REVERENCING THE EARTH

By Donald Sutherland

Objective evidence vs. ideology

Increasingly, I fear for my grandchildren — and for yours. Prior to the election of the Harper government, I thought we had at least a fighting chance, with enough shoulders at the wheel to inch our way back from total ecological collapse. Now I see a government ideologically based, determined to silence scientists and environmentalists as misguided distorters of truth.

Award-winning journalist Andrew Nikiforuk published an article in the March 26, 2012 issue of The Tyee, a British Columbia publication, describing our prime minister’s “evangelical mission”: “Almost daily, more evidence surfaces that Canada’s government is guided by tribalists averse to scientific reason in favour of biblical fundamentalism.”

Nikiforuk points to examples such as Canada’s withdrawal from the Kyoto agreement “without any rational plan or achievable national plan to battle carbon pollution,” and Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver branding local environmentalists and First Nations as “foreign radicals” because they had the gall to question the economic and environmental government rhetoric favouring a largely Chinese-funded pipeline. He says “The data-antagonistic Harper government has so muzzled federal scientists that an editorial in Nature magazine called for setting Canada’s scientists free,” and notes that Tory senators are threatening to revoke charitable status of groups who speak out for the environment or against subsidies supporting fossil fuels.

Nikiforuk asks, from where do these ideas come? His answer, “The prime minister belongs to the Christian and Missionary Alliance, a church that believes that the free market is divinely inspired and that non-believers are lost.” Further, Nikiforuk points to the Cornwall Alliance as likely to have Harper’s ear. They are reported to question mainstream science, doubt climate change, view environmentalists as a “native evil,” champion fossil fuels and endorse libertarian economics. One Cornwall declaration describes environmental regulation as an impediment to God’s will.

Nikiforuk quotes a book published by the Alliance called Resisting the Green Dragon, painting environmental groups as “one of the greatest threats to society and the church today . . . The Green Dragon must die . . . no excuse to become befuddled by the noxious green odours and doctrines emanating from the foul beast.” A series of 12 half-hour videos is promoted online as a biblical response to “one of the greatest deceptions of our day.” Environmentalism is described as the new religion, devastating to the world’s poor, threatening sanctity of life and targeting our youth.

In contrast, the Dalai Lama has worked tirelessly to converge, in his heart, mind and action, science and spirituality. At a ceremony in honour of his recent acceptance of the Templeton Prize he said, “I am looking to science (specifically neuroscience) to convince a skeptical and increasingly secular society of the power of compassion to change our lives and the world.”

Another strong long-lasting voice in support of excellence in scientific research and thought is the Pontifical Academy in Rome. This academic body consists of 80 academicians chosen from among the world’s most famous scientists. Pope Benedict sees sound science as vital to enriching faith rather than seeing faith as vital to rejecting science.

Sutherland, PAg, MBA, is a restorational justice practitioner and Circle Facilitator in Winnipeg.