Vote for the Environment
By the time you read this issue of the Quill, ballots for the November 3rd general election will be on their way to Washington voters. It’s impossible to overemphasize the importance of this election, including its impact on environmental issues. Regardless of who controls the Presidency, the U. S. Senate, and the U. S. House of Representatives, some of the most meaningful environmental legislation is enacted at the state level, where laws have a direct effect on local policy. Since elections in state districts can be decided by slim margins, every vote makes a difference.
Once again this summer, we’ve experienced the deterioration of air quality from smoke coming from fires up and down the West Coast. Even though land management practices have had an impact on these fires, the effect of climate change on them is undeniable.
This year’s fires have made climate change very personal to me. I grew up in Springfield, Oregon, just east of Eugene across the Willamette River. Springfield always has been known as the “Gateway to the McKenzie River.” People from all over the world have come to vacation in cabins and lodges along the river and enjoy the breathtaking scenery, world class fishing, soul-inspiring hiking, and sensational river rafting. I’ve spent many memorable hours with family and friends playing and picnicking along the riverbanks and in the parks that dot the highway along the river. Along with the Oregon coast, I always thought it was the most beautiful place in the world. But the Willamette Valley has been unusually dry for several years, and on Labor Day fire began destroying land on both sides of the river for 24 miles. The fire has consumed over 173,000 acres and probably won’t be completely contained until the end of this month. My high school served as an evacuation center for residents escaping the fire. The pastor of the church I grew up in and his wife had a home and spiritual retreat center along the river. They had enough time to pack a few things and leave with their cat, but their property is a total loss.
People all over the world are grieving the loss of life, home, and property from escalating natural disasters. Extraction and overuse of fossil fuels are devastating the atmosphere and the landscape. Plastics are clogging our landfills and polluting our oceans. First world conspicuous consumption is depleting all our natural resources. Third world countries are facing famine and disease. Aside from living our lives in the most environmentally conscious way we can, one of the most influential things we can do is vote. What better way to proclaim God’s love in Christ for every person?
If you haven’t registered to vote, do so now. Watch your mailboxes for your ballots. Place them in your closest drop box or mail them early to make sure they are counted. Urge your family and friends to do the same. Study the climate advocacy records of candidates in your districts. Your voter’s pamphlet and the candidates’ websites are great places to start.
We need to act now to stop and reverse the effects of global warming and climate change, while there is still time. God’s magnificent creation deserves nothing less.
—Susan Evans
