of Greenpeace’s “aerostatics balloon,” emblazoned with the message “Rescue the Climate” and floating near the ancient Mayan temple in Chichen-Itza, reminded me of human sacrifice.
, the god of rain and storm. To be in Chac’s good graces required sacrifices, including human sacrifices. Anthropologist Gary Feinman of Chicago’s Field Museum described them in a
. Victims were tossed into deep limestone sinkholes as crowds watched from the rim. “Adult males may have had their hearts removed before they were dumped in,” he added. Archeologists have excavated the remains of hundreds of victims.
The Mayans weren’t alone in offering human sacrifice to a fertility god. The ancient Canaanites did, too—and even ancient Israelites sometimes succumbed to the temptation to adopt their neighbors’ ways and sacrifice to Baal. After all: Angry Baal = No rain = No food = No people. Sacrifice some so others might live.
The striking similarities between Canaanite and Mayan worship tell us a lot about human nature. Baal and Chac were nature gods of rain and storm. Their blessing was required if the race was to continue. Climate could be controlled by human sacrifices.
To many climate negotiators, Gaia—the modern Earth goddess—is angry and needs to be appeased. The climate must be controlled. And again, human sacrifices are required.
Not that any of the delegates advocate cutting out hearts and dumping bodies into sinkholes—at least not with WikiLeaks on the prowl. Nonetheless, world population, we are told, must be cut dramatically to reduce our human carbon footprint. Gaia will be happy and the world will be a better place—for whoever is left.
Down the road from the blood-soaked rocks of Chichen-Itza is a fitting location for a climate control conference. It's just the kind of thing that prompted the Cornwall Alliance to include the lecture "The Green Face of the Pro-Death Agenda," by
Americans United for Life President Charmaine Yoest, in our 12-part DVD series
Resisting the Green Dragon.
Recent Significant Developments
Science & Ecology
Biodiversity: Losing Which Species? (Dennis Avery;
Canada Free Press/Hudson Institute)
The current wildlife extinction rate is the lowest in 500 years--according to the UN Environmental Program’s own World Atlas of Biodiversity. Many species have actually expanded their ranges over the past century.
Head of UN Climate Body Admits Surprise at Fury Over Blunder in Report (Suzanne Goldberg,
Guardian.co.uk)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Chairman Rajendra Pachauri thinks a little cosmetic surgery will restore its reputation. Not so fast, says
Science 2.0 blogger Hank Campbell.
Economics & Energy
Adapting to Climate Change: Facing the Consequences (
The Economist)
The Economist, long sold on catastrophic anthropogenic global warming (CAGW), concedes: the fight to limit global warming is over. The costs are too high, the will nonexistent. What’s needed instead? Preparation for adaptation—just what the Cornwall Alliance, though we reject CAGW,
has been saying since we began five years ago.
Peak Energy? What Peak Energy? (James Delingpole;
The Telegraph, UK)
New discoveries of vast reserves of oil and gas kill fears of "peak energy"—again.
Arctic's "Fiery Ice" is Potential New Energy Source (Margaret Munro;
The Gazette, Montreal)
Scientists drill through permafrost to assess challenges in harnessing gas hydrates, a source of clean-burning methane.
Religion & Ethics
The Competing Worldviews of Environmentalism and Christianity (Cornwall Alliance)
E. Calvin Beisner sets forth the competing views of God, creation, humanity, sin, redemption, and ethics held by environmentalism and Christianity.
Allow Ethanol Tax Credits to Expire
Over 50 groups, liberal and conservative, business and religious, environmentalist and critical of environmentalism, urge Congress to let ethanol tax credits die so livestock and dairy producers can thrive and people can live. Cornwall Alliance applauds.
Politics & Debate
Climate Craziness Cools in Cancun (
Washington Times)
The odds are against any major climate treaty at the U.N. climate conference in Cancun, as environmental radicals lose momentum.
Global Warming Skeptics Ascend in Congress (Jim Snyder & Kim Chipman;
Bloomberg Businessweek)
"Numerous global-warming skeptics taking office in the next Congress will try to undo President Obama's environmental initiatives."
Rationing Bono and Other Gaia-Saving Ideas (Elizabeth Scalia;
First Things)
Instead of rationing our electricity and energy use to save the planet, as is being discussed in Cancun, why not ration the unnecessary use of energy used by bands such as U2?
Landmark Documents from the Cornwall Alliance
E. Calvin Beisner, Ph.D., Founder and National Spokesman
Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation
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