God's Green Thumb

Testing...Hello?

2009-10-14T17:27:00.001-05:00

So I think I'm going to start posting on this blog again, after two years of negligence! I finally have a job that leaves time for me to write some things for here, so this post is just a test to see if everything is still working with my new blogging software.

Fun in Idaho!

2007-08-31T16:29:00.000-05:00

So, for those who don't know, I'm now living in Idaho teaching at an outdoor science school for the next year. My experience here so far has been wonderful, and the area that I'm living in is absolutely beautiful! Right now, we're still in the training process, and the first group of kids come the week of September 10. I'm so excited to get started, it should be a really fun year.

The part of Idaho that I'm living in is not famous for its potatoes, but for it's skiing, mountain biking, boating and hiking instead. It's in the mountains, right on a lake, and surrounded by coniferous forests of Ponderosa and Lodgepole Pines, Grand and Douglas Firs, Engleman Spruce, and a sprinkling of Aspens. There is about 3 feet of snow on the ground for most of the winter!

Here are some pictures from the backpacking trip I took with the rest of the staff a few weeks ago:

Mt. Vesuvius, Venice, and the end of my time in Italy

2007-07-11T12:08:00.000-05:00

Well, my time here in Rome is officially over. Sorry for the sparse blog posts the last half of the year! These past 11 months certainly have been quite the adventure! I suppose pretty soon I'll have to come up with a new subtitle for my blog as well...any ideas?

My last month or so in Italy has certainly been fun as well! Immediately after finishing my thesis, I spent a week gallivanting around Rome with my two cousins, Beth and Carey. We went to all the museums, saw all the normal touristy things, hopped the train for a day trip to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius and even squeezed in the Infiorata in Genzano, a "flower carpet" that was made on the main street of a little town just outside of Rome.

Here are a few pics from Mt. Vesuvius:

Last week I decided to head to Venice for the day, since I've never been there before and really wanted to go before I left for the States. I took the night train and got into Venice at about 5:30 in the morning. Walking around the deserted streets and around the mainly empty canals at sunrise was a special treat! It was a nice time of reflection for me, wandering through the thousands of small alleyways, over and around the canals. I took TONS of pictures. Here are a few from sunrise:

Most of the time I was there the whole city was flooded with tourists (even more than Rome!) and I relished finding the small, out of the way parts of the city that weren't quite as crowded. My two favorite parts of Venice were two of the smaller islands, Murano and Burano. Murano is the island where the famous Murano Italian glass is made. It was still pretty touristy, but because there are so many glassworks there, there are a lot of Italians you see just going about their daily lives (on the main island of Venice this is rare). The glass they make there is so beautiful!

Burano was enchanting. It seemed almost like I had stepped into another universe for an hour or so - where Italy is clean, its parks are safe for old people and children to enjoy, and everything is picture perfect. Rather than the huge metal security gates and guard dogs that are so common near Rome, there is merely a piece of cloth hanging over their open front doors to keep out the sun and give a little privacy. It was so peaceful and beautiful. If I ever go back to Venice, I would like to find a place to stay in Burano.

Note the pimped out speaker system in that little boat! Teenagers are the same everywhere.... :)

If you look carefully you can see the colored glass from nearby Murano decorating the flower pots.

Mainstreet in Burano

After visiting Murano and Burano, I headed back to the main island to explore the city by night. Here are a few of my pictures.

Gondolas covered up for the night

I'm still alive! Just busy....

2007-04-30T05:18:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the extremely long hiatus from my blog....it's been forever since I've posted anything on here. I hope to fix that soon, and update you on all of my adventures since then.

A preview of what's to come....
-Santa Marinella fun, the beach
-Rail trip across Europe for Easter break: including Germany, Switzerland, Austria and a little bit of Slovenia :)

It's been so long since I've posted anything I've actually forgot how exactly I was doing it - so bear with me! :P

"Safe Pollution"

2007-02-04T11:13:00.000-05:00

An environmental ad campaign sponsored by Friends of the Earth, a British government-funded organization, shows condoms covering point sources of air pollution (via Grist). This struck me as rather odd - what exactly is the message they're trying to get across with this? What do they presuppose one thinks about the use of condoms in the first place? The message wasn't very clear to me - other than possibly a cheap shot at sex to get people to visit their website. Here are some possible lines of thought I came up with:

Common thoughts about condoms:

-As long as you use them, you're having "safe sex," where you don't really have to worry about the consequences of your actions.

