safnet - Stephen A. Fuqua

The Oneness of Burial

2013-05-17T03:26:17Z

The closing from one of the many beautiful essays in Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril is incredibly moving (as is the rest of the essay), illustrating the beauty of simplicity and oneness with the world around us:

"When I die, wash my body with a cotton cloth. Bury me in a split-wood coffin crafted from trees that died a natural death. Lay me to rest in clothes I have already worn thin. Do not seal out the water and bugs and burrowing critters. Let me be absorbed back into the Earth. Let my body turn to soil. Even when I'm dead, let me nourish the future." (p107, by Carly Lettero).

In fact, it reminds me of words from 'Abdu'l-Bahá… I cannot find the passage I am looking for, but I have found another, more succinct passage, in Star of the West, Vol 11, No. 19 (March 2, 1921):

"The body of man, which has been formed gradually, must similarly be decomposed gradually. This is according to the real and natural order and Divine Law … that after death this body shall be transferred from one stage to another different from the preceding one, so that according to the relations which exist in the world, it may gradually combine and mix with other elements, thus going through stages until it arrives in the vegetable kingdom, there turning into plants and flowers, developing into trees of the highest paradise, becoming perfumed and attaining the beauty of color."

Reflecting on a Year of Involvement in Dallas Interfaith Power and Light

2013-04-14T16:05:27Z

A year ago I began a personal journey that I had long wished to start: a journey of integration, practice, cooperation, and learning, all in the name of playing a small part to unite the strands of science and faith on the "common ground of stewardship of life", to paraphrase E.O. Wilson [1]. In the uncaring and inefficient sprawl of Dallas, I set out to find those who share my belief that sustainable living would only be achieved when individuals and society re-connect with the divine, with the highest potential of human nature. From many such personal journeys, Dallas Interfaith Power & Light has been organically emerging as a moral and practical social space for addressing the great challenge of our times, climate change.

]]> Returning to the personal journey: on one level, one can form friendships with neighbors, taking time to uncover shared concerns and discover the means for remedying them [2]. On another level, the active mind sometimes need the moral-support, encouragement, intellectual stimulation and creativity of like-minded souls - and even the occasional spark of disagreement that can reveal deeper truths [3]. This is the realm of social discourse in the wider society, and that is what I was seeking in April 2012, when I searched for "dallas interfaith earth day."

My timing was fortuitous. An ecumenical group of Christians, concerned about "care for creation," had reached out to Texas Interfaith Power & Light in an attempt to broaden their perspectives and find help channeling their spiritual energy into sustainable action and reflection. I joined them, along with Jewish, Muslim, and Pagan practitioners, for an Earth Day potluck and dialog (prior meetings had also included Hindu and Jain participants). Two more beautiful interfaith encounters followed, engaging us in deep dialogues on our spiritual experiences in nature. This culminated in a July retreat, where several of us committed to continuing the journey together, in the context of a local affiliate: thus was born Dallas Interfaith Power & Light.

However, even while adopting the Interfaith Power & Light name, and agreeing to work as a subsidiary of the state chapter, we wanted to express a sense of local ownership and "customization." This is reflected in our organizational tagline, "love, justice, care for creation" and our longer mission statement: Dallas Interfaith Power and Light promotes love, justice, and care for creation through local action, education, and dialogue about climate stewardship. Our choice of language needed to reflect values important to people of faith in North Texas, and we felt that this simple statement struck the right balance in expressing our concern and calling on the deepest values of good-hearted people from all walks of life.

Principles

Dallas Interfaith Power & Light's mission is extended by this statement of principles:

We represent many faiths and traditions, coming together because we believe that "love thy neighbor" and social justice call us to work for changes in how we utilize our natural resources. We seek positive interactions and a bright future that accounts for the well-being of those living today and for the generations to come. We believe in listening to and welcoming the voices of all who seek the same. We see our diversity as bringing greater strength to this work, enhancing rather than weakening our personal faith. By providing a safe space for interaction with those from other religions, we can all learn and share our own perspectives, building bridges with others who are equally passionate about seeking God and protecting creation.

Since that July retreat, we have continued with monthly meetings, with attendance ranging from just a handful to 50 or so. We've had presenters, round-table discussions, a walk in an downtown park, and conversation around a Nova documentary. Our most recent gathering was organized by the Keep Texas Parks Open campaign, who gave us the opportunity to learn about the state of funding for, and the economics of, state and local parks. That was far more enlightening than it might sound, thanks to a slate of knowledgeable and passionate speakers. This month's meeting will be on the Living Building Challenge. Beyond that, our meetings will likely continue to address both practical concerns – such as green teams, community gardening, and xeriscaping – and big picture ideas, such as environmental justice and the call for stewardship from different faith perspectives.

Monthly week-night meetings are great, but they don't work for everyone, especially when covering such a large geography. On Sunday, May 5, we will hold an afternoon conference at Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas, on the theme of "Let's Get to Work". Our keynote speaker will address the topic of water; we will also have an expert Q&A panel, a break out session, and time to enjoy the Center grounds in the late afternoon.

