Global warming

 Joking about recent weather patterns, Senator Jim DeMint said, "It's going to keep snowing until Al Gore cries 'Uncle!'"  In truth, a big snowstorm or two doesn’t prove anything one way or another.

January 2010 was globally the warmest month ever recorded.  Rio de Janeiro, for example, has had a terrible heat wave.  The decade 2000 through 2009 was globally the warmest decade ever recorded.  The second warmest decade was 1990 to 1999.

Many Americans are not taking the threat seriously, but United States military and intelligence agencies are deeply concerned.   No one there is laughing the whole thing off.   

Today the CIA is forming a Center on Climate Change and National Security.   They are sharing data with scientists who study climate change.  

The Navy has established "Task Force Climate Change" to develop a science-based timeline for future problems.  The Naval Secretary has set 2020 as a deadline for cutting fossil fuel costs in half.

A recent report from the Pentagon says "climate change could have significant geopolitical impacts around the world, contributing to poverty, environmental degradation and the further weakening of fragile governments. Climate change will contribute to food and water scarcity, will increase the spread of disease and may spur or exacerbate mass migration.”

  The report suggests that climate change could be a major factor in the creation of instability around the globe.  

A 2008 National Intelligence Council report notes that more than 30 U.S. military installations are "already facing elevated levels of risk from rising sea levels.”   

In that those in charge of our future security don’t believe scientists are just making this up, it would appear that DeMint and other deniers are dangerously irresponsible.  

Our grandchildren will suffer from their myopia.

We need to decide which is more important, short term greed or long-range planning?

This imminent problem could spur American ingenuity and invention.  Green technology could be a major source of America jobs and exports, but DeMint and other members of Congress seem content to make jokes and build fake igloos.

  Meanwhile China is emerging as the world’s leader in green technology.  Yes, China!  Are they going to beat us again?

Larry Gates

Pawleys Island

Domestic violence

On Feb, 11th Safe Families (SFI) hosted a seminar for local clergy on domestic violence and the role pastors can play to help victims find safety for themselves and their children.

 SFI did this because the church is often the victim’s first link to safety. Eighty people attended this six hour training session. SFI board members quickly learned that those clergy present already are familiar that domestic violence is a problem that must be constantly and publically addressed.

Bishop Josh Lorick who works with the S.C. Attorney General to aid clergy as they respond to this scourge in their midst was the main speaker.

Bishop Lorick discussed with clergy the value of talking about this problem from the pulpit.  He said that there are victims and perpetrators present in all churches. Pastors were asked to remind everyone that family abuse is a crime as well as a sin, that it is committed by people in every level and position in the church. That everyone must alert themselves to the danger that people we know and care for have in their homes.

We discussed educating congregants about resources available for victims. We were reminded of the need to publically display phone numbers and locations in bulletins and on display boards.

We discussed the familiar signs of an abuser. In general terms an abuser is jealous, has controlling behaviors, unrealistic expectations, and shows objectification of women. He/she is frequently outgoing with others while he/she isolates his victim. The victim has low self esteem, seems to be “walking on eggshells,” is consumed with keeping his/her partner from getting angry and whose children (as they mimic Dad’s behavior) treat them with disrespect and order them around.

  We must remember that the Bible is often used by the abuser as he takes passages out of context to misrepresent their meaning. Victims sometimes mistakenly believe that if they leave their marriage they disobey divine law.

The abuser uses verbal and emotional abuse, isolation, financial abuse, sexual abuse, property abuse, stalking and spiritual abuse. The victim stays because she/he believes that it is all her fault, she/he will lose custody of the children, she/he fears being killed, she/he does not have a support system. This last belief is one that we can all work together to change.

To help the victims, pastors can help them devise an individual safety plan, but when counseling the abuser they must encourage the abuser to admit that it is he/she who has a problem and indicate where he/she can get help.

Children living in violent homes, on average, are more aggressive and fearful. They suffer anxiety, depression and other trauma related symptoms. Over 30% have lifelong difficulty in social and employment situations. Approximately 50% have school related problems. Fifty percent of men who abuse the mothers also abuse the children. Eighty-two percent of the pets are abused. Many boys become abusers and girls accept abuse later in their lives.

Safe Families will continue the relationships that were built on the 11th in our Family Justice Center that is all about working together in one location to serve victims of criminal domestic violence. Go to our website www.safefamiliesgc.org.

Carol Winans, Vice President Safe Families Initiative, Georgetown