Class observes natural, cultural diversity
By Dr. Orin Gelderloos
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Students study nature in joint program |
Last winter. as a team on my campus in southeast Michigan was delighted
to find 35 species III the annual Christmas Bird Count, a group of North
American and Indian students in Tamil Nadu, South India, observed twice
that number of species in a single day.
Participants in 'Tropical Ecology of South India," a new course offered
cooperatively by Au Sable Institute and Bishop Heber College of Tiruchirapalli,
India, examined a variety of ecosystems, such esturarine mangrove forests,
deforested plains, tropical forests and marine ecology. The diversity of
Creation was most impressive. They observed 156 species of birds and 18
species of mammals, as well as wildflowers and trees, all of which were
related to the ecological principles which function throughout our planet.
Besides the biodiversity, they met people who lived in agriculturally-based
rural villages, III a tribal village of 250 people (all related to each
other) which is shifting from a hunting-gathering society to an agricultural
community and in a tribe which has special skills in handling cobras.
Students observed how the need for fuel wood and the desire for economic
development affect the integrity of the ecosystems. Through discussions
and devotions about stewardship and honoring the Creator, Indians and North
Americans recognized that our similarities in caring for the Creation are
probably greater than our cultural differences.
This course is highly appropriate for Au Sable alumni to expand their understanding
of Christian environmental stewardship.
'Noah's ark' captures attention of Congress
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Dr. Dewitt |
At a Washington, D.C, press conference, Dr. DeWitt, speaking for the Evangelical Environmental [Network which he co-founded, denounced efforts to weaken the fed-reauthorization. When he made this strong statement, he knew it would make waves: "People in their arrogance are destroying God's creation, yet Congress and special interests are trying to sink the Noah's ark of our day."
The Washington Post, The New York Times, Associated Press, CNN, CBC and National Public Radio's All Things Considered picked up the story. Media as diverse as the New Republic, the Chronicle of Higher Education and Sports Afield solicited interviews. Hundreds of phone calls and e-mail, almost all positive, followed, including pledges of financial support for the group's planned million dollar public information campaign.. It will include radio and television public service announcements and 30,000 "Creation Care" packets to be sent to churches around the country asking them to sign up as "Nose Congregations" to help preserve endangered species.
Yet Dr. DeWitt said it's the "encouraging and very positive" reaction of his scientific colleagues
DeWitt from secular institutions across the country that leaves him most gratified. Most advocates of environmental protection, whatever their personal views on religion, welcomed the support of evangelical Christians.
Recalling the conclusion of the Bible's story of Noah, Dr. DeWitt said, "When the creatures again are returned to their habitats by Noah, the Creator makes a covenant with...'every living creature' that was with Noah-the birds, the livestock and the wild animals...We are left with no excuse to say that saving species, and their importance in the eye of their Creator, is something we can avoid or overlook."
Good Earthkeeping!
Stewardship Update
Course to repeat
You are invite to join the next offering of "Tropical Ecology of South
India" from Dec. 27, 1996-Jan 18 1997. It will again be led by Dr Orin
Gelderloos, professor of biology and professor of environmental studies
at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He also is chair of the Au Sable
Institute Board of Trustees. For more information, write or call Dr David
Mahan at Au Sable Institute.
ESA update
What has happened to the pending revision of tile Endangered Species Act
since Au Sable Institute's director rose to its defense last January?
"Members of Congress have been reading their Bibles and thinking of
their their constituents doing the same" Dr Dewitt said. "Noah
is a powerful model of obedience to God. It is because of the power of this
Bible story that Congress has decided to wait until after the election before
getting back to the question of its responsibility for keeping the threatened
masterpieces of God's creation "
Species saved
Since President. Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act in 1973,
the number of species protected has grown from 431 to 956. U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service spokesman Meg Durham credited the ESA with saving hundreds
of species, including the California condor, the blackfooted ferret, the
red wolf the whooping crane and the Mauna Kea silversword, a Hawaiian plant.