Long term, we hope to engage our "members" (we have no formal membership) to become volunteers working with different houses of worship to help facilitate energy improvements and speak with the children, youth, and adult study groups about "creation care" stewardship. We have a small steering committee with five local volunteers [4] who receive encouragement and support from the Associate Director of the Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy [5], Yaira Robinson. None can devote the time they would want to this project. At various stages we've been stymied by personal and group schedules, but somehow we've managed to sustain some momentum. Together, we are building the foundation for an interfaith movement for creation care in big-oil's backyard.

***

Wilson, E.O. The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth. See page 168 for these particular words.
for Bahá'ís such as myself, this constructive process is carried out through a set of community-building activities centered on worship, education, and empowerment.
"The shining spark of truth, cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions." 'Abdu'l-Bahá, quoted by Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, p6.
I feel blessed to be working with Anna Clark, Genny Rowley (co-chair), Glen Suhren (treasurer), and Jinen Adenwala. I serve as co-chair at this time.
Texas Interfaith Power & Light is a program of the Interfaith Center; they also support local groups in various stages of development in Austin, Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. This notion of local "IPL" affiliates is, to my knowledge, unique to Texas. But that shouldn't stop anyone from approaching their state organization, if there is one, about partnering for a local venture.

Bahá'í Devotional Program on Humanity's Relationship with Nature

2013-04-11T01:54:57Z

In a letter dated 2 March 2013, to the Bahá'ís of Iran, the Universal House of Justice wrote:

"… the principle of the oneness of humankind, as proclaimed by Bahá'u'lláh, asks not merely for cooperation among people and nations. It calls for a complete reconceptualization of the relationships that sustain society. The deepening environmental crisis, driven by a system that condones the pillage of natural resources to satisfy an insatiable thirst for more, suggests how entirely inadequate is the present conception of humanity's relationship with nature…"

This of course begs the question, what should humanity's relationship with nature be? We explored this to some extent in the devotions for the Feast of Dominion in February. Now we ask you to continue that exploration here, with the Feast of Glory, by considering how the Glory of God is revealed through, and yet extends far beyond, Nature, which is also called Creation and Existence, and how our relationship to this Creation must be one of humility and moderation.

]]> In light of the House of Justice's statement above, and the passages below, what are the implications of biological destruction and impoverishment of the environment? On the one hand, we talk about the impact on human physical well-being - but on another level, can we not also see that our spiritual well-being is affected by the "deepening environmental crisis?" That each creature that goes extinct, that each ecosystem that disappears through human action, is a lost opportunity to praise and glorify God? Furthermore, the root cause of this crisis is suggested to be an immoderate materialism, implying that we must each and all avoid this "insatiable thirst for more." Finally, we see that all of creation is inter-connected, and we should recognize and act out of respect for this inter-connection, which is an expression of God's will.

Opening Prayer

Glory be to Thee, Thou in Whose hand are the heaven of omnipotence and the kingdom of creation. Thou doest, by Thy sovereignty, what Thou willest, and ordainest, through the power of Thy might, what Thou pleasest. From eternity Thou hast been exalted above the praise of all created things, and wilt to eternity remain far above the glorification of any one of Thy creatures. Existence itself testifieth to its non-existence when face to face with the manifold revelations of Thy transcendent oneness, and every created thing confesseth, by its very nature, its nothingness when compared with the sacred splendors of the light of Thy unity. Thou hast, in Thyself, been independent of any one besides Thee and rich enough, in Thine own essence, to dispense with any one except Thy Self. Every description by which they who adore Thy unity describe Thee, and every praise wherewith they who are devoted unto Thee praise Thee, are but the traces of the pen which the fingers of Thy strength and power have set in motion – fingers whose movement is controlled by the arm of Thy decree – the arm itself animated by the potency of Thy might. …

I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art the Lord of the worlds, and the Beloved of such as have recognized Thee, and the Desire of all that are in heaven and on earth, by Thy Name through which the cry of every suppliant hath ascended into the heaven of Thy transcendent holiness, through which every seeker hath soared to the sublimities of Thy unity and grandeur, through which the imperfect have been perfected, and the abased exalted, and the tongue of every stammerer unloosed, and the sick made whole, and whatever was unworthy of Thy highness and beseemed not Thy greatness and Thy sovereignty made acceptable unto Thee,--I beseech Thee to aid us by Thine invisible hosts and by a company of the angels of Thy Cause. Do Thou, then, accept the works we have performed for love of Thee, and for the sake of Thy pleasure. Cast us not away, O my God, from the door of Thy mercy, and break not our hopes in the wonders of Thy grace and favors.

Our limbs, our members, O my Lord, bear witness to Thy unity and oneness. Send down upon us Thy strength and power, that we may become steadfast in Thy Faith and may aid Thee among Thy servants. Illumine our eyes, O my Lord, with the effulgence of Thy beauty, and enlighten our hearts with the splendors of Thy knowledge and wisdom. Write us up, then, with those who have fulfilled their pledge to Thy Covenant in Thy days, and who, through their love for Thee, have detached themselves from the world and all that is therein.

Powerful art Thou to do what Thou pleasest. No God is there beside Thee, the All-Powerful, the Omniscient, the Supreme Ruler, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

Bahá'u'lláh, Prayers and Meditations, p172-4

Readings from Bahá’u’lláh

How great is Thy power! How exalted Thy sovereignty! How lofty Thy might! How excellent Thy majesty! How supreme is Thy grandeur--a grandeur which He Who is Thy Manifestation hath made known and wherewith Thou hast invested Him as a sign of Thy generosity and bountiful favor. I bear witness, O my God, that through Him Thy most resplendent signs have been uncovered, and Thy mercy hath encompassed the entire creation. But for Him, how could the Celestial Dove have uttered its songs or the Heavenly Nightingale, according to the decree of God, have warbled its melody?

