Why would our relationship with Creation be any different than any other relationship?

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/10/9/ACNS5201

In a new series of reflections, Bishop Browning explores the roots and meaning of Sabbath and how a fresh understanding and practice of this biblical concept can reconnect economics to ethics, and shape human society in a manner that is consistent with the creation upon which it depends.

‘As Christians we have inherited a story that speaks Good News to all creation. I believe the Sabbath narrative, where we understand God not “ceasing the work” of creation, but rather “being present to” creation, has the capacity to change behaviour and life style. It is strong enough to replace our prevailing narrative predominated by economic success with one of human and environmental well-being.’

‘As humans, we know that our primary relationships are dependent upon trust – and trust is rooted in expectations of fidelity, while fidelity means the acceptance of limits’, he says. ‘Why would our relationship with creation be any different?’

Is the Harper Government a Danger to Nature?

Dear friends across Canada (a letter from the AVAAZ (Voice) network),

The Harper government is forcing a massive “budget” bill through Parliament that secretly guts our environmental protection laws and threatens our forests, water and wildlife -- we only have days to help stop this outrageous bill before it passes.

This sneak attack would overhaul our social and environmental laws in one fell swoop, giving Harper’s Cabinet complete discretion to approve oil pipeline projects regardless of their impact on threatened species or water. But a member of Harper's own caucus has threatened to vote against it -- we can create an unprecedented outcry calling on Conservative MPs whose districts would be affected by these pipelines to reject the budget. If just one MP breaks ranks, others could follow.

This week, opposition parties are forcing votes on hundreds of amendments -- let’s support them and show Conservative MPs that the budget is too risky to pass unchanged. When 50,000 Canadians sign, we’ll deliver our voices to key Parliamentarians -- sign the petition and forward to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/sneak_attack_on_the_environment/?vl 

22,000 barrels of oil just leaked into Alberta’s wilderness when a pipeline ruptured, yet Harper’s so-called budget bill would systematically undo the environmental protection lawsdesigned to prevent these spills. If this bill became law, Harper and his cronies would have free reign to snake pipelines across threatened habitats, gut the Fisheries Act, and unleash massive amounts of climate-cooking gases into the world's atmosphere.

This bill would also prevent some seniors from receiving the Old Age Security benefit, make deep cuts to the CBC and toughen requirements for Employment Insurance, all while the government lays off thousands of employees. Harper gave MPs just four days to debate this 400-page bill, despite the massive legislative changes it contains.

The stakes could not be higher -- this bill would wreak havoc on Canada’s gorgeous natural environment, could have a devastating impact on a generation of seniors and the unemployed and makes a mockery of our parliamentary process. But with a huge public outcry we can show Conservative MPs that constituents across the country will fight Harper’s misguided budget. Click below to sign and forward to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/sneak_attack_on_the_environment/?vl 

Time and again we have raised our voices to triumph over bad policy and corrupt leadership, to promote fairness and vie for responsible government. Let’s show Harper that we won’t back down in this fight for the Canada we know and love!

With hope and determination,

Emma, Ari, Ricken, Laryn, Melanie, Stephanie and the entire Avaaz team

Sources 
 Andrew Coyne: Bill C-38 shows us how far Parliament has fallen (National Post)
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/04/30/andrew-coyne-bill-c-38-shows-us-how-far-parliament-has-fallen/
 Four former ministers protest 'taking the guts out' of Fisheries Act (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-politics/four-former-ministers-protest-taking-the-guts-out-of-fisheries-act/article2446031/
 ‘To allow C-38 to masquerade as a legitimate omnibus bill will bring our institutions into greater disrepute’ (Maclean's)
http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/06/04/point-of-order-2/
 It’s time to speak out for nature and democracy (Pembina Institute)
http://www.pembina.org/blog/626
 Opposition parties joining forces to delay passage of ‘Trojan Horse’ budget bill (National Post)
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/06/05/opposition-parties-joining-forces-to-delay-passage-of-trojan-horse-budget-bill/
 Harper's real agenda visible in budget bill (CBC)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/05/01/pol-vp-greg-weston-harper-anniversary.html
 Old Age Security affordable without changes, watchdog says (CBC)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/05/17/pol-old-age-security-parliamentary-budget-officer.html

Letter of Environment Canada Employee opposes the government's 'Vendetta'

Naomi wrote that "the Conservative government has been laying off thousands and thousands of full-fledged scientific employees that have been performing research for decades at Environment Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Parks Canada (e.g. http://tinyurl.com/8xtkaro , http://tinyurl.com/7gvzc7r,http://tinyurl.com/clgn97u ), shutting down entire divisions and radically decimating environmental protection and stewardship in a matter of a couple years.

I am afraid for my country. Canada is the second largest land mass in the world – though our population is small, you can be sure that when a country that encompasses 7% of the world’s land mass, and has the largest coastline in the world says “screw it” to environmental protection, there will be massive global repercussions."

Read more here about 'Vendetta'

Durban May Be Last Chance to Stabilise Climate Under Two Degrees - IPS ipsnews.net

Scientists consider that Duran this year is the earth's best and last chance to stop global warning.

"Even if carbon emissions cannot be cut fast enough to avoid two degrees C of warming in some parts of the world, urgent action will buy those regions valuable time - a decade or two - so they will have time to adapt, assuming they can"

"Although two degrees C seems like a small amount, it is akin to a person running a high fever, with all kinds of consequences for the human body. On planet Earth, that amount of warming has serious consequences for food, water and biodiversity. It will guarantee more and stronger extreme weather events, including droughts and flooding"

"Two degrees C puts humanity on a new hotter, stormier planet that is less compatible with human survival"

Durban May Be Last Chance to Stabilise Climate Under Two Degrees - IPS ipsnews.net