Archive for January, 2012

30 Jan

Having the Liberal Label Forced Upon You

Posted by midwestnaturalist in Politics, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , .

This comes from my good friend, Steve Dennie:

Every Democratic president gets pummeled by Republicans as “the most liberal president ever.” They can point to some supposedly independent organization with a scoring system which tracks voting records on specific issues, and uses that score to determine just how liberal or conservative you are.

There are legitimate and often biblical reasons for Christians to hold views which Republicans blast as godless liberalism. This really vexes me. Because if you hold any views which aren’t endorsed by FoxNews and Rush, you’re labeled a heretical liberal.

  • Do you stick up for the poor, like Jesus did? You’re a liberal.
  • Are you concerned about taking care of the environment? You’re a liberal.
  • Are you angered about factory farming and other cruelty to animals? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you oppose the death penalty? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you think religion should be left to parents and kept out of schools? You’re a liberal.
  • Are you against the three-strikes crime rule? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you believe there’s a place for affirmative action? Liberal.
  • Do you think unions should remain? Liberal.
  • So you support embryonic stem cell research? Liberal.
  • Do you believe in restrictions on assault weopons? Liberal.
  • Do you oppose torturing prisoners of war? Liberal.
  • Do you think the US should keep its international agreements? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you oppose corporal punishment of children? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you feel the United Nations has a legitimate role in our world? Blatant liberal.
  • Do you favor decriminalizing marijuana? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you advocate organic farming? You are such a liberal.
  • Do you think green technology is a good thing? You’re a liberal.
  • Concerned about the growing gap between the super-rich and everyone else? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you believe Wall Street should be regulated to prevent recklessness which harms our economy? You’re a liberal
  • Do you favor net neutrality–leaving the internet as it is now, as opposed to giving internet providers broad new powers? You’re a liberal.
  • Are you against the military Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell policy? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you believe the government should fight discrimination against women and minorities? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you believe food stamps meet a legitimate need? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you believe the government should provide consumer protection regarding food, drugs, chid safety, and other things? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you believe global warming is happening, and is largely caused by man? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you advocate rehabilitating prisoners, rather than just punishing them? You’re a liberal.
  • Do you believe that the government needs to raise more revenue to meet its obligations? Liberal.

I know conservative evangelicals who hold all of those views. I personally hold most of them, and in many cases, for solid biblical reasons. So I’m a liberal? A godless liberal, as the right-wing media characterizes people who hold such views? That just burns me up. Especially since I take so seriously how the Bible speaks to issues.

Who decided those are liberal views? Why isn’t concern for the environment a conservative stand? Or opposition to the death penalty?

This is why I reject being either a Democrat or a Republican. Romans 12:1 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world,” but when I take on the Democrat or Republican label and loyally adopt their issues and candidates, I am conforming to a pattern of this world–something not determined by  God, but by man.

I reject the way issues are pigeon-holed as either liberal or conservative. While my roots and sentiments are Republican, I totally refuse to hold views just because that is the accepted Republican view. The fact is, many of my views, even though they are rooted in Christian values, have been determined by Republicans to be godless and unAmerican. Nonsense.

No way do I want to identify as a Democrat. And yet, I side with President Obama and Democrats on a great many issues, and for reasons in line with my faith. Cccording to man-made definitions, that makes me a liberal. I really hate that. But if my religious convictions require that I be called a “liberal,” so be it.

29 Jan

The Real Villains – Free Market Ecology

Posted by midwestnaturalist in Climate Change, Ecology, Environmentalism. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

We would love to think that the real villains responsible for the destruction of our environment are those greedy corporations and government agencies being swayed by the hoards of lobbyists in Washington. However, the truth is that we can often be our own worst enemies.

In his book, Ecological Intelligence, Daniel Goldman describes this as a convenient arrangement. Projecting the problem of climate change, environmental decline and the destruction of the species to someone else, permits us to deflect our discomfort in facing the ways we personally add to the problem.

The sad truth is that our collective habits hold tremendous sway over these villains of industry. After all, we live in a free market economy where producers seek to provide products the market demands. Goldman goes on to say, “….this means that all of us, at every step, can become active agents for the broad-scale, incremental improvements we desperately need.” The answer does not lie with someone else but rather in the shared awareness and coordinated efforts of all of us – as consumers, shoppers and citizens.

28 Jan

Ecology – A God-Ordained Responsibility

Posted by midwestnaturalist in Ecology, Environmentalism, Recycling, Spirituality in Nature, Wildlife. Tagged: , , , .

In Genesis 1:26, we’re told, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”

In the King James version of the Bible, the translators used the word “dominion” rather than “rule”. It may seem a minor difference and I’m not in disagreement with the use of the word dominion. However, to have dominion does not imply the right to exploit, destroy and mishandle for our own benefit. In fact, the passage speaks of man’s responsibility to care for God’s creatures and creation.