I testify that no sooner had the First Word proceeded, through the potency of Thy will and purpose, out of His mouth, and the First Call gone forth from His lips than the whole creation was revolutionized, and all that are in the heavens and all that are on earth were stirred to the depths. Through that Word the realities of all created things were shaken, were divided, separated, scattered, combined and reunited, disclosing, in both the contingent world and the heavenly kingdom, entities of a new creation, and revealing, in the unseen realms, the signs and tokens of Thy unity and oneness. Through that Call Thou didst announce unto all Thy servants the advent of Thy most great Revelation and the appearance of Thy most perfect Cause.

Bahá'u'lláh, Prayers and Meditations, p295-6

Know thou that every created thing is a sign of the revelation of God. Each, according to its capacity, is, and will ever remain, a token of the Almighty. Inasmuch as He, the sovereign Lord of all, hath willed to reveal His sovereignty in the kingdom of names and attributes, each and every created thing hath, through the act of the Divine Will, been made a sign of His glory. So pervasive and general is this revelation that nothing whatsoever in the whole universe can be discovered that doth not reflect His splendor. Under such conditions every consideration of proximity and remoteness is obliterated.... Were the Hand of Divine power to divest of this high endowment all created things, the entire universe would become desolate and void.

Behold, how immeasurably exalted is the Lord your God above all created things! Witness the majesty of His sovereignty, His ascendancy, and supreme power. If the things which have been created by Him--magnified be His glory--and ordained to be the manifestations of His names and attributes, stand, by virtue of the grace with which they have been endowed, exalted beyond all proximity and remoteness, how much loftier must be that Divine Essence that hath called them into being?…

Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p184-5

What is it of which ye can rightly boast? Is it on your food and your drink that ye pride yourselves, on the riches ye lay up in your treasuries, on the diversity and the cost of the ornaments with which ye deck yourselves? If true glory were to consist in the possession of such perishable things, then the earth on which ye walk must needs vaunt itself over you, because it supplieth you, and bestoweth upon you, these very things, by the decree of the Almighty. In its bowels are contained, according to what God hath ordained, all that ye possess. From it, as a sign of His mercy, ye derive your riches. Behold then your state, the thing in which ye glory! Would that ye could perceive it!

Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p252

Readings from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Then it is clear that the honour and exaltation of man must be something more than material riches. Material comforts are only a branch, but the root of the exaltation of man is the good attributes and virtues which are the adornments of his reality. These are the divine appearances, the heavenly bounties, the sublime emotions, the love and knowledge of God; universal wisdom, intellectual perception, scientific discoveries, justice, equity, truthfulness, benevolence, natural courage and innate fortitude; the respect for rights and the keeping of agreements and covenants; rectitude in all circumstances; serving the truth under all conditions; the sacrifice of one’s life for the good of all people; kindness and esteem for all nations; obedience to the teachings of God; service in the Divine Kingdom; the guidance of the people, and the education of the nations and races. This is the prosperity of the human world! This is the exaltation of man in the world! This is eternal life and heavenly honour!

‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p79-80

Were one to observe with an eye that discovereth the realities of all things, it would become clear that the greatest relationship that bindeth the world of being together lieth in the range of created things themselves, and that cooperation, mutual aid and reciprocity are essential characteristics in the unified body of the world of being, inasmuch as all created things are closely related together and each is influenced by the other or deriveth benefit therefrom, either directly or indirectly…. Hence it was stated that co-operation and reciprocity are essential properties which are inherent in the unified system of the world of existence, and without which the entire creation would be reduced to nothingness.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Compilation: Huqúqu’lláh — The Right of God, p. 7

Closing Prayer

Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of God hath been made, and His praise glorified.

Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá’í Prayers, iii

Opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline

2013-04-05T03:09:51Z

In December 2011, I wondered if the opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline project was truly just, given that Americans do not have the same kind of reaction to actual oil spills in places like Brazil and Nigeria, as to the potential for spills in the United States. Since then, I have learned more about the climate impact of tar sands (which admittedly is still not entirely clear),and given more consideration to the justice and ethics. Thus while I still hold to the main points of my previous blog post – we need to focus on reducing energy consumption, and Americans should be equally concerned about ecological impacts of oil production / transport outside the United States – I am now firmly opposed to the construction of this pipeline, and have signed onto Interfaith Power & Light's letter-writing campaign against the pipeline.

]]> (A) Previous thought: the alternative to piping through the US is piping through Canada or trucking, so the NIMBY principle would just push the transport into Canada. Well, that doesn't look so clear, as there is considerable opposition to a pipeline in Canada. It is being reported that other forms of transport are looking less viable, so it appears to be the case that the Keystone XL Pipeline is the key to unlocking, or bottling up, Canadian tar sands oil production.

(B) The cost of a spill in the middle of the nation would be huge, though just what that really means is debatable. Last week's spill in Arkansas helps drive that home. Previously I argued that we should accept that risk if we're willing to accept it elsewhere. Now I prefer to say we simply must not accept such a high risk, where risk = probability times cost → low prob of spill times very high cost equals high risk.

