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JennGM
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| Posted: March 31 2005 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
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MacBeth et al,
I was just wondering what your opinion is about the fight for conservation, in endangered species, both in the plant and animal kingdom. Do you take efforts to help in this area? God did give man the animals and plants, but to be good caretakers of nature, not destructive.
There is always supposed to be balance. I know some species are endangered due to carelessness of man, but some might have died off anyway. And we are supposed to be able to use nature for our own good, not to keep it enshrined that no one can touch it.
I just get turned off because it's the "in thing"...while human babies are aborted by the thousands every day. To see politicians, movie stars, and other famous people advocate the causes of animals and not people with immortal souls shows priorities are all mixed up!!! Where does one draw the line? How much does one help, especially from the social teachings of the Catholic Church?
I know St. Francis Assisi is patron of the ecology and environment. I had found a wonderful article by Lesley Payne from the Heart and Mind archives St. Francis of Assisi Ecology Unit Study that gave me food for thought. My mother is a 3rd Order Franciscan and always taught us that not wasting food, recycling, etc. is part of being a good Christian.
I'm asking this because I found the most delicious dark chocolate ever  Endangered Species Chocolate Bar. Their Bat Bar, Chimpanzee Bar and Tiger Bars are the ones I tried. They are so smooth...no bitterness. And the Tiger Bar has espresso bits and Bat Bar has the cocoa bits that add a bit of crunch to the chocolate. The chocolate is so good, but it's "chocolate with a cause," which leaves me questioning...
Sorry for the rambling thoughts...I just would love some feedback here. What and how do you teach your children on this subject?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Kathryn UK
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| Posted: March 31 2005 at 3:57pm | IP Logged
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I don't have any answers myself, but I do have a website I bookmarked for a time when I have time to pursue this one in depth. Take a look at the Catholic Conservation Center, which includes many papal statements on conservation and the environment, articles etc., and is faithful to the Magisterium. It looks very interesting!
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MacBeth
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| Posted: March 31 2005 at 7:01pm | IP Logged
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Oh, this is a long, tough question.
 My biggest complaint is with the way such things are tought in schools. Kids know everything about the rain forest, and can't name the plants in their neighborhood. It's very hard to teach any kind of respect for anything if you are detatched, and by anything, I mean not just the plants and animals, but the people who live in the area, who must make a living in the area, and who use the natural resources to make that living.
 I truly believe that it is not the job of government to impose restrictions on land use for conservation purposes. OTOH, if an organization like Nature Conservancy wants to buy up land, that's fine. It is the job of us as parents, and as educators, to show kids how everything is connected to everything else, and how eliminating or introducing a species can have dire consequences. There are plenty of examples (the dodo and the trees indigenous to Mauritius; China's bird elimination policy; indiscriminate use of DDT...) of recent environmental problems worlwide, about many of which we are just learning, and we can pull any one of those into context to examine closely with the kids. I like to avoid emotional expositions of these issues (baby seals) and look at the issues from many sides.
Kathryn's link provides a great opportunity to examine Catholic teaching, whichis fair and balanced. 
As for the candy bars, if they taste good, and not being used as a "population control" fundraiser (look carefully), enjoy them and the good work they do. I am a big fan of eco-tourism, and other positive efforts. Negative efforts (government bans on this and that) bother me and should only be used as a last resort.
Ah.. You asked...
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog 
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 01 2005 at 10:57am | IP Logged
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MacBeth wrote:
| As for the candy bars, if they taste good, and not being used as a "population control" fundraiser (look carefully) |
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Population control of the people? What am I looking for in the labels or manufacturer? What kind of language?
Thanks so much for your very thorough and clear answer. It clarifies many things for me.
Christ is risen, Alleluia!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MacBeth
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| Posted: April 01 2005 at 1:00pm | IP Logged
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Check the website for the product. See where the money goes. It might take some research. I was surprised, for instance, to find that Audubon endorses pop. control.
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Endangered Species Bandwagon
