07.06.08

Let Your Light Shine for the Environment

Posted in Veganism, Creation Appreciation, Social Justice, Unitarian Universalism, Self Help, My Life at 2:16 am by Freeman Wicklund

Chicory is in bloom right now. Each of its flowers lasts for only a day, so thankfully, it only opens up a few of them at a time, allowing us to enjoy them longer. Chicory is also know as the ragged sailor–probably because of how the ends of the petals look tattered.

During the summer, the First Unitarian Universalists Church of Columbus has the services conducted by laypersons. My friend Jack Wisniewski and I did today’s service with a focus on what we can do to help the environment. Below is the text of my presentation, which followed Jack’s presentation on the importance of living with integrity and speaking out for those things we care about.

Let Your Light Shine

I spend a lot of quiet time in the wetlands by the Olentangy River. The waters of the wetlands rise and fall according to the rainfall. When the water levels were low, I saw a great egret stride confidently through the waters to catch the large fish trapped in the shallows. A killdeer couple took up residence on a newly formed sandbar and vigilantly guarded their ground nest.

I was delighted the first time I spied a light-grey catbird who has migrated to the wetlands for the summer, even though she greeted me with loud alarm calls for being too close to her nest.

For weeks, I waited in anticipation for the mulberries to ripen from white to red to purple, so I could enjoy their sweet taste.

The Olentangy River wetlands are a peaceful respit from the sights and sounds of Columbus. On the left is a young Eastern Redcedar. On the right are young Weeping Willow. Across the water is a deciduous forest where you can see many Eastern Cottonwoods.

The wetlands of the Olentangy River are magical. As I quietly observe life at the wetlands, I experience fleeting moments where for a millisecond I glimpse bigger truths and answers to the mysteries of the universe. My time at the wetlands fills me with a sense of wonder, awe, and peace.

It’s no surprise to me that Anne Frank wrote: “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.”

I have always had a strong appreciation for wildlife and nature. I credit my parents for this, as they always took my two older brothers and me out into the wild spaces of my home state of Oregon. Sometimes we would camp on the Oregon coast and marvel at the sea anemones and other tide pool creatures. Or we would hike through old growth forests as we climbed from the base to the peak of Mount Humbug. Or we would play in the sand dunes on the dry side of the Rockies.

Given my love of nature, when I moved here from D.C. last year, I was pleased to have found First UU of Columbus, a congregation that embraces a principle of showing respect for the interdependent web of life. And today, my talk will focus on this vital principle of respecting our planet.

Because despite the fact that nature provides us with all of our physical needs–as well as several mental and emotional ones–she is hurting. Of all the ways she is hurting, the most urgent one is global warming.

“The rainstorm and the river are my brothers; The heron and the otter are my friends; And we are all connected to each other; In a circle, in a hoop that never ends.” - Lyrics from the song Colors of the Wind from the movie Pocahontas.

The Earth Policy Institute notes that global warming, if left on its current trajectory, will cause sea levels to rise, flooding costal areas and displacing millions of people. It will negatively impact most, if not all, ecosystems causing many species to become extinct. It will cause more frequent and more damaging storms, floods, hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires.

Global warming will continue to melt the mountain glaciers that feed the rivers we use to grow our crops, drastically cutting our year-round fresh water supplies and decreasing our food production. And as temperatures rise, our crop production will decrease due to the higher heat. Together this will cause major food shortages, destroyed economies, and more failed states that will destabilize the political and economic world.

If we want to have a safe, healthy planet for future generations; for our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, wildlife, and wild lands then we have to act quickly to dramatically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and, as Jack said, we are going to have to let our light shine!

But what can we as individuals do to combat global warming? The head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - the group of thousands of scientists from around the world who were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year along with Al Gore - recently said there are three steps we should each take to curb global warming: shop less, drive less, and eat less meat.

Let’s talk about these things.

“You think you own whatever land you land on; The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim; But I know every rock and tree and creature; Has a life, has a spirit, has a name.” - Lyrics from the song Colors of the Wind from the movie Pocahontas.

First, shop less. Why shop less? Everything we buy has an energy cost to it. Energy is needed to extract the raw materials from the environment, produce the final product, dispose of the waste generated during production, and ship the products to the stores. So shopping less allows us to use less energy and decrease our collective greenhouse gas emissions.

One book I read that helped me curb my consumption was Your Money or Your Life. This classic book on financial security and living simply by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin redefined what it means to have “enough” material things. They defined enough as “the level of material things that gives you what you need, but is low enough that you actively use and value every object you own, and do not feel that you devote too much of your life taking care of your things.”

This concept of enough made me realize I not only need to “Question Authority,” but also to Question My Purchases! Now, if I am considering buying something, I ask myself several questions such as:

• Does the number of times I will use this item justify me buying it? Or could I borrow it from a friend, get it at a library, purchase a digital download of it, or rent it from somewhere for the time I will be using it?