(C) There is the principle of not being party to evil. Just because "its going to happen anyway" (development of the tar sands oil) does not mean we, as a country, should passively condone and profit it from it. In fact, ethically it should mean just the opposite - we must refuse to profit from tar sands oil.

Now, having said all that, it is still absolutely clear that the only just response is for us all take a look in the mirror and ask ourselves how we're going to reduce our own use of fossil fuels.

Connecting with the Wild in Urban America

2013-03-17T22:59:50Z

Also see: Op-Ed: Preserve Local Parks Grants , adapted from this essay

Like many in my parents' generation, my Gen-X childhood was spent outside whenever possible, with the freedom to roam the neighborhood and explore the vestiges of "the wild" wherever they could be found. In southern Missouri, that meant playing in small valleys, not fit for home construction, that still teemed with minnows, crawdads, and the occasional alligator snapping turtle. Even the backyard offered something wild: instead of a fence separating us from our neighbors, we had an old farm tree line; some of the larger horse apple trees still had bits of barb wire encased in their bark. The trees sheltered squirrels and chipmunks, birds and bats.

Small ledge and spring, along a minor brook emptying into Lake Springfield, Missouri

And then we moved to Plano, in the middle of 7th grade. Again our home was on old farmland, but there were no vestiges other than the flatness of tilled cropland. White Rock Creek was perhaps a mile away, but there was no access without obviously trespassing – and it wasn't compelling enough to risk getting in trouble. I turned inward and focused on my studies; perhaps that was for the best. But I felt lost. A part of me was missing.

]]> Thankfully, those first few summers did include memorable respites from the suburban lifestyle: trips back to Missouri, a few visits to Dinosaur Valley State Park, and the transcendent experience of looking up into the redwood crowns of Yosemite and Muir Woods. But there was one other trip, shortly after tenth grade, that dwarfed them all in personal significance: the science club went out to McDonald Observatory and Big Bend National Park. It was there that the rehabilitation of my disconnect from nature began.

Sometime in the following year, a friend who was also on that trip introduced me to Spring Creek Forest Preserve in Richardson, about 15 miles away from home. I was stunned to find this bit of "wild" just a few miles east of the density of North Dallas. Eventually, we also discovered Bob Woodruff Park in Plano, but it was Spring Creek that captured my heart. Soon, however, it was time for college.

Gaillardia flowers at Spring Creek Forest Preserve in Richardson and Garland

My blood runs orange, and going to Austin felt like going home at last. There, I found comfort and respite at the turtle pond north of the Tower, and in staring down into the waters of Waller Creek swirling amidst Cypress knobs. Soccer games at Zilker Park introduced me to the water and woods of Barton Creek and the Colorado River, right in the heart of the city. Mayfield Park and Mount Bonnell, just west of downtown, offered further refuge from the stress of my studies. With a bit more free time after graduation, I was able to get out a little further with visits to state parks like McKinney Falls, Bastrop, Enchanted Rock, Pedernales Falls, and Lost Maples.

After some time away from Texas, I am now on the south side of Dallas County, where the many preserves and parks in Dallas, Grand Prairie, and Cedar Hill have been critical to maintaining my personal well-being. My favorite hang-out is at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, from whose ridge one can alternately look out over Joe Pool Lake to the north, spotting Cowboys Stadium on a clear day; or circle round to the south, and study the texture of the oak-and-juniper woods of the canyon. Fish Creek Preserve in Grand Prairie and Joppa Preserve in Dallas are other common destinations. Plano, too, has grown up over the years: Arbor Hills now provides an excellent western counterpart to Bob Woodruff.

Joe Pool Overlook, Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center at Cedar Hill

While my personal faith plays an important role in helping keep me from the slough of indifference to the ills of society, it is these near and far Texas natural spaces that allow me to breathe and connect with a feeling of the divine; to feel that I am but a small part of the natural order; to re-discover the wonder of an ant-lion nest or to admire the fall color in prairie grasses as well as trees. Transcendence comes easily in the redwoods, but it is also to be found under the shade of a mighty pecan tree or in studying the chalk layers revealed by our Dallas-area creeks. We need these places to keep us whole, to keep our minds sharp, our creativity stimulated, and our anxieties at bay. This is not merely personal anecdote, but also proven science: humans thrive best in settings that allow proximity to "nature", however that might be defined†. Without these spaces, I could not bear to remain in Texas – it would not be the land I love, but just another Sprawl.

Wetlands southeast of downtown Dallas.

Photo Credits: Some rights reserved
Spring Creek Preserve - bygurdonark
Others - by Stephen A Fuqua

† The book Urban Place: Reconnecting with the Natural World, edited by Peggy F. Barlett, offers a good review of the science. Richard Louv has written extensively about what he calls nature deficit disorder. Renowned biologist-humanist E.O. Wilson hypothesises a genetic basis for the human connection to nature, biophilia (PBS interview 2008).

Reflecting on a "Power to Choose" Energy Workshop

2013-03-04T04:20:41Z

Lately, I have been in such a mode of doing that being has taken a back seat. As I try to enter a more contemplative mood, particularly regarding social action in response to global climate change, I feel so saturated with facts and obvious conclusions that new inputs are no longer enriching my knowledge or perceptions, and mere contemplation feels hollow. But reflection on action... that may yet have some bearing on the course of future action. So, let's look at today's action: a workshop on choosing a power provider.

