joelgillespie’s Recent Comments

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  Please Shoot Me

  Oh my, enviromental confessions...this could take all day!
  First, I breathe, and emit dangerous levels of CO2 contributing to global warming.
  Second, (please say it ain't so) I procreate. Yes, it's true. And worse, I've procreated a lot. I've had five kids. And even worse, environmentaly speaking...five daughters, five potential child bearers...
  Third, being the southerner that I am I eat lots of field peas, black eyed peas, and crowder peas, which all give me, well, you know, so I emit dangerous levels of methane...
  Fourth, I go to church on Sundays when I could be, a) not driving, b) staying at home breathing very slowly reading my Rodale books.
  Fifth, as I just alluded, I read books, the kind with paper...and I use paper for other things too...
  Sixth, I use a gas lawn mower...the city makes me mow my grass and I'm too lazy to push a manual mower
  Seventh, beign the southerner that I am I listen to southern bands like the Allman Brothers very loudly in my car....that's pollution, right?
  Eighth, as I alluded above, I drive, an old Honda Civic with 225,00 miles, but I drive nonetheless...
  Ninth, I have four cats, but only one is outdoors, though he likes birds, chipmunks, and rabbits very much...bad kitty
  Tenth, to atone for many of the above sins (and more) I married a Canadian who despises field peas and hates the Allman Brothers, and she couldn't follow my lead in voting for Bush even if she wanted to.On So tell us ... what's your dirty little environmental secret? posted 4 years, 7 months ago 84 Responses

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  Please Shoot Me

  Oh my, enviromental confessions...this could take all day!
  First, I breathe, and emit dangerous levels of CO2 contributing to global warming.
  Second, (please say it ain't so) I procreate. Yes, it's true. And worse, I've procreated a lot. I've had five kids. And even worse, environmentaly speaking...five daughters, five potential child bearers...
  Third, being the southerner that I am I eat lots of field peas, black eyed peas, and crowder peas, which all give me, well, you know, so I emit dangerous levels of methane...
  Fourth, I go to church on Sundays when I could be, a) not driving, b) staying at home breathing very slowly reading my Rodale books.
  Fifth, as I just alluded, I read books, the kind with paper...and I use paper for other things too...
  Sixth, I use a gas lawn mower...the city makes me mow my grass and I'm too lazy to push a manual mower
  Seventh, beign the southerner that I am I listen to southern bands like the Allman Brothers very loudly in my car....that's pollution, right?
  Eighth, as I alluded above, I drive, an old Honda Civic with 225,00 miles, but I drive nonetheless...
  Ninth, I have four cats, but only one is outdoors, though he likes birds, chipmunks, and rabbits very much...bad kitty
  Tenth, to atone for many of the above sins (and more) I married a Canadian who despises field peas and hates the Allman Brothers, and she couldn't follow my lead in voting for Bush even if she wanted to.

  Joel Gillespie Greensboro NC jsgillespie@mindspring.com

  On What's your secret eco-sin? posted 4 years, 7 months ago 84 Responses

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  Evangelicals

  I appreciate Dave's honest questions, and desire for empirical evidence, because otherwise , well, it is amusing that so many folks out there have us "evangelicals" so well pegged as right wing pro oil industry pro logging everywhere Republicans. I don't know, it seems like the kind of stupid stereotyping that would get you in trouble, well, if  you were an evangelical anyway. First of all, evangelicals are not some unified cohesive block of people politically speaking. Second, there are within broad evangelicalism many different theologies that would tend their respective adherents to greater or to lesser concern for the current world and its environment. Not all evangelicals have the same take on culture or the amount of energy one is to put into "fixing" the world as we know it. Third, many currently middle aged folks who have become converted to Christianity and have become "evangelical Christians" bring into that many of their interests and concerns as human beings, such as concerns for the natural world, and find their bible's very agreeable on that subject.  Fourth, I know dozens and dozens of evangelicals personally who have quite a keen environmental conscience, and who make difficult personal choices because of it. Just because they can't bring themselves to vote for John Kerry and the rest of the Democratic social agenda doesn't undo that fact. Fifth, this sense of "creation care" is growing amongst evangelicals as they see the whole story of the bible better and not just the limited personal salvation issue for themselves. And the Bible speaks loudly on the subject. As an evangelical pastor I mention environmental matters often in sermons. It is a matter of love of God and love of neighbor how we treat God's world and how we cherish His creatures and creation. There just seems over and over to be these assumptions about US, like we're from outer space. So, good questions Dave. And also, personally, maybe if the average Gristmill reader got to know some of US and talked to some of US you'd find we're people too who care about the world we share with you. And maybe you'd find we could even partner with you on many issues that are of concern to both of us, if you don't make us swallow the rest of the values of the democratic left. Just maybe there are partnerships waiting to happen, and the natural world will benefit

  Joel Gillespie Greensboro NC jsgillespie@mindspring.com

  On Evangelicals posted 4 years, 9 months ago 2 Responses

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  If No Nukes Then What

  I'm all for the innovation economy as outlined, but, that is even farther down the line than renewed nuclear power. It is good to think and work toward such things but it does no good to throw your hopes fully into that basket - there are so many real hurdles politically, scientifically, and technologically. There are many unknowns. There are present advantages to moving to more nuclear power. Not only will it in time help reduce greenhouse gases; it will also reduce our dependence on oil sheikdoms ("all that foreign oil controlling American soil"). It will reduce cash flow to terrorist states as well. Nuclear technologies are significantly improved, do not require the land and water resources, and are safer. With breeder reactors much of the fuel can be recycled. So, while we wait for the emergence of the innovation economy, nuclear is a good environmental option as far as I see it. Yes, in the mean time it would be nice of Congress had the will to upgrade mileage standards. Yes, it would be good if other incentives existed to reduce energy consumption. But here before us we have a very much improved technology, one that will reduce greenhouse gases, reduce dependence on other countries for energy, and quite possibly provide the energy to produce hydrogen for more widespread use of hydrogen as an energy source. The risks associated with the wastes are worth the advantages to this one tree hugger and wildlife lover. I say let's go for it.

  Joel Gillespie Greensboro NC jsgillespie@mindspring.com

  On A no-nukes argument with no waste posted 4 years, 9 months ago 5 Responses

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  I Hope So

  Bob,

  Thank you for your kind words. The truth is, I very much want to be a part of helping find consensus on enviromental matters, for, after all, we all have to live on this one earth together. As to the Rebublican group you mentioned, I read about them recently, maybe in OnEarth magazine. But I am not a Republican, though I have wondered if I should register as one just to work this issue from within that party where the need on this issue is greater. But I doubt I will. Yes, there are some good evangelical groups that are working for greater sensitivity to environmental matters - the Evangelical Environmental Network comes to mind. I like your idea of a conference where we leave other issues and differences at the door and see how we can conspire together to protect species and clean up air and water etc. That would be fun. Ultimately I think we would find a kind of moral common ground, in the sense that a moral sense drives us to similar vision for protection of the earth, even if the ultimate religious or spiritual bases for those moral grounds may be different. I think there is something in our common humanity that can and will bring us together here even if we sharply disagree elsewhere. So, I hope I will find my place, my home for service on earth matters. I have not found it yet. Thank you again.  Joel

  Joel Gillespie Greensboro NC jsgillespie@mindspring.com

  On Whither the environmental movement? II posted 4 years, 10 months ago 14 Responses