The thought that man was made in the image of God, ought also to bring a sense of pause. God, the creator and sustainer of all things, created mankind and placed him in a position of responsibility or rulership. Barnes, a respected Bible commentator reflects, “Those capacities of right thinking, right willing, and right acting, or of knowledge, holiness, and righteousness, in which man resembles God, qualify him for dominion, and constitute him lord of all creatures that are destitute of intellectual and moral endowments.” In other words, our God-ordained responsibility is to reflect the glory of God as caretakers of what he has place in our hands.

So sure, I stand outside at my garbage bins from time to time asking myself, “What would bring the most glory to God – dropping this in the recycling bin, or the landfill bin?” Perhaps even more important would be the question, “Why did I buy or create this garbage in the first place?”

 

 

26 Jan

Green Remodeling – Doing Our Part

Posted by midwestnaturalist in Climate Change, Energy Conservation, Environmentalism, Green Construction, Housing. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Along the way, while traveling in Asia, I’ve been reading David Johnston’s “Green Remodeling”. I’ll probably be sharing a number of insights from the book in the coming months, but to give you a sense of where he’s headed, I’ll share with you the following quote:

“With all of the ecosystems on the planet in rapid decline, the extinction of 27,000 species per year, and the onset of global climate change, we can no longer wait for “them” to fix it all. There is no “them” out there. We are the ones we have been waiting for to make our world a better place for our children and grandchildren. Each decision we make today regarding energy use, building materials, and water consumption will have a long-lasting impact on future generations. We have a responsibility today to make the wisest decisions possible to address the myriad environmental issues we face.”

I love this philosophy and approach to environmentalism. Rather than petitioning the government “them”, we can simply begin to do our part. And if we all begin to do our part the retailers and producers will begin to provide us with the materials and products we demand of them.

26 Jan

Mountain Crop Options for Northern Thailand

Posted by midwestnaturalist in Botany, Crops, Food. Tagged: , , , , , .

During my travels in Northern Thailand I was joined by others in assessing the micro and agricultural business opportunities for the Ahka people of Northern Thailand.

Until only a few years ago, there were not even roads leading to many of these villages, but a commitment on the part of King of Thailand (an avid agriculturalist himself) has lead to roads, electricity and communications systems being provided. In addition, the Thai government has invested a lot of time and effort to improve farming methods and opportunities for remote tribal peoples. However, many simply work as migrant tea harvesters. This does not provide enough to retain the youth of the communities, nor sustain their way of life.

I contacted an old friend Larry who has a couple of Ph.Ds in agriculture and has worked with various organizations including the Peace Corp in Honduras, Vietnam, Thailand, Bulgaria, and among the Navaho in the United States. In addition to being an astute biologist/horticulturalist, he has an amazing ability to quickly learn some of the world’s most difficult languages. Currently Larry works as a consultant and educator with ECHO in Fort Myers, Florida.

I explained the situation to him and here is some of his response:

Actually, tea is a good long-term, sustainable crop.  The Vietnamese almost always plant tea or coffee and high-value fruit crops to have a regular cash income (they pick and cash in tea each day, using the money to go to the market!).  Then they look at new crops and agricultural systems to augment their lives.

The Royal Thai Government has had a number of agricultural programs in the hills introducing farmers to fruit crops, tea, coffee, rubber and now African oil palm. My friend Rick, located in the highlands, has a better handle on some of those details that might be appropriate for your folk.

Other crops to consider for sustainable living might include perennial vegetable crops such as katuk (pak wan baan, in Thai), pak wan bah, dtamleung (ivy gourd – grows wild in many places), shallots (hawm daeng), garlic (gratium), moringa (marung) and asparagus (naw-mai farang). In addition, a myriad of medicinal plants grown in the area.

Fruit is also a good investment, even though it seems everybody plants and sells strawberries in the north.  However, another fruit to consider might include citrus, avocado, lichee, longan, jack fruit, bread fruit.  It might be too cold, but if the temp stays above 40 degrees F, mangosteen and durian are good crops too.  The small Chinese tangerine that is common right now in all the markets is one that is currently imported for the most part, but I think would do well as a crop produced here. It would probably be best to seed them and then graft them to local root stock.

I’d be interested if anyone else has thoughts, resources or suggestions.

Tea trees line the hillsides in Thailand

25 Jan

River Adventure

Posted by midwestnaturalist in Recreation. Tagged: , , , , , , .

 

This video really has nothing to do with anything, although the scenery was great. We had a day to kill in Chiang Rai, Thailand and so here is our adventure video. Hope you enjoy it!

Chiang Rai River Adventure from Jeff Bleijerveld on Vimeo.

25 Jan

Midwest Naturalist in Thailand – Sweet Tamarind

Posted by midwestnaturalist in Food. Tagged: , , , , .