]]> In Texas, deregulation means that we have energy generators, transmitters, and dozens of providers that sit in between those two and the consumer. There can be significant differences in cost, customer service, and mixtures of power sources between hundreds of different plans. As a way of helping move people away from the companies with the worst power sources (e.g. coal), Dallas Interfaith Power & Light (D-IPL) agreed to partner with the Sierra Club on a workshop about choosing a power provider. Truthfully, the Lone Star Sierra Club did all of the work and D-IPL made a limited (due to our newness and availability) effort to get the word out.

Meeting at the Dallas Central Library, we looked at http://www.powertochoose.org/, exploring the tools it provides for learning about power providers. The intention was to reach out to people who are more likely to be concerned about cost than about "green energy" - but, the two actually go hand-in-hand (it is claimed): the most expensive retail provider is the biggest provider in North Texas and has the dirtiest coal plants [I have verified that the cost is very high and that one of the nation's most polluting coal plants is owned by the parent company of that provider]. However, we only had a small group of people who are supporters of D-IPL and/or the Sierra Club. While it was incredibly useful working with them, from an expectations stand-point one might consider it a failure. This despite on-the-ground outreach efforts by the Sierra Club staffer, who visited with people in lower income neighborhoods and some churches.

We knew going into it that this would be an experiment, and before packing up we took the time for some reflection. Everyone who heard about the workshop seemed genuinely interested, but few came: if we wish to turn this event into a process, then we must learn to take the workshop to them. Go to local community centers, libraries, and churches. Furthermore, the presentation will be turned into a set of YouTube videos and/or webinars to allow dissemination to anyone who may be interested.

Helping people explore such a trivial-seeming, but in truth very important, decision is actually quite easy for anyone who is comfortable with a computer and with a small degree of studying the numbers. Perhaps our next step should be to train the trainers, and then ask these volunteers to identify a location, begin developing a relationship with the "management" there (e.g. librarians, deacons, administrators), and schedule a workshop for local residents to explore their energy options together.

Raising Our Expectations for Climate Leadership, Institutionally and Individually

2013-02-15T04:32:17Z

Some rights reserved by Newtown grafitti

In an editorial published last weekend, Power, Privilege, and Climate Change: A Tale of Two Presidents, Vassar College professor Joseph Nevins contrasts the lifestyles of the richest and "poorest" presidents in the world, in the context of global climate change: those of the United States and Uruguay. It is a powerful reminder that we in the U.S. can't look at climate change, point the finger elsewhere, and keep going about our lives.

]]> As President, Mr. Obama has made some strides with respect to climate change (e.g. higher mileage standards). Yet this article reminds us of the tyranny of lowered expectations. Justice and equity demand that we each sacrifice some of our "easy living" for the global good. We must "be the change we wish to see" to paraphrase Gandhi. That change must come at the grassroots - but it also must bubble up to the top of the power structure. How can we connect the two ends?

They say that all politics is local. As we work to reduce our own energy footprints, perhaps concerned individuals should redouble their efforts to "green up" their local governments; for instance, we can ask our city leaders to join the sustainable cities movement. City council and school board members become state leaders, who in turn become national legislative and executive leaders, carrying local lessons with them. While on the topic of institutional change, let us not forget our religious bodies: clergy and lay leadership can and will influence their membership, through their personal and institutional examples. This is precisely what Interfaith Power & Light is trying to accomplish.

Let's go back to the grassroots now. Nevins tells us that Uruguay's President Mujica, in a speech at the UN Earth Summit last year,

… "insisted that "the challenge ahead of us . . . is not an ecological crisis, but rather a political one." Pointing to a "model of development and consumption, which is shaped after that of affluent societies," societies ruled by the dictates of the capitalist market, Mujica said it was "time to start fighting for a different culture." Arguing that the assault on the environment was a symptom of a larger disease, he asserted that "the cause is the model of civilization that we have created. And the thing we have to re-examine is our way of life."

Here in the United States, how do we do that? Collectively, we have managed to construct a "comfortable" way of life that is very challenging to escape – and frankly, is really not all that good for us. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer; mental illness, social isolation, rancorous public discourse; these are but some of the physical and spiritual symptoms of a diseased social structure. We need to construct new models, at the micro level, in order to arrive at a new mode of life at the civilizational level. In the struggle to avoid the worst threats of climate change, we need, as 'Abdu'l-Bahá says, "justice and impartiality", which

"… means to have no regard for one's own personal benefits and selfish advantages, and to carry out the laws of God without the slightest concern for anything else. It means to see one's self as only one of the servants of God, the All-Possessing, and except for aspiring to spiritual distinction, never attempting to be singled out from the others. It means to consider the welfare of the community as one's own. It means, in brief, to regard humanity as a single individual, and one's own self as a member of that corporeal form, and to know of a certainty that if pain or injury afflicts any member of that body, it must inevitably result in suffering for all the rest. "

Secrets of Divine Civilization, p39

Planned follow-up: a brief outline on the Bahá'í model for addressing the disease of civilization.