• What care and upkeep will be necessary for me to maintain this purchase, and do I have the time and energy to do this upkeep?

• Is this something I could get second-hand from Salvation Army, Goodwill, or off of Craigslist?

If we all asked these questions, just think how much clutter we could rid our lives of, and how much unused exercise equipment would no longer be taking up precious space in our homes?

Wild Bergamot is also in bloom in the wetlands, attracting bees and butterflies. It is part of the mint family, and oils from this plant are used to flavor Earl Grey tea.

Let’s turn next to “drive less.” Our cities and suburbs were designed with the assumption that everybody owns a car, so admittedly it is challenging to drive less. Yet, as gas prices have reached an all time high, and several oil industry experts claim the world’s oil supply has peaked, and with global warming looming, we see many people who are getting creative.

People are walking and biking for shorter errands. Groups like the Westerville to Arena District Bikeway Association are working to create safe, car-free commuter bike trials to make biking a safer, more-convenient option. People are combining their errands to cut their car mileage. Carpooling and the use of public transportation are becoming vogue again. People in search of new cars are seeking out fuel-efficient vehicles.

For me, when I can fit all that I need to haul in the two grocery-bag-sized panniers on my bike, I generally bike to my destinations. However, my job with Mercy For Animals involves a lot of hauling equipment, boxes of literature and merchandise to our events in cities throughout Ohio. So when my vehicle was totaled last year after being hit by a drunk driver, I bit the financial bullet and bought a hybrid car. I have never been happier with the purchase. The car routinely gets 45 to 50 miles to the gallon, is a comfortable ride, and has a lot of space for hauling people and cargo.

Yet not everyone can afford to buy a hybrid, which leads us to the third suggestion: eat less meat.

“You think the only people who are people; Are the people who look and think like you; But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger; You’ll learn things you never knew you never knew” - Lyrics from the song Colors of the Wind from the movie Pocahontas.

Researchers at the University of Chicago calculated that eating a vegan diet –one free of all animal products– prevents the equivalent of 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year; even more than the 1 ton of emissions prevented by switching from a large sedan to a Toyota Prius. So by changing your diet you can still have more of the environmental benefits of driving a Prius, without the hefty price tag!

You see, according to the 2006 United Nations report, Livestock’s Long Shadow, raising animals for food causes more global warming than all of the cars, SUVs, and planes in the world combined.

The animal-agriculture sector contributes 18 percent–or nearly one-fifth–of all human-created greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse gasses result from the deforestation done to produce grazing land and land for growing feed crops, producing industrial fertilizer to use on the feed crops, farm animal manure storage and disposal, methane produced by ruminant animals, and the significant energy expenditures on animal farms and in transporting live animals and finished meat, eggs and dairy products.

Cornell ecologist David Pimentel estimates that creating animal protein demands about eight times as much fossil fuel as creating a comparable amount of plant protein.

So that’s why eating less meat makes the list of the top three things to do.

Another picture of the Olentagny Wetland area featuring a patch of Wild Bergamot.

Now, changing lifelong practices can be a daunting task, even if it is for a good cause. So I suggest taking baby steps and making slow change in the right direction. One baby step you can take today is to visit the Unitarian Universalists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ table and get a free Vegetarian Starter Kit after the service (or you can order your free Vegetarian Starter Kit online). The booklet contains delicious vegetarian recipes and tips on how to incorporate more vegetarian meals into your life. The UFETA table and booklet is out in the fellowship hall.

Confronting issues as dire as global warming can be demoralizing, but we must resist burying our heads in the sand.

I strive in my life to make a difference, and I believe — like Jack said — that the simple things we do in our daily lives do make a positive difference. This is why I try my best to live simply; use low-flow shower heads, compact florescent lights, compost, and buy things second-hand. This is why I bike or walk when possible, and drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. It is also part of the reason that I have lived as a vegan for over two decades.

However, my current way of living didn’t come about overnight. It evolved by me taking baby steps and focusing on doing one change at a time until it became a habit. And still, I find there are always more baby steps to take to integrate more sustainable ways of living into my life.

Still, even with baby steps, transforming our lives can seem monumental. So where can we find the inspiration and peace of mind to start taking these baby steps?…

Walking through the woods adjacent the Olentangy River, I see the majestic cottonwood leaves dancing in the breezes; I rub my hand over the smooth-looking, yet rough and bumpy trunk of a sycamore; I inhale deeply the aromatic globe of flowers that hangs on a milkweed; and I am reminded of the words of acclaimed environmentalist Rachel Carson: “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”

This text was written and the photos were taken in 2008 by Freeman Wicklund of FreemanWicklund.org, and it may be freely reprinted or distributed in any e-zine, e-mail, newsletter or blog as long as this sentence and its Web links are included.

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