You might be wondering what the Midwest Traveler is doing in Thailand, but an important part of my life consists of traveling abroad on a regular basis as the director of a Christian Non-Profit.

This past week found me in Northern Thailand where I have visited before and where I am forever intrigued with its people, cuisine and flora. One of the things I like to do best if provided a bit of free time, is to visit local markets – not the tourist night markets, but the ones locals visit to buy the meat and produce.

In Northern Thailand the sweet tamarind is especially prevalent in market places, especially in Phletchabun Province at this time of year. Many are not familiar with this sandy brown colored vegetable, but it has a number of uses in addition to serving as a central ingredient in Thai cooking. My first encounter with this distinctive sweet and sour vegetable was during a year of language study in Costa Rica. There we knew it simply as an ingredient for a great tasting juice. However, here are just a few uses I discovered on this trip:

1.  The ripened pulp is used in Thai cooking and is perfect for flavoring curry or Tom Yum dishes.

2. When boiled, the steam from tamarind leaves is said to help reduce a fever.

3. Tamarind juice is believed to soothe a sore throat.

4. A ripened pod can be used as a body scrub with the outer covering used as a loofah.

5. The mild acidity of the flesh means it’s perfect for polishing brass, copper and other metals.

If you’re interested in visiting the northern province of Phletchabun the Sweet Tamarind Fair takes place in late January.

22 Jan

The “Vital Lie”

Posted by midwestnaturalist in Environmentalism, Recycling. Tagged: , , , , .

The Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen coined the phrase “vital lie” for the comforting story we tell ourselves that hides a more painful truth. According to Daniel Goleman in his book “Ecological Intelligence“, when it comes to the full cost of ecological ignorance in the marketplace, we endorse the vital lie what we do not know or can’t see won’t matter. In fact, our indifference to the consequences of the sum total of what we buy and do, and our un-examinded habits as consumers, drive a vast number of threats to the environment and to health.

Recycling, he suggests, is one of these vital lies. While we believe we are dealing with our toxins by recycling them, we are in fact ignoring the fact that the chemicals routinely used to manufacture the items become destructive when leached into the environ

ment. The issues is whether or not we should ever manufacture some of these things in the first place. In fact, many of the most lethal itemswe manufacture cannot be recycled – they simply get dumped into landfill sites.

Goleman, reminds us of the old saying, “When you throw something away, there is no away.” It remains here, on planet earth.

20 Jan

Nature Conservancy’s – Guide to Indiana Preserves

Posted by midwestnaturalist in Recreation. Tagged: , , , , .

Anderson Falls - Columbus, Indiana

This past weekend, my wife and I spent a little time on the “wild side” of things and went with friends to the toboggan run at Pokagon State Park near Angola, Indiana. It was an amazing day, although perhaps a bit cold. So after a little while we headed into the Potawanomi Inn to warm ourselves by the fireplace.

Along the way, I stopped at the bookrack outside the gift shop and came across an absolute treasure – “The Nature Conservancy’s Guide to Indiana Preserves“. The 300+ book is fully illustrated with maps, fact lists and the utterly amazing photographs of Christopher Jordan and Ron Leonetti.

What I love about the manual is that it not only tells you where to find these preserves, but also provides information about what you’ll find there – flora and fauna – and what the conservancy is doing in that particular region to protect and preserve our states natural legacy. Each preserve has a full description written by a local conservationist or naturalist familiar with the preserve and its unique eco-system. In all fifty-five preserves are mentioned without even listing those that belong to the ACRES Land Trust or other regional projects.

The Nature Conservancy’s Guide to Indiana Preserves is an essential resource for those who want to get off the beaten path and visit natural Indiana at its best.

 

18 Jan

Reforestation – Pulling Down Carbons by the Tons

Posted by midwestnaturalist in Climate Change, Environmentalism, Reforestration. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Although many are unaware, trees pull tons of carbons down from the atmosphere every day. Trees – a carbon-based life form – have a tremendous capacity to absorb and store the carbons that lead to climate change and impact the quality of the air we breath.

According to Isaac Held, a research scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, human industry sends about nine billions tons of carbon into the air. However, an acre of trees (depending on location) could pull down two to three tons of that carbon back down.

According to the New Yorker’s December 23, 2010 edition, a report entitled “The Great Oasis” indicted that Israel has forested tens of thousands of acres of trees in the Negev Desert since the mid-nineteen sixties. In Kenya the Green Belt Movement founded by the late Wangari Maathai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, has planted more than forty-five million trees. And the Chinese have outdone everyone. Since 1982, they have planted more than forty billion trees, many of them in a nearly three-thousand-mile strip along the southern edge of the Gobi Desert. By 2020, the Chinese plan to add another hundred million acres of trees – an area larger than Germany.

 

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