I was shocked to read an article entitled "China building more power plants" this morning in a headline news link from the New York Times. One of the most alarming facts in the article was that China is now building about two power stations every week, largely as a result of the West moving its greenhouse-gas-emitting industries to developing nations with less pollution regulations and cheaper labor. Basically, we exported our carbon emissions. Unfortunately, these kinds of goods don't just stay in a foriegn country. Carbon emissions have a nasty little habit of not descriminating about which specific country they want to pollute. There's really only one barrier these emissions pay any attention to: the global barrier a.k.a. the ozone. And I say "the ozone" because there's only one for all of us.
The article was just another indication to me that global warming is truly a global problem. We must start, of course, in our own communities, making them safer, cleaner, and more energy efficient through conservation and investment in renewable energy sources.
But just as important as improving our own personal lot through these practices, is providing an example to the state, nation, and world that clean, cost-effective, and safe energy options are viable and practicle alternatives. There are many things we can do (again, see the upcoming cool cities page link), especially as people of faith, to locally improve, and to globally provide an example for, protecting and regenerating God's creation.
Here's the link to the article if you are interested: China's Growing Carbon Pollution
(It's a short article)
Peace,
Shelby