FROM THE DIRECTOR

The God Particle

The announcement about the potential discovery of the Higgs boson particle was a fascinating story for me, a truly amateur (in every sense of the word) cosmologist.  Finding the "God particle"—the thing that gives all mass—was pretty mind-blowing. The more I learn about the scientific foundations of the origins of the universe, the more in awe I am of our Creator and the more humbled I am about my place within this unfolding story.  To get a sense of this, I highly recommend a series of podcasts (downloadable from iTunes) by Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J. called "God and Modern Physics.”  I'd also recommend Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno's article here about his take on the finding of the Higgs boson particle.  Br. Consolmagno's is head of the Vatican Observatory. 

I believe that until we gain a new and much more profound appreciation of the marvelous and interdependent complexities of Earth, we may not solve the unfolding climate crisis.  I also believe that we must come to contemplate more fully on the magnificence of God’s creation story—beginning with the great Flaring Forth (i.e., the Big Bang)—and that this may be the most vital task of present generations.  As Pope Benedict XVI has said : The importance of ecology is no longer disputed. We must listen to the language of nature and we must answer accordingly.

FROM OHIO

Fracking Conversation Followup

Two weeks ago, we shared the story of the panel discussion about the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) that enables the release oil and natural gas deposits in Ohio.  It was hosted by the Dioceses of Cleveland and Youngstown.  The National Catholic Reporter has described the event in greater detail in this article.

This week, we highlight Dr. Jame Schaefer’s (associate professor of theology at Marquette University) remarks as they provide an ethical framework to help judge this extraction technique through the lens of Catholic social teaching.  Among her comments she said:

A theological context of the goodness of creation to address hydraulic fracturing of the shale beds in this area of the Appalachian Basin yields an understanding that the gas, shale, land, water, air, and various types of biological life are valuable both intrinsically–in themselves and instrumentally–for human use now and into the future. Our valuing them intrinsically and instrumentally can be demonstrated by being prudent, just, moderate, and steadfast in response to pressure to lease land and allow water to be used for fracking the shale for gas until requisite data are available to make informed decisions and sufficient safeguards are in place to assure the common good of the Basin’s sustainability.

Dr. Schaefer has graciously made the full text of her talk available to the Coalition.

Climate NeWS

SEVERE WEATHER I: 2011

A story from Yahoo! News reports that Last year in the continental United States has been recorded as the country's hottest year since 1895, government scientists have said.  The article quotes Jake Crouch, a scientist at the National Climatic Data Center, who says It's hard to pinpoint climate change as the driving factor, but it appears that it is playing a role.  Dr. Crouch also said that What's going on for 2012 [referring to the record-breaking heat and extreme drought] is exactly what we would expect from climate change.

A separate story from Reuters reports that Climate change increased the odds for the kind of extreme weather that prevailed in 2011, a year that saw severe drought in Texas, unusual heat in England and was one of the 15 warmest years on record, scientists reported on Tuesday . . . In the 22nd annual "State of the Climate" report, experts also found the Arctic was warming about twice as fast as the rest of the planet, on average, with Arctic sea ice shrinking to its second-smallest recorded size.

Read the full State of the Climate in 2011 report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

SEVERE WEATHER II: Drought is Largest Disaster in History of U.S.

Amidst record-setting heat across the country, the United States is currently experiencing the worst drought in 25 years.  CNN reports that Authorities have declared more than 1,000 counties in 26 states as natural disaster areas as 61% of land in the lower 48 states [is] experiencing drought conditions. View pictures here.  Yahoo! News reports that this makes the current drought the largest natural disaster in America ever.

The article notes that In America's Corn Belt, the prognosis for farmers is grim as fields and pastures become drier by the day.  The Weather Channel reports that Almost a third of the nation's corn crop is already showing signs of damage, and on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released yet another report predicting that farmers will get only a fraction of the corn anticipated last spring when they planted 96.4 million acres, the most since 1937.

CLIMATE ADVOCACY

More on the EPA Rule to Limit Power Plant Pollution

The National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC), a Coalition partner, is encouraging its members to advocate and support the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s new source performance standards for carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants (Docket number EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0660).  NCRLC believes this the proposal is a standard that would mean cleaner air and a cleaner Creation by limiting carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants.  To lend your voice in support, take action here by sending a comment on the rule to the EPA.
 

Australian Bishops Provide Guidance on Carbon Tax

Reuters reports that Australia unveiled its most sweeping economic reform in decades on Sunday with a plan to tax carbon emissions from the nation's worst polluters, reviving hopes of stronger global climate action with the largest emissions trade scheme outside Europe . . . "It's time to get on with this, we are going to get this done," said Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

In order to help Catholics faithfully reflect on a carbon tax, the Catholic Education Office of Melbourne, Australia has published an excellent summary in very short and clear paragraphs on this issue.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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