Moral Consideration

This is a question posed by my Environmental Ethics teacher:

Characteristics for Moral Consideration Discussion

What do you feel should be required for an item of nature (humans included) to deserve moral consideration? Post your criteria as a response to this message. Also, take some time to read and respond to the ideas posted by your classmates.

Well, knowing that each of us has such varying positions on this subject, I can feel comfortable expressing my opinion too. I have a Judeo-Christian framework from which I build my beliefs, ideas, and opinions. I also recognize that just because others may have the same framework, that does not grantee that they will agree with my views. With that said, I respect each person’s opinion because two people cannot stand in the same shoes at the same time (each person has the right to believe what they wish).

First, I believe each human (determined by DNA) has God given rights, the same rights that extend to all of humanity. Being moral agents by nature (as designed), and being fearfully and wonderfully made, every individual is owed respect regardless of global origin, skin tone, language, size, sex, abilities, financial status, or any levels of perfection (because no one is perfect). Furthermore, just because a person may not hold to this view that does not give me the right to exclude them from the rights owed them. This is why moral consideration should be extended to only one race; the human race.

Now, humans as stewards. Because all things have been given to us, we all have the important task of caring for our entire environment with respect (as we would a gift, or something on lone). The world is not ours to trash at will.

Concerning animals; commonsense tells us that torturing or mutilating other life forms is wrong. Therefore, killing or destroying just for the sake of pleasure must be discouraged. However, as animals are on the food chain of other animals (and predators do not consider their prey in any moral sense), I do not find any wrong doing with proper farming, hunting and eating of animals.

Concerning animal habitats (deforesting); we need to find balance with:

• Caring for every species (for they are a work of the Master craftsmen) with preserving environmental balance (this means balance in keeping disease and parasitical element at bay when they pose a threat to human and environmental preservation).
• Harvesting resources and replenishing those resources (tree farming).
• Managing these resources with economic trends.
• Minimizing pollution.
• Preserving resources because it is the most responsible thing to do for generations that follow, and the respectful thing to do for our gift called the environment.

I survived a heart attack!

It happened Sunday - June 22, around 1:00 pm.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

(Ps 34:4 NIV)

Offshore Drilling?

A question posed in my collage class with my answer:

President Bush has recently proposed that we begin to explore for oil off of the U.S. coast. Is this a viable solution? If it is looked at from the perspective of reducing fuel costs, then I would say no. If from the perspective of ensuring long term reserves while we continue to investigate alternative fuel supplies, then I would say yes.

Here is a nice fresh article on the topic; it flows well with your statements: http://offsur-drill.notlong.com. I have to agree with both of your statements. It wouldn’t bring down gas prices any time soon; probably long after it reached $12 a gallon. It wouldn’t be substantial enough to make a difference in price or dependence for a while. Too little too late: http://To-little.notlong.com. We also need to remember that ½ of the price we pay for gas is taxes.

We as a country have allowed our selves to become too dependent on other countries for oil and business. I think the idea behind it all is that it secures us when other countries become dependent on the US influx of money – (break America and you break yourself). However, this action has only painted the US into a corner of dependence on other countries policies, politics, and hidden agendas; none of which is good for our environment.

Here is another political perspective, http://the-Pledge.notlong.com. We are caught between a rock and a hard place: “Protect US interests” or “Protect US coasts”. I just feel the longer we drag out alternative energy interests, the bigger the ditch we dig no matter what we do concerning drilling.

America’s dependency on foreign oil?

A question posed in my collage class with my answer:

To decrease dependence on foreign oil, should the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be open to exploration as an interim solution?

Absolutely and unequivocally not. I believe it would be a step in the continually (same old, same old) wrong direction. Here is an analogy:

An American parent as been feeding their family hamburgers everyday for 25 years at a restaurant over the Mexican border. In the last 5 years, a doctor has discovered that the whole family will only live another 8 years if they continue to be fed in that way. The parent is now given the choice: (a) Farm vegetables out of there own garden which would mean a change in lifestyle and adding 30 more years of life to the family. Or: (b) Spend valuable time looking for a restaurant locally to buy more hamburgers, before getting serious planting the garden.

Question: Do we really think the parent will start the garden in a timely fashion (if start at all), once they find a restaurant to supply all the family’s burger needs? More likely, the parent and family will not change their lifestyle out of convenience and financial stability; and, will die in 8 years.

If America does not make a lifestyle change by harvesting healthier, renewable energy resources within her own borders, she will waste her time, life, and money looking to consume herself out of existence within her own nationhood.

God is the definer of all things...

Your actions may define who you are before others, but God knows your heart. Therefore, if you truly belong to God (John 3:3); Completeness only comes when your faith is followed by your actions (James 2:24).

Green Chemistry Initiative

A question posed in my collage class with my answer:

Has anyone heard of the Green Chemistry Initiative?

I haven’t heard of it before today; however, I know it is a step in the right direction. So much of our lives involve chemicals, and this is only one aspect of the possible danger we encounter daily. I believe that the years of exposure to numerous elements contribute to health and environmental problems. From petroleum based products, plastics, chemicals, insecticides, including all the natural things we encounter, over time will rob us of life.

Plastics and other petroleum based chemicals are most likely the cause of many reproductive problems in humans and animals; not to mention neurological development.

http://plastic-bottles.notlong.com

http://CleaningSupplies.notlong.com

http://petro-chem.notlong.com

http://HealthHarms.notlong.com

Personally, I don’t feel enough is being said in order to educate the public. Many people feel that environmentalist are radicals (or tree huggers) more concerned for animals than people. Perhaps this is true in some cases, but the fact is that we can only survive in an environment that is well managed. People worldwide should be taught the essentials about our connection to our surroundings (our environment), and not have it sound like some mystical type of religiosity (May the force be with you in our oneness).

Acid Rain

A question posed in my collage class with my answer:

Acid rain is a problem affecting many cities in the United States and other countries. What are the impacts of acid rain and what should we do to minimize its impact if any?

As we continue to spew toxins and chemicals into the air, what goes up eventually comes down. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are pumped into the air by way of fossil fuel emissions (Vehicle=Fuel and smokestack=coal), which travel miles away where precipitation brings it back to earth. Acid is a corrosive breaking down things in its path (metals, rocks, trees, plants, etc… http://epa-acid.notlong.com). It eats away at everything from buildings to life-forms. It breaks down minerals and other food sources which affect those life-forms that depend on them. Everything from birds, fish, insects, animals, and people are all affected by its destruction.

I just thought of something profound about humans that animals are smart enough not to do (in most cases); “Bite the hand that feeds them.” In essence, we are trashing the environment that supports our lives. Not too smart!

Here are things we can do to improve our world:

1. Reduce the amount of pollutants we propel into our air http://acid-rain.notlong.com

2. Create fines that are reasonable and that directly finance environmental restoration

3. Develop alternative, renewable energy sources

4. Develop better ways to trap and dispose of the toxins we generate from burning