taken into account the link between ecology and economics.

As awareness grows, and as we become more in tune with our complicity in the loss of the beauty of creation we will recognize and accept that all business practices will of necessity be measured against the environmental consequences of our actions. All endeavors can not be separated from the earth’s story and one day soon all decisions will be made based upon this awareness. Currently we are beginning to hear concepts like thru-put cost, closed loop manufacturing or farming, sustainable business practices, and resource management; each indicating that ecology management is working alongside sound business models.

This was all reinforced at lunch one day with leading environmental policy maker and nationally prominent leader Mary Nichols. In her charming direct way she looked at me and intoned: “Peter if your focus is going to be on the environment, eventually you will have to deal with our economic systems.”

All of us have scales that cover our eyes, and occasionally as we age some fall to help us see more clearly. Thankfully, over 20 years ago Cobb and Nichols helped me realize that corporations, companies and the capitalists who run them must not put profit ahead of protection of our fragile island home; - this message should be preached and promoted passionately. The greening of business is starting to take hold, yet the paradigm shift that will place preservation and protection ahead of profit is only beginning to be acknowledged. This, the only business model that is truly sustainable, does not deny profit, but places an emphasis on the balance between ecology and economics – this can be the guiding light for the 21st century and beyond.

Oikos, a strange word indeed, but one that brings into focus how all aspects of life on our fragile island home are interrelated; especially economics and ecology; or as the jingle goes: “You can’t have one without the other.”

Prayer Breakfasts

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:32:00 +0000

February 12, 2010

Prayer is not going to get the job done, yet once again the religious community gathers in Washington DC under the pretext of lobbying whoever will listen, that climate change is an important issue. No problem with the premise, but the strategy is the old paradigm, too late. Prayer breakfast as a way of showcasing talent has been the strategy of the conservative, albeit reactionary religious community for years. Many marquee names of the stalwarts of the so-called and self labeled ‘moral majority’, which was neither, would offer their particular list of grievances at the breakfast held every February and then ask God to make sure they get their wish by advocating for a particular political candidate. Yes, this was how it worked. What was interesting, besides this inappropriate melding of church and state, was that the President would attend, thereby legitimizing something that in its very name speaks of lobbying God? As hard as people may pray, God is above the efforts of lobbyists, regardless of their religious stature or following or eloquence.

The God I worship is present at every breakfast, and if you believe that God is omnipresent the mere invocation of God’s name at a designated breakfast says more about the participants than God. I have been invited to The Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC on numerous occasions and this week the religious community for ‘climate change action’ (my italics and emphasis) is meeting in Washington while honoring the pioneering NASA climatologist James Hanson. This week they are debating how many prayers to have at the beginning of the breakfast. (I might suggest they also limit the words each prayer giver can use for my fellow clergy are not known to be brief when a pulpit is extended to them for advocacy.) This style of breakfast is more in keeping with my personal beliefs, I know several of the key organizers and I respect their progressive and thoughtful religious agenda, yet I can’t legitimately point the finger at one prayer breakfast contingent while honoring the other.

I admire this group of clergy working hard on key environmental issues like forest preservation and climate change, and they are representing many different denominations, and religious communities. I joined with them in Washington DC a couple of years to lobby the World Bank, and I appreciate the direction they have taken to awaken fellow people of faith communities to the seriousness of the issues. I have also lobbied them, albeit without much success to put teeth into their rhetoric. I have implored them to consume less, eat lower on the food chain, give up beef altogether and become noisy – radical advocates for God’s creation are needed because the old paradigm of being ‘nice clergy, priests and rabbi’s’ is not getting the job done. Once again, I am afraid, is that the safe approach seems to be more comfortable for most. Radical activism has been negated by more pressing issues such as who should give what prayer at the breakfast; a bit of tongue in cheek, but the time for prayer has come and gone.

I smile inwardly knowing that over 20 years ago a broad spectrum of religious communities began to pray, sing, dance, and preach about God’s garden and what the human family is doing to exploit it for short term gain and long term pain. Like many others, I drafted worship services with environmental themes, wrote new creeds with an environmental focus and promoted prayer on behalf of all God’s creatures. Many across religious lines wrote resolutions for conventions, offered specific guidelines to churches for retrofitting to save energy, crafted environmentally focused and thoughtful Sunday school curricula, and honored Earth Day with congregational participation on many levels; yet, when all the smoke clears from our frenzied activities one can not see any more clearly today than 20 years ago, for the potential for a sustainable future is still way up in the clouds someplace.

The time has come to stop praying, or praying with a different focus, so that our energies are released to be more Jesus like, if we are Christian, or Moses like if we are Jewish, or Buddha like or Mohammed like if we are from the Buddhist or Islamic traditions. Look at their lives - when synthesized we see an over-throw of the ruling elite, the criticism of the establishment where corruption rules, and a revolution of thought that places equity and justice above all else should be our prime focus as religious people.