Baha'is of Grand Prairie Join the Preach-In

2013-01-27T15:36:41Z

The National Preach-In on Global Warming is coming up - Feb 8 - 10 – and I am excited to say that the Bahá'ís of Grand Prairie have signed on! This event is a project of Interfaith Power & Light; its purpose is to "help clergy bring attention to this key moral issue [global climate change] of our time". We may not have clergy in the Bahá'í Faith, but that need not stop our Spiritual Assemblies from participating.

]]> The Bahá'í calendar, with 19 months and 19 days (plus 4-5 intercalary days), is punctuated by a Feast at the beginning of every month - more spiritual than physical. The Feast is composed of three parts - devotions, consultation, and fellowship. The month of "Dominion" (Mulk) begins on the 7th of February, but the Bahá'ís of Grand Prairie are holding our Feast on Friday the 8th.

The devotions will explore the relationships of God, humanity, and nature, including the creation care implied by the term "dominion" in the book of Genesis. Devotions and consultation will be bridged by a brief presentation of the formal position of the international Baha'i community, which is that climate change is occurring and "it is critical that the world act in a unified way to prevent future climate change and to help humanity to adapt to the changes already set in motion." [http://goo.gl/MSWVC]

During the consultation, the community will be asked to consider sending the "Love Creation" postcards to the President. As well, we will broach the topic of next steps for our community.

MLK Parade 2013, Grand Prairie, TX

2013-01-19T21:13:14Z

This is an age, in America, when to see people teaming across an open space that is not a ball field, is to see protest – most likely on the news, in a far away place. New York, Oakland; Cairo, Tunis; Barcelona, Athens; Delhi. Or perhaps it is the bustling crowd under the sodium light of a parking lot, in the wee hours after Thanksgiving dinner has been packed into the refrigerator. Waiting for this year's must-have bargain.

]]> But this crowd, still gathering when the photo was taken this morning, is of a different sort. It is a group, primarily of students, who were brought together to celebrate, memorialize, and carry on the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Gathered near the "liberty bell" at Grand Prairie's town hall, some hundreds marched a few miles through the heart of this large, older suburb of Dallas. A blustery and cool morning, there were still a few hundred people at the curbside, smiling and taking pictures.

Truthfully, it was a small event. This is not a day and age filled with the public spirit, when parents from all over town bring their children to walk in or cheer on the parade. Yet perhaps it was a more special day because of that, if one takes the time to reflect. We walked together; we brought smiles to faces (particularly when tossing candy!); we interacted with friend and stranger alike in a spirit of joy, fellowship, and civic pride. No demands were made; these steps were not taken to eliminate poverty or insure equal opportunities in housing or education, though such steps are still needed. Instead, we simply, beautifully demonstrated unity in diversity.

In a lecture on the day after receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace, Dr. King said, "There is a sort of poverty of the spirit which stands in glaring contrast to our scientific and technological abundance. ... We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers." [1]

The Grand Prairie Unity Coalition supports the city's annual parades – MLK, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth – every year. Last year, I merely helped to decorate the group's "float". Today I bestirred myself to attend, and it will not be the last time I do so, for it felt that our spirits where lifted above the material, and that we showed in some small way what it means to live together as brothers.

[1] "Martin Luther King Jr. - Nobel Lecture: The Quest for Peace and Justice". Nobelprize.org. 19 Jan 2013 http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-lecture.html

Winter

2013-01-13T15:59:25Z

Winter was once a midly depressing time for me, as it is for most: short, cool days, brown grass, bear branches. Obviously this is Texas not Minnesota, otherwise: shorter, super-cold days, car stuck in snow or sliding on ice (but the grass was still green - under the snow - and the branches would often have a delicate coating of the white stuff). Fractals and birds started changing me some years ago. This winter has only confirmed that.

Red-tailed Hawk, in a pecan tree outside my patio, today.

]]> vectors on objects in motion and slightly in love with Gaussian integral, that shows the deep relationship of exponentials to conics). From then on, I saw winter as a time to appreciate the structural beauty of my surroundings, without the distraction of bright colors and extraneous fluff.

A Great-blue Heron in Florence Branch creek ... and a beaver!

Several years of assisting Dr. Homayoun in her fieldwork have turned me into an avid birder. When we were in Minnesota, winter meant no more birding for us. Being back in Texas, it is now an altogether different story: winter means the northern birds have come to us for a few months. Spring means more birds come through on their migration northward, but it also means pesky leaves that obscure your view. Spring is beautiful, I love the heat of summer followed by the crisp feeling of autumn (when we have one - a drawback of Texas), but winter now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the others in my heart.

So its not a bird, but this coyote on Boxing Day excited me.

Finally, a word about organized birding: this year's Christmas Bird Count (Dallas Morning News), the first in Cedar Hill in many years, was a tremendous success. Personally, I saw 58 different species in one day (New Year's), in parts of Grand Prairie, Cedar Hill, and Desoto. All told, the volunteer group, based out of Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, saw more than 100 species in the area, including several surprising Bald Eagle sightings. Joining up with some experienced birders is the best way to learn; for those in the Dallas area, the Trinity Bird Count is a great way to meet folks on organized birding trips in the city (currently all within Dallas). Ignore the old dates - the calendar itself is up-to-date.

This little Field Sparrow, at the Cedar Hill Rec Center, was particularly photogenic after a small speaker was hung in a tree, playing their chirps.

