What are your thoughts about environmentalism?

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

Awhile back, I was asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting about environmentalism.  Does the church support environmentalism I wondered?  They do actually.  The research I did for that talk made me a "convert.'  So I've been looking forward to the class I'm currently taking, Environmental Science, so I could learn more and do more.  I'm curious what others think about this topic.    

Edited August 13, 2017 by LiterateParakeet

[Guest]

I see this as exactly the same type of question as the "feminism" thread.  Apparently there is not widely accepted definition.

I consider myself an environmentalist, but not a "greenie".  Two labels often used synonymously.  I don't.  So, what are you to make of that?

[CV75]

14 minutes ago, LiterateParakeet said:

Awhile back, I was asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting about environmentalism.  Does the church support environmentalism I wondered?  They do actually.  The research I did for that talk made me a "convert.'  So I've been looking forward to the class I'm currently taking, Environmental Science, so I could learn more and do more.  I'm curious what others think about this topic.    

I know Brigham Young taught environmental principles beginning with the trek west (care for fire, not hunting for gluttony or amusement, etc.). The Church today takes steps to conserve energy in its buildings and appreciate the natural  world. These are also found in D&C 59:16-20 and Scion 89. Of course anything can be taken to the extreme, and politicized, and often political movements join with other political movements (sometimes strange bedfellows) to apply pressure and garner funding and votes, compromising other principles one might otherwise hold dear. So I think A o F 13 should apply in our discerning which principles to follow and which political tactics to apply.

[estradling75]

The church teaches us that we have domination and stewardship over the earth... and he will hold us accountable for how we use such.  So by that definition of the term I am a environmentalist.   Out in the world I find environmentalism to be a code word for "More government Power... less individual rights" and as such I am not a fan

[Grunt]

I suppose I'm not an environmentalist, but I practice sustainable agriculture on my own land.

[Jane_Doe]

2 minutes ago, Grunt said:

I suppose I'm not an environmentalist, but I practice sustainable agriculture on my own land.

I would put sustainable agriculture as being very environmentally friendly.

[Sunday21]

58 minutes ago, CV75 said:

I know Brigham Young taught environmental principles beginning with the trek west (care for fire, not hunting for gluttony or amusement, etc.). The Church today takes steps to conserve energy in its buildings and appreciate the natural  world. These are also found in D&C 59:16-20 and Scion 89. Of course anything can be taken to the extreme, and politicized, and often political movements join with other political movements (sometimes strange bedfellows) to apply pressure and garner funding and votes, compromising other principles one might otherwise hold dear. So I think A o F 13 should apply in our discerning which principles to follow and which political tactics to apply.

Especially the burlap walls! I love the burlap wall coverings. So clever!

[Rob Osborn]

I am all for trying to keep the environment clean but I am also a big fan of high horsepower cars and auto racing that highlights the massive power from the internal combustion engine. The problem with "environmentalism" is its largely a political movement that involves lots of money and special deals.

[CV75]

56 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

Especially the burlap walls! I love the burlap wall coverings. So clever!

I must say I've never heard of him calling for those -- were they for the temple or his house? What is the environmental-friendly aspect of using it on walls? I know it's goof for weed control, etc. and it breaks down well after use.

[Sunday21]

24 minutes ago, CV75 said:

I must say I've never heard of him calling for those -- were they for the temple or his house? What is the environmental-friendly aspect of using it on walls? I know it's goof for weed control, etc. and it breaks down well after use.

The church today...encourages environmentalism...

No doubt Brigham thought of it first!

[prisonchaplain]

FYI, the really cool religious term for environmentalism is:  CREATION CARE. 

[Fether]

5 hours ago, LiterateParakeet said:

Awhile back, I was asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting about environmentalism.  Does the church support environmentalism I wondered?  They do actually.  The research I did for that talk made me a "convert.'  So I've been looking forward to the class I'm currently taking, Environmental Science, so I could learn more and do more.  I'm curious what others think about this topic.    