As a Christian priest my prayer is that we wake up and be more Christ like (in the sense of an archetypical role model) and not emasculate the message to fit our political agenda. Jesus used parables to teach, parables with nature as the context, and revolution to awaken a new paradigm for the modern world. Without question, the models, the archetypical human expression of the divine is not represented in any one figure but in the collective, and when we put the collective together, adding in perhaps Mother Theresa, the Dalai Lama, Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King (with all their human shortcomings and frailties) we get a sense of what we are called to be. Each stepped out from their culture to challenge with love in their hearts.

Prayer breakfasts were probably not high on the agenda of those who have walked a path wide enough for millions to follow. Pick a person, know their story, and build personal confidence that revolution is a viable answer and methodology – for in each of the above, revolting against something defined their mission, as did our ancestors around, oh say 1776. Oddly enough, all cited had a different approach or relationship with the One to whom everyone prays at Prayer Breakfasts.

Think Now or (Just Perhaps) For Ever Hold Your Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Castle) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:37:00 +0000

We are a nation dependent on the automobile, a convenience that has benefited our culture in many wonderful ways; however, with several un-intended consequences the ‘back story’ is very prominent today:

1. pollution
2. endless lines of cars choking our highways and by-ways and slowing commutes across America to a crawl.
3. and, we have grown to worship that which in its present form stifles freedom and limits the quality of life.

However, our millions of cars could be moving bill boards; daily reminders of the job we all have at hand. The idea: Let’s turn lemons into lemonades and plaster bumper stickers, made out of recycled hemp on our bumpers, slogans that educate and motivate all of us to become pro-active on behalf of creation. You know: Give a hoot, don’t pollute. Earth day every day! Only you can prevent forest fires. Reinforcing the validity of systemic behavioral change is essential; and if everyone is on board change will happen.

Think globally and act locally was indeed one such auto adornment, a bumper stick I still see on the Prius or electric vehicle; and a bumper sticker and slogan that has endured the test of time. However, as rainforests rapidly disappear, fish stocks are over-drawn, water supplies diminish and the global atmosphere changes we need to both think and act globally, now – today and not tomorrow for tomorrow will be too late.

A few weeks ago the intrepid defender of whales, Captain Paul Watson, had one of his ships rammed and sunk by the illegal Japanese whaling fleet. Relentless in their baloney scientific justification scam, the Japanese should be held accountable for diminishing the quality of the global family as they exterminate whales for no reasonable purpose. They hunt in protected waters thousands of miles from home and thankfully, Captain Watson is acting globally, on our behalf. Blessings to this man and his international crew. I think about a planet without whales, and Watson is acting on their on our behalf on a daily basis.

Nearer home, yet far away, the Amazon and Congo rainforests are still under siege. Out of sight, out of mind, yet these lungs of the planet when gone will dictate the quality of air living creatures breathe across the globe. It is no longer a ‘so what’ if another acre is lost to cattle crazing to grow burgers for the fast food outlets. The global loss of these fragile eco-systems demand action. I act local and have eliminated beef from my diet. Is that enough?

My dad lost a lung to lung cancer at age 51. He died at 89 so I knew him for many years existing on one lung. Besides the diminished quality of life, he was never the same after that operation. Let’s say the globe loses one of the two lungs – the Congo rainforest goes; or the Amazon, or God forbid, both – what will the quality of life look like on planet earth?

We have to “sink” the man made carbon (that is put it someplace) from our fossil fuel addiction, and the zooplankton and phytoplankton in the sea, coupled with the soil and trees of the land have been the Creator’s gift for consistent absorption; but taking away ‘the carbon sinks’ at the rate we are doing it is courting disaster. (At this point someone always says ‘you are all gloom and doom’ – not so – we can give up eating at fast food restaurants, eliminating cattle consumption all together; eliminate soil contaminants on our lawns and gardens and plant trees – yes, we can make a difference – this is a way to act globally).

Back to the magnificent whales: I have been privileged to watch gray whales cavort in the Baja, pods of Orca’s in the San Juan’s of Washington and Canada, right whales off Cape Cod at Stellwagon Bank and breaching whales off Maui. A few years ago I was privileged on Earth Talk Today to host Captain Paul Watson. We watched video he supplied, watched with tears in our eyes, as the slaughter was documented – innocent creatures of the deep symbolic of the majesty of all creation slaughtered for no reason other than sushi satisfaction at home.

Is it time to say no more Japanese cars in our garages, Japanese cameras in our hands, Japanese TV’s on our walls, or Japanese computers at our desks? Does that really mean no Sony, Honda, Nikon, Mitsubishi, etc. etc. etc? Think globally and act locally is what we can do because our choices matter. You decide!

Paul Watson, far from family and friends, risking life to save the lives of strangers, who just happen to be the largest creatures to have ever lived on the earth. In addition, thanks to Atossa Soltani of Amazon Watch and all those who fight to save the rainforest – our lungs of the planet.

Act globally - not so hard when you really stop and think about it.