TREES OF LIFE:FORESTS IN PERIL
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May 24th, 2018

5/24/2018

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​​    Is it possible to change our values and attitudes? Obviously, our thrust for wealth and affluence, greed, is driving our current value system within our western culture. In fact, based on the American example, most developing countries are being driven today by similar values. One cannot imagine what the demand for resources from our natural world will be like in 2050, with a world population of 10 BILLION people.
​    Unless and until we are willing to comprehend and accept the problem before us, we are destine to destroy our human species. Does this sound at all like the biblical Book of Revelations?  Why fix a problem that does not exist or, why not live the good life and simply prepare for the end?
​    I am an optimist, and believe we have the intelligences to understand the human impacts that have been so devastating to Mother Earth and provide appropriate adjustments that can extent our life systems on this planet. Certainly, nothing will change if we continue to ignore the problems and live for tomorrow only. The obvious first step is the articulation and acceptance of the problem. It may be obvious but, certainly not an easy thing to do. Our government and corporate institutions will fight long and hard to prevent the acceptance of the problem. In just the last year and a half, we have seen a major elimination of regulations designed to protect our natural world,by the administration,through the signing of Executive Orders. This effort is intended to enhance corporate profit margins and, using executive orders eliminates the opportunity for public discussion and involvement. In our Egalitarian Democratic system of government, change occurs only by the insistence of knowledgeable voting public. Instead of being lead by our elected representatives, we must provide the leadership for these elected  officials to follow. Your involvement in the election process is critical and, I believe it is our younger voters that understand these environmental issues best and must provide the leadership required.
​    In the science of forestry, I believe abandoning the concept of growing trees as a crop is step one. We are attempting to manage plants that have a life expectancy of several times more than a human being and plants that supply many of the vital elements required for human existence. Yes, forestry is far more complex then simply planting, growing and harvesting trees. Forests, themselves, are vital resources and far more valuable then all the products we can take from the forests! After discarding this archaic concept that connect forestry and agriculture, we must re-define the goal of forest management. Maintaining and reproducing communities of diverse naturally occurring trees must drive our management objectives!
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THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY VS. THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY!

5/14/2018

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​  ​Much has changed over the past 150 years with the introduction of the industrial age, which has resulted in major improvements and  devastating impacts on the natural world we depend upon for life. The technological improvements have taken us into the modern world with transportation advancements that allow exploration of outer space and travel from one coast to the other in just a few hours. We have trains that travel at speeds over 100 miles per hour and even are approaching the opportunity for the public to take a trip into space for $250,000.00. Our communication systems are now smart phones that allow you know exactly where your children are and watch your house for intruders. Corporate America and our government can record your buying preferences and what you are looking at on the internet. I frequently question if our computer age is a positive step forward or backward.
​   In my estimation, the most important scientific advancement, has been the detailed information we have uncovered about the magnificent story of Creation. Science has provided factual data that supports the story of creation as described in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, and allowed us to understand that creation is an evolutionary process with the creation of the Universe community followed by the Earth community and finally the creation of the human community. This has been an exciting revelation for me, as I now believe a detailed understanding of creation is required if we hope to support life in the future. This, I am convinced is the missing link in science, particularly forest science.
​    The most compelling fact about our scientific and technological advancements is the acceptance that these enormous achievements have resulted in major destruction of our vital natural world! Almost every process you can name is designed to produce wealth and affluence. If it provides more food, more production, faster travel, softer life styles or more profit, it must be okay. Somewhere along the trail we lost our intimate relationship with the land and our natural surroundings. Todays goal is to eliminate regulations designed to protect our natural surrounding so we can improve profit margins, even if it will result in the death of some organisms and even humans.
​    Where did we go wrong and can we change so as to prolong life on our planet? Based on historical evidence, science is not going to provide for the future but only accelerate and shorten the time remaining. I recently talked with a pastor who informed me that his purpose was the redemption of the individual in preparation for what will happen in the future. As I thought about it, I began to realize this was part of the problem. Certainly, leading people to a religious belief is needed but, understanding our mission of stewardship and caring for this magical gift of life is equally important. I am also aware that there are people on both sides that believe there is a significant difference between religious and scientific understanding of the Creation story. I am concerned that this separation is standing in the way of initiating the changes required for the future. Personally, I believe this separation is based upon the interpretation of a few words written by the ancient Jewish religious scholars thousands of years ago. For example, the word day originally simple referred to a period of time which could be a minute to a million years. It wasn't until 3500 BC, when the Egyptians were attempting to create a system to tell time, that the word day was used to define a 24 hour period, and the day was divided into two 12 hour periods. So, why does all this matter?
​    If science will not provide our desired future than where can we expect to find the leadership required for the future? Somewhere along the line we lost our intimate relationship with nature and the appreciation of the detailed story creation! If we fail to re-establish this relationship, both the scientific and religious communities will experience unacceptable consequences. Both the scientific and religious communities must reach out to each other and find common ground that can lead us on a mission of stewardship and caring for this majestic planet we inhabit!      
                 
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