Talks by 'Abdu'l-Bahá: The Spirit of Christ

2012-11-26T02:59:06Z

Talks by 'Abdu'l-Bahá: The Spirit of Christ is a new arrangement of public and private talks, all previously published in Paris Talks and Promulgation of Universal Peace. Each talk mentions Christ; some are directly about Christ's teachings and disciples, while others are more generally about religion and the Prophets or "Manifestations" of God. Like a good mix tape (playlist), the arrangement here creates a beautiful and new experience: the reader gains a clearer and more coherent view of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's theology from these pages. This of course is an elucidation of Bahá'u'lláh's theology; as such, this new volume would make an excellent compliment to the study of the Kitáb-i-Íqan.

]]> Having just read two other books containing many excerpts from 'Abdu'l-Bahá's talks, presented in historical context, I was looking for a followup that would present more analysis and application. When this book arrived, I was stunned by the beautiful dust jacket and the elegant book design. Nevertheless, I felt some initial disappointment, until I realized that these talks are in themselves the best analysis of modern conditions and application of the Bahá'í teachings. Furthermore, this collection offers an education in how to challenge an audience without putting them down and without overwhelming them with too much information, and how to use the power of both intellect and emotion wisely.

Although frequently commenting on the religionists of the past who were unwilling to forsake the forms of their fathers when a new dispensation arose, and stating in no uncertain terms that it would be better to live without religion than to live with it when it becomes the cause of disunity, the reader sees that his words of criticism were "mild as milk" and are expressed with a sense forthright observation rather than fiery castigation:

"If in the day of Jesus Christ the Jews had forsaken imitation and investigated reality, they would assuredly have believed in and accepted Him, for the Messianic effulgence was far greater than the Mosaic. The Sun of Reality, when it appeared from the dawning point of Christ, was as the midsummer sun in brilliancy and beauty".

Imagine the tone of our social discourse if the body politic could learn from this example; and imagine if our academic discourse were devoted to building on itself rather than constantly trying to tear each other apart. It would be a different and far more pleasant society, if we could learn from the Master.

***

Review of Talks by 'Abdu'l-Bahá: The Spirit of Christ. Published in 2012 by Bahá’í Publishing, 415 Linden Ave, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust through its Bloggers Network book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." (http://ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Fracking: a Great Distraction from Renewables and Conservation

2012-11-11T16:04:02Z

The Sky Is Pink, from the director of Gasland, makes a potent argument that we need to resist ANY gas drilling, but particularly fracking with its permanently toxic benzene, toluene, etc. In middle school I recall writing a paper for science class, about sources of groundwater pollution in Texas. Improperly-capped oil and gas wells were a major source. I was able to find the scientific research there in my middle school and public libraries. This short film reminds us that a significant increase in the number of wells translates to a significant increase in the number of leaking wells that pollute our water supplies.

]]> The United States' levels of greenhouse gas emissions have gone down dramatically, thanks to fracking (Discovery News). Fracking produces cheap natural gas, and thereby supplants coal. The coal industry executives that are lashing out at President Obama in recent days are blaming him for their woes, when the root causes are competition and a poor track record in basic mine safety. But, as both The Sky is Pink and this Discovery article point out, the low cost of natural gas also undermines the market for further development of renewable energy sources.

Furthermore, because the environmental / health costs of fossil fuel use are so completely "externalized" (paid by no one, the government, or individuals), the cost of natural gas can be seen as artificially low. Basic economics suggests that artificially low prices induce greater use of a product. But this is a product whose use needs to be reduced significantly. We need to turn not only to alternatives, but more importantly to further reduction in use of energy and increase in transmission efficiency so that we simply do not need to develop an ever-increasing number of wells, turbines, and fields of solar arrays.

The film talks about the strategy of distracting the public with misleading science, so that they think there is a debate going on about the health-effects of natural gas drilling (or tobacco, or climate change). Although it might not be an explicit part of the strategy, perhaps we are also becoming too mired in a debate about fracking when we should be focusing our human resources on eliminating the need for more fossil fuels altogether.

So – what have you done to reduce your energy consumption this week? Or decided not to do? I turned off my A/C on Thursday and let my office heat up to 81 deg F, with a fan sitting in the open window. Oh, and I walked the 1.5 miles to my polling place on Tuesday! But lest you think I'm being overly self-congratulatory: I got lucky. Most other weeks would not have had such data points, meager though they are.

Wetlands Conservation and Advocacy

2012-11-04T17:26:41Z

This past week's terrible storm out East provides a reminder of the importance of our ecological infrastructure; in particular, wetlands. The lessons that we did not heed from Hurricane Katrina will perhaps take hold with Hurricane Sandy impacting the nation's commercial heart: in addition to supporting relief efforts now, it is important for us to consider long-term mitigation against the impact of future large storms, which are likely to be more powerful and more frequent than in centuries past. Instead of, or in addition to, relying on massive levies, seawalls, and the like, we need to support public and private endeavors to restore vital natural systems.

