Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
    • Elijah Decious
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • Elijah Decious
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

Brucemore celebrates 40 years of being open to the public

IMU COVID vaccine clinic coming

Meet the Iowan behind the Vaccine Hunter website

Wellington Heights home gutted in 2017 fire finally coming down

26-year-old man killed in shooting in NE Cedar Rapids

Peggy Whitson to be keynote speaker for Iowa Ideas 2021

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

Livestream: Funeral for Iowa state trooper Jim Smith

Home / Opinion / Guest Columnists

Use Earth’s resources responsibly

The Gazette Opinion Staff Jun. 3, 2012 12:50 am Updated: Jun. 3, 2012 12:50 am
Use Earth’s resources responsibly

By Rev. Susan Guy

-----

As a person of faith, I have become increasingly concerned about the rising toll from floods, tornadoes, drought, wildfires, tornadoes, and other climate-related disasters in Iowa and around the world. I am saddened by stories in the media about the impact of these events on those who are most vulnerable in our communities.

In addition, we are confronted almost daily with stories about America's energy future, including ongoing questions about the safety of nuclear technology, subsidies for the fossil fuel industries and the wisdom of supporting the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

No matter how much Iowans, myself included, might like these issues to go away, it is not possible to roll back the clock and make that happen. These issues are here to stay and will almost certainly get worse. There is a new climate and energy reality.

Iowans would like cheaper sources of domestic energy, like we had in the 1960s and earlier. The truth is, however, that a project like the Keystone XL pipeline is not domestic, it is not cheaper and it is not sustainable. It would commit the world to even more dangerous levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Other controversies, such as hydraulic fracturing, offshore oil drilling and mountaintop coal removal, have similar economic, environmental, health and climate costs.

Fortunately, this combination of problems can be addressed through the common values of our diverse religious traditions.

In April, I was one of 71 religious leaders in Iowa who issued a statement on global climate change, calling on Iowans to be leaders on this issue “to reaffirm our commitment to be responsible stewards of Earth's resources and to act in love toward our neighbors both locally and globally.”

In our statement, we recognized the scientific links between global climate patterns and extreme weather events in Iowa, the United States and the world.

We also recognized the issues of justice and fairness that are being raised, “as those who are least able to adapt to climate change and who contribute least to the problem are likely to suffer the worst consequences.”

When understood as basic issues of fairness, justice and stewardship, these seemingly intractable controversies become much easier to answer. People who are called to stewardship and love for our neighbors can reject the excess consumption of resources that drives the apparent need to develop expensive, dirty and dangerous energy resources.

This does not mean it will be easy.

At a personal level, we can reduce our energy use at home, at work, and in our vehicles, and use renewable energy resources. For tips and a complete copy of our statement, visit our website, www.iowaipl.org.

At the local and state level, we can get involved in organizations making a difference. I-Renew's 20th annual Renewable Energy Expo from June 8 to 10 at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids is a great place to start to learn more about renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies and industries.

At the national level, now is the time for Iowans to tell the Environmental Protection Agency that we support the historic new safeguards that would place limits on carbon pollution from new power plants.

Although the new energy and climate reality seems daunting at times, living out of our diverse faith traditions we can provide leadership on this issue and act in the interest of the common good.

The Rev. Susan Guy is executive director of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light based in Des Moines. Comments: director@iowaipl.org.

Trending

  • Andre the Giant vs. the Cedar Rapids Police: 30 years…

    Lee Hermiston

  • We had questions; Caitlin Clark has answers

    Jeff Linder

  • Drake Relays 2021 form chart, after Thursday’s qualification deadline

    Jeff Linder

  • The bureaucracy is killing us

    Adam Sullivan

  • Hawkeye Downs excited about 2021 racing season

    Justin Webster

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Persuasive speaking lessons from Greta Thunberg

Persuasive speaking lessons from Greta Thunberg

By Nick Westergaard Business News Oct. 23, 2019 7:55 pm

Capitol Ideas: Democratic caucus field finally may be taking shape

Capitol Ideas: Democratic caucus field finally may be taking shape

Erin Murphy Government & Politics Jan. 26, 2020 7:03 pm

Coronavirus lawsuits are mounting

Coronavirus lawsuits are mounting

Wilford H. Stone Business News Jul. 1, 2020 6:52 pm

Guest Columnists

Busting solar energy misconceptions

Busting solar energy misconceptions

Vivian Tracey, Jonah Hodge, Kole Hartley and Blaze Krug

Opinion Apr. 16, 2021 2:07 pm

Helping a stranger in the April rain

Helping a stranger in the April rain

Kurt Ullrich

Guest Columnists Apr. 16, 2021 2:17 pm

’Back the Blue’ legislation makes Iowans less safe and free

’Back the Blue’ legislation makes Iowans less safe and free

Christina Bohannan and Janice Weiner

Guest Columnists Apr. 15, 2021 5:36 pm

The immigration crisis is rooted in conservative policies

The immigration crisis is rooted in conservative policies

Brad Wilson

Guest Columnists Apr. 14, 2021 11:19 am

Opinion

The bureaucracy is killing us

The bureaucracy is killing us

Adam Sullivan

Opinion Apr. 16, 2021 3:59 pm

Migrant children are not ’our problem,’ governor — they’re our…

Migrant children are not ’our problem,’ governor — they’re our…

Staff Editorial

Opinion Apr. 16, 2021 2:51 pm

Lack of oversight at Iowa’s prisons is a deadly problem

Lack of oversight at Iowa’s prisons is a deadly problem

Staff editorial

Staff Editorials Apr. 16, 2021 7:55 am

Don’t give college sports a blank check

Don’t give college sports a blank check

Staff editorial

Opinion Apr. 15, 2021 5:10 pm

News

Iowa sees 26.51% percent fully vaccinated

Iowa sees 26.51% percent fully vaccinated

The Gazette

Health Care and Medicine 3h ago

Crackdowns on advance voting belie growing popularity among all voters

Crackdowns on advance voting belie growing popularity among all voters

AP

News Apr. 16, 2021 5:19 pm

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

, Marissa Payne

Community Apr. 16, 2021 9:30 pm

100 days after attack, Hinson wants Capitol fence to be…

100 days after attack, Hinson wants Capitol fence to be…

James Q. Lynch

Government & Politics Apr. 16, 2021 8:50 pm

Sports

Linn-Mar’s T.J. Jackson draws a crowd with record-setting high jump

Linn-Mar’s T.J. Jackson draws a crowd with record-setting high jump

Jeff Linder

High School Track and Field 4h ago

Observations from Iowa football’s open spring practice

Observations from Iowa football’s open spring practice

Leah Vann

Hawkeye Football Apr. 17, 2021 4:34 pm

Photos: Iowa Hawkeyes spring football practice

Photos: Iowa Hawkeyes spring football practice

Gazette Visuals

Sports Apr. 17, 2021 3:40 pm

Iowa football fans and Kinnick Stadium: A romance rekindled Saturday

Iowa football fans and Kinnick Stadium: A romance rekindled Saturday

Mike Hlas

Hawkeye Football Apr. 17, 2021 4:17 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Gazette Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company