Rotten ice

Had an interesting morning listening to a lecture by Will Steger on global warming -- rotting ice shelves, thawing permafrost, methane and carbon dioxide emissions...It was a condensed version of what I'm sure he can discuss for hours, consequently a repeat of basic information I've gathered via PBS and my husband (A biogeographer.) Absorbing all this in a room full of Lutheran pastors was perhaps less than I expected, though the post-lecture panel discussion seemed to take them into account by focusing on speaking to congregations about the issue and understanding the ways in which buildings are more responsible than cars for energy waste. Someone said that if every household replaced five high-use lightbulbs with compact fluorescents, we in Minnesota could avoid building our next 21 coal-burning power plants. Someone else said that we waste enough electricity on power draw for idle appliances to electrify every home in St. Paul.

One point worth particular note came from a energy adviser from Hamline University, who said "science proves nothing." Science is a gathering of evidence that strongly suggests certain conclusions, but if you're waiting for scientists to incontrovertibly prove ANY theory you'll be waiting a while. We haven't proven the existence of electrons; but if you stick your finger in a light socket you'll see strong evidence that they exist. Steger confirmed that global warming has been accepted science for more than a decade, but the disinformationists protecting people with an interest in the status quo are paid well to confuse the public and obfuscate the facts.

What this means in terms of inspiring preachers and congregations is open to some discussion. One church out in Long Lake has already converted to geothermal heating and cooling -- they maintain power and environmental control for a 10,000 sq ft building for under $500 per month. At NECL, we pay more than that just in electricity. (We are quite a bit bigger, to be fair.)

Steger at 63 is a very vital-seeming man. I suppose you must be made of durable stuff if you can survive Antarctic temperatures at 80 below for days at a time, with storm winds of over 100 mph. "Technology is what always fails us on an expedition" he says. Meanwhile, the sled dogs bed down cozy beneath several inches of snow, and snooze the arctic nights away.