Articles by Biodiversivist
My real name is Russ Finley. I also have my own blog called Biodiversivist, which contains articles in addition to those submitted to Grist. I live in Seattle, married with children. Suffice it to say that although I am trained and educated as an engineer, my passion is nature. I very much want my grandchildren to live on a planet where lions, tigers, and bears have not joined the long and growing list of creatures that used to be.
All Articles
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Can religion help save our biodiversity?
I listened to a lecture given by E.O. Wilson at the Harvard Divinity School a couple of weeks ago. I guess I'm spoiled by the slick documentaries on the Discovery Channel, and by the internet. For me, listening to a professor give a lecture is like watching grass grow. It was at a lecture just like this one that a self-righteous young college student, swayed by the arguments of her professor, once poured ice water on Wilson's head for what she thought were the racist and sexist ideas embodied in sociobiology.
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Where is the leadership?
The Ford Motor Company has come upon hard times. I may no longer qualify as a Grist brokeass, but I am still one at heart, and empathize with those thirty-odd thousand people who have lost or will soon lose their jobs. I have owned six cars in my life. Four of them were Pintos. Ford is a sinking ship and its captain was the first one to jump. -
Creation care idea is spreading
Jehovah's Witnesses. Two of them just knocked on my door. I mention it because they had a brochure detailing their version of "creation care." I told them I was happy to see more Christian sects beginning to interpret Bible passages in an environmentally positive manner. "Oh no," they assured me. "We aren't environmentalists."
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Political platform has some weak links
For those of you who have not seen it yet, Terry Tamminen has a piece on Grist's soapbox where he shares his ideas for a presidential platform. I have no problems with items 1 through 3. Item 4 needs work:
Replace these vehicles with ones that run on the cleanest fuels available, which today are biofuels, natural gas, and hydrogen.
First, one must contend with the negative environmental issues associated with biofuels before implementing them, not to mention that government isn't smart enough to know which ones should be implemented or how. These biofuels you speak of, Terry, they have big environmental problems of their own. You of all people should be aware of them.
