California fire
Wildfires burn during a mid-August night near Susanville, Calif. A series of wildfires has destroyed more than 30,000 acres of land around Susanville. (Photo by Doug Magill, U.S. Army.)
A United Methodist Insight Column
Taking stock of the Western U.S. wildfires, make time to read three accounts of the consequences of Oregon blazes.
In The Guardian, freelance writer Erica Berry writes how turning off the smoke alarms in her Portland apartment because of wildfire smoke brought home the reality of climate change.
In the New York Times,” A pastor, a school bus and a trip through a scorched Oregon town” by Jack Nicas documents a heartbreaking drive through Phoenix, Ore., which like its neighboring town of Talent has been burnt to ashes and rubble by wildfire.
In a blog post, “Under a Charcoal Sky,” Catholic writer Mary Pezzulo describes with almost-agonizing precision how dust and smoke from Oregon’s wildfires sapped color from the sky pverr Steubenville, Ohio. Realization of the wildfires’ roots in the global climate crisis prompted her to pray God’s mercy on us creation-destroying humans.
The Guardian is doing a superior job of reporting and interpreting the wildfire disaster as part of the worldwide climate emergency. Its Sept. 16 article, “'Unprecedented': the US west's wildfire catastrophe explained,” points out that two factors lie behind the recent spate of catastrophic fires: “the climate crisis and a century of fire suppression.”
The latest United Nations assessment of the environment underscores the links between wildfires, extreme weather events and the climate crisis. The Guardian headlines its article: World fails to meet a single target to stop destruction of nature – UN report. The article notes: “From tackling pollution to protecting coral reefs, the international community did not fully achieve any of the 20 Aichi biodiversity targets agreed in Japan in 2010 to slow the loss of the natural world. It is the second consecutive decade that governments have failed to meet targets.”
Taken together these notices paint a clear picture of why we should be working even harder to get our public policy leaders to adopt plans to meet climate relief goals. The National UMC Creation Justice Summit Oct. 16-17 will take on topics such as these in a virtual event. Watch for future details.
Notes from the racism watch
NPR Newsletter: “The vast majority of children dying from COVID-19 are Hispanic, Black or Native American, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers say members of minority groups are less likely to have access to healthcare and to be considered essential workers.”
Spokane FAVs: “White faith leaders in Spokane will gather on Sept. 25, four months after the death of George Floyd, to make a public act of repentance for the sin of racism, according to an announcement. ’Count Us In: Beyond Words Spokane’ will take place at Bethel AME Church at 6 p.m. Sept. 25. At the event white clergy and other Christian leaders plan to make a commitment to a year of anti-racist work. This will include working to build relationships, practice reparations and learn more about how racism works in their daily lives and in the Spokane community. Those interested in participating can register online.”
Media Mentions as of Sept. 16, 2020
Fires, coronavirus complicate Western disaster relief – UM News
Evangelicals for Social Action leaves behind ‘evangelical’ labelChristianity Today *
Churches report giving boost months after pandemic started – Religion News Service
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.