Sanity and relief in small servings
Good news on two counts in the last week for me, and for most scientists and/or environmentalists.
Yesterday, the US Senate Democrats filibustered a Republican-sponsored bill to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) partially for oil drilling. Senator Ted Stevens, the GOP sponsor of the bill, thought it a necessary move to reduce US dependency on foreign oil, and that it would not seriously harm wildlife in the area. Environmentalists strongly opposed the bill (surprise, surprise) arguing that there could be no 'minimal interference': the onset of oil drilling would spiral into a full-blown human enterprise in the ANWR that would necessarily cause harm to the natural ecosystem. Given my own treehugger mentality, I am inclined to believe the latter argument. The environmental impact of most human activity is far more than we imagine or can estimate at first. Our stated commitment to preserve and protect spaces for wildlife, as embodied by the establishment of the ANWR and other similar refuges, requires that we continue this policy even in the face of increased 'ordinary' developmental pressures. However, these are extra-ordinary circumstances - energy demands and the associated security issues have blown up into the US' No. 1 foreign policy problem. Has the time come to compromise? I hope not.
Also in the last week, a US federal judge ruled the teaching of Intelligent Design in science classrooms unconstitutional. ID is a thinly veiled Creationist philosophy that, despite attempts to disguise it and pass it off as science, is merely an attempt to introduce religious doctrine in science teaching. Many scientists and most rational people could scarcely believe that a Dover School Board approved the teaching of ID in classrooms in PA earlier this year. Thankfully the courts have shown some sanity and Judge Jones rebuked the Board members severely for allowing their religious philosophy to interfere with their duties. However, with the Religious Right still very much in the circles of power, it remains to be seen how long science can remain untainted by religious theory. For now, scientists can at least heave a small sigh of relief for all is not lost.
Yesterday, the US Senate Democrats filibustered a Republican-sponsored bill to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) partially for oil drilling. Senator Ted Stevens, the GOP sponsor of the bill, thought it a necessary move to reduce US dependency on foreign oil, and that it would not seriously harm wildlife in the area. Environmentalists strongly opposed the bill (surprise, surprise) arguing that there could be no 'minimal interference': the onset of oil drilling would spiral into a full-blown human enterprise in the ANWR that would necessarily cause harm to the natural ecosystem. Given my own treehugger mentality, I am inclined to believe the latter argument. The environmental impact of most human activity is far more than we imagine or can estimate at first. Our stated commitment to preserve and protect spaces for wildlife, as embodied by the establishment of the ANWR and other similar refuges, requires that we continue this policy even in the face of increased 'ordinary' developmental pressures. However, these are extra-ordinary circumstances - energy demands and the associated security issues have blown up into the US' No. 1 foreign policy problem. Has the time come to compromise? I hope not.
Also in the last week, a US federal judge ruled the teaching of Intelligent Design in science classrooms unconstitutional. ID is a thinly veiled Creationist philosophy that, despite attempts to disguise it and pass it off as science, is merely an attempt to introduce religious doctrine in science teaching. Many scientists and most rational people could scarcely believe that a Dover School Board approved the teaching of ID in classrooms in PA earlier this year. Thankfully the courts have shown some sanity and Judge Jones rebuked the Board members severely for allowing their religious philosophy to interfere with their duties. However, with the Religious Right still very much in the circles of power, it remains to be seen how long science can remain untainted by religious theory. For now, scientists can at least heave a small sigh of relief for all is not lost.
posted by Badri at 4:43 PM
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