Thursday, December 13, 2007

Dear Holy Father:

I read your comments concerning the global warming crisis that confronts Earth. You said governments should not be swayed by "dogma" or act without prudent consideration of all the facts and research. While generally your advice is well taken, it should not used as an excuse by politicians whose political agenda is incompatible with timely and significant reductions in greenhouse emissions because they are financially supported by an industry with a vested interest in the status quo.

The facts of potentially catastrophic climate change are there to see, if one only looks with open eyes. The wild kingdom is already suffering the effects of these changes. Flying foxes (Pteropus) are a bat beneficial species to man. They eat enormous amounts of crop eating insects and serve as pollinators for the rain forest. Researchers in Australia writing in a peer reviewed journal, say that thousands of flying foxes are literally dropping dead from the extreme heat. They estimate that more than 30,000 flying foxes have died in twenty heat waves since 1994. The scientists observed their death throes in New South Wales on January 12, 2006 when temperatures reached 107.5 F. First the large bats sought shelter in the shade, then began fanning themselves with their wings. Soon they began panting and drooling saliva before they fell out of the trees dead. The reporting scientists believe the prolonged and brutal heat waves are due to climate change.

Please help us care for our home in a way that is pleasing to our Creator.