I believe we should take care of the earth. I believe man is harming the earth, I believe that no matter what we do we will always leave some sort of foot print on the earth. I'm willing to accept that man is playing a role in global warming.

Until someone comes up with a viable solution other than everyone stops driving or a mass genocide, im not too interested in the topic. The strong supporters of global warming tend to focus just on the problem and never seem to come up with a real solution.

And any viable, real solution (like solar power) seems to already be in the development. So as far as I'm concerned, the complaint against global warming and the like is just as addressable as someone complaining about the sun being too hot.

[Fether]

2 hours ago, Sunday21 said:

The church today...encourages environmentalism...

No doubt Brigham thought of it first!

Brigham Young was a huge supporter of it! Hugh Nibley gives a talk called "exaltation and eternal life" and in part if it he shares Pres. Young's thoughts on it.

[Just_A_Guy]

I agree with @estradling75 and @Fether.  We need to be responsible with our use and respect the uniqueness and beauty of creation.  At the same time, the earth exists to serve man; not vice-versa.  I consider myself an environmentalist as defined in the OP; but I'm not really a fan of ranchers being forced to forfeit property they bought and improved for hundreds of thousands of dollars in the name of conserving habitat for some endangered dung beetle or what-have-you.

[Snigmorder]

I believe it is irreverent to express any kind of contempt or ingratitude for creation. Whether that be through littering, unnecessary destruction, unnecessary pollution, killing things unnecessarily, etc.

However, the State is the medium through which the environmentalists peddle their agenda. Seeing as Federal Government is wicked, there's not much reason to support the environmentalists.

Edited August 14, 2017 by Snigmorder

[askandanswer]

My thoughts about environmentalism are that we should have an environment and we definitely need to think about it more. Not enough thinking (and doing) will lead to not enough environment. 

[CV75]

13 hours ago, Sunday21 said:

The church today...encourages environmentalism...

No doubt Brigham thought of it first!

[Sunday21]

12 minutes ago, CV75 said:

Thank you! HeHe!

[anatess2]

18 hours ago, Grunt said:

I suppose I'm not an environmentalist, but I practice sustainable agriculture on my own land.

I live in a low density residential area (that is, 80-foot wide lots.  Yeah, I can just yell at my next-door neighbor to ask for salt) and I produce my own veggies and eggs and is in the process of starting a black soldier fly colony!

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, anatess2 said:

I live in a low density residential area (that is, 80-foot wide lots.  Yeah, I can just yell at my next-door neighbor to ask for salt) and I produce my own veggies and eggs and is in the process of starting a black soldier fly colony!

That would be MEDIUM density.  Low density is large lots.  High density is apartments and condos.

[anatess2]

So, here's my peeve.  It bothers me when people advocate for the unnecessary killing of snakes.  So we have this community FB page and we constantly hear of these wild bunnies eating somebody's garden or squirrels eating off the bird feeders and they would give all these helpful advice on bunny-proofing the garden and squirrel proofing the feeders and how they're such a pest but they're so cute so we don't trap them or anything like that... then we hear of somebody having a snake sighting and if the picture that accompanied doesn't have the snake's head chopped off, then people would give advice on how to chop its head off...

Hello, people... the evil snake in Eve's garden doesn't represent all snakes.  Shoo them off like you would the bunny.  Don't worry, they won't eat your garden.  They just might eat that bunny.

[anatess2]

Just now, Carborendum said:

That would be MEDIUM density.  Low density is large lots.  High density is apartments and condos.

Not in my state.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, anatess2 said:

Not in my state.

If you say so.

[anatess2]

8 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

If you say so.

I would know.  I get the yearly property tax forms.  There's no MDR in our zoning.  There's only HDR, LDR, and RR.

And in any case, it's not just the width of the property that decides the density.  It is also the size of the lot.  Even a 100-foot width can be zoned Rural Residential if the property size is over 1.5 acres.  Very common in riverfront rural properties where water frontage is a premium.

Edited August 14, 2017 by anatess2

[askandanswer]

2 hours ago, anatess2 said:

 and is in the process of starting a black soldier fly colony!

a black soldier fly colony?