White-morph Reddish Egret, doing the Reddish Egret dance, in a wetland on Texas's Mustang Island

]]> Wetlands are nature's defence against storm surges, and they are her filters for clean water. They provide crucial habitat for life from across the "kingdoms" – distinct varieties of plants, funguses, invertebrates, mollusks, birds, mammals, and so on. And this diversity is beautiful, from a purely aesthetic standpoint. Trails, boardwalks, and observation decks can easily provide human access to appreciate and meditate on the beauty of life, helping reverse the trend of nature deficit disorder.

These natural systems are not just for the coasts; they are also vital to the interior. Yesterday morning, participating in the Trinity Bird Count, I toured the lower chain of wetlands that was constructed along the Trinity River in the past 10 years, just southeast of downtown. Staff from the Army Corps of Engineers explained to us how these wetlands, located near Interstate 45 and Loop 12, would provide additional nitrogen/phosphorus filtration for effluent from a water treatment plant (mitigating our impact on downstream residents). They will help protect the nearby, historically minority, Joppa neighborhood from flooding. Where these wetlands replace or prevent buildup of man-made structures, or improve the ability for the surrounding land to sustain plant life, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and thus provide a means for reducing the city's contribution toward global climate change. In this particular case, these 123 acres of wetlands are joined by over 1,000 acres of the "Great Trinity Forest", providing for substantial carbon sequestration.

Double-Crested Cormorants

The City of Dallas is working on a recreation plan that will provide access and trails through this greenspace, suitable for hikers, bird-watchers, and even horseback riding (evidence of which can already be found!). Local residents tell of coyote and bobcat, no doubt frequently hunting rabbits like the one I nearly stepped on. That rabbit's cousins are probably happily munching away on a neighbor's vegetable garden; surely the rabbit population is in need of natural checks and balances in the form of predation. Our two-and-a-half hour tour turned up forty-eight species of birds, including nine species of sparrows that migrate from parts north, looking for quality fields like these for over wintering. While everyday Rock Pigeons and House Sparrows are numerous around Dallas, we saw none. But we did see a tremendous flock, estimated at around 1,000 individuals, of Double Crested Cormorants who have come down for the season, feeding in these wetlands and our local lakes.

Downtown Dallas over Wetland Cell F

Historically, our coastal areas and rivers like the Trinity contained naturally-formed wetlands. These have been drained for agricultural, commercial, and sometimes health, reasons. But the unintended consequences come back to haunt us with increased flooding, loss of biodiversity, and further artificial separation of "man" from nature. Local organizations dedicated to sustainable living and stewardship, such as the new Dallas Interfaith Power & Light, can play a supportive role in mitigating against the unintended consequences of past policies and economic activity. Reaching out beyond our narrow self interests, we can express the group's mission of "love, justice, and care for creation" by advocating for development projects that restore natural systems and protect local neighborhoods, and in encouraging local citizens to responsibly enjoy them.

Looking due north, across an old landfill and into the Great Trinity Forest

Struggling to feel fully informed about fracking

2012-09-15T03:24:39Z

On the one hand, fracking has been responsible for earthquakes and creates toxic water that must be locked away interminably. On the other hand, cheap natural gas is replacing coal and thus lowering the projected greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., thanks in no small part to fracking. Furthermore, it is one of the few growth industries in America, helping the economy recover from hard times. They say the earthquakes can be avoided by better techniques, but I have not heard anything positive about the water supply. In some ways, this feels worse than nuclear fission, which provides the POTENTIAL for nasty poisoning of the environment, whereas fracking by definition requires destruction of increasingly scarce (at least here in Texas) water.

]]> It would be trivial to find articles backing up the assertions above. But are they reputable? "Whoso seeketh out a thing with zeal shall find it" [The Seven Valleys]. Ultimately, I lack clear and objective information that I can trust. So much of what is said, including by me, is about feelings and fears, to the extent that it feels disingenous to take a real stand. That means it is time to "investigate reality"…

"The first teaching of Bahá’u’lláh is the duty incumbent upon all to investigate reality. What does it mean to investigate reality? It means that man must forget all hearsay and examine truth himself, for he does not know whether statements he hears are in accordance with reality or not. Wherever he finds truth or reality, he must hold to it, forsaking, discarding all else; for outside of reality there is naught but superstition and imagination." [Promulgation of Universal Peace]

To examine truth itself means to look at scientific facts and then apply them, along with clear ethical standards, to the question at hand. It requires looking at the totality of the impact on both people and nature, rather than the egoistic NIMBY approach we all stumble into so often, across the political spectrum. For fact, and policy implications, I will start my research with two organizations I trust to present science without muddying themselves in the waters of partisan politics – the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Nature Conservancy. And perhaps I'll attend an Environmental Defense Fund webinar this week. More to come, after some detailed reading.

PS. if you cannot help laughing a bit at the title, then perhaps you have watched far too much Battlestar Galatica :-).

image source: Open Clip Art Library.

Dallas Interfaith Power & Light - "Power Surge"

2012-09-09T17:46:48Z

Dallas Interfaith Power & Light will be hosting a screening and round-table discussion of the Nova Documentary Power Surge, on Monday, September 24, 7:00 PM. This film looks at the state of "green energy" in the United States and the potential impact of technology on softening the blow of global climate change. The event will be held at the Dallas Baha'i Center, 9400 Plano Rd, Dallas, TX (south of Walnut Hill, north of E Northwest Hwy).

In addition, participants of this new faith-based initiative will be presented with an opportunity to comment on the draft Mission and Principles.