It may only have been a couple of establishing shots, but when America's great documentarian gives you the nod, baby, that's legit. This brief brush with fame came during the PBS Moyers on America special Is God Green?, when "Courtesy of The Great Warming" flashed across the screen -- twice! I dropped my fork and called the folks.
The scenes were during an interview with evangelical Christian leader Rev. Richard Cizik, who broke from the conservative mainstream to start preaching that Christians could be environmentalists and still be true to their faith -- truer, in fact, since Cizik considers the degradation of the planet akin to sin.
In The Great Warming, coming out in early November, Cizik talks about the political muscle his group (63% of whom say they're concerned about global warming) can bring to bear on Republicans, but in its short segment, the religious scenes also look at human health, social justice, and the planet the next generation stands to inherit.
The film was never intended to be a faith voice or resource, but it turned out that its secular partners -- e.g., New American Dream and Friends of the Earth -- agreed with the religious groups that there is a moral as well as an ecological and sociopolitical imperative to stop the damage we're causing, and everybody shook hands.
This is a fine line for a film to walk these days, though. The press The Great Warming has received in the U.S. has been almost exclusively on the 8 out of 82 minutes that discuss religion, and on how faith groups have adopted the film in their (extremely effective) awareness campaigns -- the issue's even got attention overseas. The media focus appears to have scared off at least one sponsor, and it'll be interesting to watch the reaction of fellow liberals uncomfortable with organized religion's beliefs or power. Can we actually get past where we came from and focus on where we want to go?
After struggling for months to get a toehold in the media mainstream (2006 is not a great year to release a global warming movie on a shoestring), it was pretty gratifying to see even a walk-through in a Bill Moyers show. They're always good, but I may have to buy my own copy of this one.
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Mikelevy Posted 6:06 am
13 Oct 2006
Leading conservative Evangelical Christians are beginning to change their views on Gods words in the bible regards the way human beings care for mother earth. Their father, that is in heaven, is turning green, not with jealousy but with environmental issues.
Millions of people all over the world are exposing their lungs to S O2, mercury emissions and N Ox that can cause wheezing, coughing, asthma. and bronchitis.
Fish in the oceans are becoming congested with mercury.
Hurricanes are more prevalent and increasingly more violent in many parts of the world.
Tidal waves are increasing more frequently.
Ice caps are melting at an alarming rate
The ozone layer is thinning at an alarming rate causing the suns rays to heat the oceans and parch the land beyond nature's natural rhythm
In spite of all the latest statistics it seems the greed for money is more influential than extinguishing pollution. The bottom line profits overcomes any real attempt to ease the pollution concerns ... appeasing stock holders taste buds, is the flavor of the decade, for much of corporate America.
A new movie "An Inconvenient Truth" gives a stark warning about global warming and the eventual destruction of life on earth. Al Gore no doubt has political ambitions of becoming the next president of the USA. Therefore, many people will question his motives for helping to make this movie. Non-the less, the facts are clear and a real threat to humanities survival. About half of all CO emission is of human origin. The other half forms naturally. On an Ariel view of earth, the Northern Hemisphere shows much more CO than the South. However, pollution moves on a global scale all around earth.
The Chinese economy is going at full pace and with it more mass pollution. Within the next few years, many third world countries will also become more affluent and people in them will have more money to spend on things they think they require for a successful life. At the same time, their quality o f life will diminish with their lifestyle demands plundering earths assets. The natural resources will become more stretched and strained ... As peoples buying power increases, earths bountiful resources will diminish.
It seems authentic quality of life on earth is becoming poorer and trashier; whist people's lifestyle seemingly becomes more opulent and luxurious
The state of California is now complying with the Kyoto Agreement guidelines. No doubt conscientious citizens all around America will lobby their politicians to impact the political system in such a way as to get their states to comply with the Kyoto Agreement. A start in the right direction for all states would be the recommendations by many conservation groups, namely ......
Phase out or clean up dirty, coal-burning power plants.
Phase in renewable wind, solar, and biomass power.
Increase energy efficiency in homes, offices, and industries
Create State Climate Action Plans that reduce and cap
global warming pollution and establish a carbon marketplace.
Introduce Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards.
Clean up black carbon from diesel engines.
Reduce methane emissions from landfills and hog farms.
Change personal habits. Simple things like turning off lights, taking shorter showers, and running your computer in sleep mode add up to big pollution, energy and money savings.
"Among these treasures of our land is water--fast becoming our most valuable, most prized, most critical resource. A blessing where properly used--but it can bring devastation and ruin when left uncontrolled."
_ Dwight D. Eisenhower
Which begs the question; if the people who have the power to make changes in the way humanity progresses in the future are polluting their own minds and bodies with junk food, harmful drinks and erroneous negative thoughts, how can they ever make the appropriate changes to make earths pollution less severe?
A human body does not decay overnight by one cookie filled with trans fats and corn syrup. It does not get cancer by one alcoholic drink. One single negative thought does not depress the mind. However, over many years of misuse and abuse, the mind and body of a human beings will become irreparably polluted, decayed and grow extinct well before its intended shelf life was scheduled to end.
Likewise, earth does not become extremely polluted by a few erroneous actions by ignorant people. It takes a concentrated effort by greedy ignorance, to pollute the water supplies and make toxic the air we all breathe. It has taken earth's atmosphere and surface a few hundred years to become so polluted that sever weather patterns are on the increase with increasing ferocity.
Therefore, it makes perfect sense for every person on earth to examine their own lifestyles and thought patterns whilst at the same time trying to help fix earths pending problems. Therefore, while people can declare that they are going to lobby the government to make the changes necessary, they should also determine whom it is in their mind that makes their decisions for them. Who is it that has educated their mind since birth and how reliable is that information? If they think they know the answer to whom their inner being is, then the question remains...How well has that inner-character looked after their health and happiness so far and is it giving them a significant, eloquent life?
There is one final thing we must all note. It is appropriate you have concern for the troubled world in which we all live, but nothing ever changes by worry, apart from the worrier getting weary and stressed-out. You have the spirit of all your ancestral loved ones within your very being and it is your job to keep them joyous. Therefore, the more joy you project, the more de-lights in your spiritual illumination ... The joy-filled power of constructive thought is projected all around the universe in many dimensions and eventually comes back to earth in other peoples thought.
A prosperous, authentic life comes about by doing good deeds every day. It could be something as simple as a friendly handshake, a kind smile, or a loving hug. It is the cumulative power of your daily actions and your wisdom, which will lead you to a fulfilling life. To help make changes in the world, first make sure you have transformed yourself to live without any self-pollution in mind and body.
Earths bounty provides an adequate supply for humanities requirements however; it can no longer sustain its insatiable avarice. _ Michael Levy
In Love & Joy
Michael Levy. Professional Optimist
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