Presuppositions they make:

-Condoms protect us from unwanted "pollution." That unwanted pollution is specifically sperm, which has the potential for creating human life, or any number of known or unknown diseases.

Possible conclusions one is supposed to draw:

-Pollution has unwanted consequences

-??? I really don't know...

Conclusions that I made from this ad:

I think it's really interesting that they used this metaphor specifically in their ads, because I think it really tells more about the inadequacies of condom use than about air pollution. There's no way you could ever catch air pollution from different sources by using something like a condom, it's very clearly absurd. Rather than taking responsibility for air pollution and looking for ways to reduce it or control it, this ad is showing a culture where immediate gratification is worshipped, personal responsibility is abandoned, and band-aid solutions for unwanted side effects are actively searched for. Sound familiar? Perhaps like part of the Church's argument against artificial contraception?

It's really interesting to me how both environmental groups and Christian/prolife groups often end up preaching about the same values: unselfishness, responsibility, and foresight - but in very different ways. What's the difference? What each group holds as their primary conviction in life. For the enviros - the Earth is sacred (or whatever other pc/equivalent term one prefers) and we must take care of it. For the Christian/prolife groups - human life is sacred and we must take care of it.

Is either conviction a bad one to have? No.

Are they mutually exclusive? I certainly don't think so - although I'm sure there are those who would disagree.

What conclusions would you draw from such an ad campaign?

Technorati Tags: Birth control, Environmental ethics, Pollution

Monte Serrata

2007-01-26T06:31:00.000-05:00

At the beginning of January, I found a group of women who go on full-day, genuine hikes every Wednesday. I was so excited to actually make use of my hiking boots again!! They meet early in the morning and bring a packed lunch to eat on the hike.

Two weeks ago I went with this group to Monte Serrata, which is about an hour north of Rome. The group consists of mostly women who are foreigners but living in Italy permanently. I was by far the youngest, but I enjoyed their company very much!

The day started at 8 am, meeting early so as to avoid rush hour traffic in Rome. As we were driving towards the mountain, it was very foggy outside and we were worried that it might be rainy. Being January, what is supposed to be the rainy season, it was a good possibility. The hike started in a city that was positioned on the top of one of three peaks on a the mountain. As we approached the city, the fog was left below us in the valley, creating the illusion of a sea which we were driving through only minutes before. The mountain appeared, not as a mountain, but as three tiny islands. Above the fog the skies were blue and sunny, the air crisp and clear.

The hike started out on a small road that was actually the driveway to a monastery that was on top of the second peak. Then we ventured off the road onto the real trail. It was so refreshing to be climbing over rocks again, rather than pavement! Once we got to the top of the mountain, the trail followed the ridge, providing an amazing view of the valley below. There was still plenty of fog, but it was starting to clear in some areas. We arrived at the main entrance of the monastery and stopped for a water break, since there was a small fountain there. Then we continued on to the last and highest peak, which didn't have anything on it currently, but there appeared to be ruins of a chapel there.

We stopped there for lunch. Oh it was so beautiful! After lunch, we went back towards the town on a different route, that went pretty much straight across to the town where we started. It was such a relaxing and refreshing day, I'm looking forward to many more amazing hikes on the coming Wednesdays!!

Our group

Technorati Tags: hiking, Monte Serrata, Vistas

Epiphany/Befana

2007-01-25T06:45:00.001-05:00

During Christmastime, Piazza Navona in downtown Rome is transformed into a Christmas carnival with a carousel, amusement park games, street performers, crafts for sale, the most candy and tacky toys you've ever seen in your life, and little witches hanging on the corner of all the booths. When I first saw this, I was certainly perplexed. What was up with all of these witches? The witch's name is Befana, and she brings Italian Children presents on January 6th. How, in such a Catholic country, is there a tradition that a witch brings presents?

Well, of course, there's a story behind it - and it does link back to Christmas (kind of). Here's the version I heard. There are variations, and I'm not sure which is the "right" one.

The three kings were on their way to visit the baby Jesus by way of Italy, and they needed a place to stay. The witch, being a witch, refused to let them stay in her home when they asked, so they went on and kept looking. Afterwards, the witch felt really bad for being so mean, so ever since then she has given children presents on the day the kings arrived to visit Jesus to try to make up for her mean behavior. Interesting, isn't it?

Technorati Tags: Befana, Christmas, Italian customs, Piazza Navona, Epiphany

Tivoli

2007-01-25T06:32:00.001-05:00

Tivoli - the city of a thousand fountains - is about 40 minutes outside of Rome by train. My friend, Annika, and I decided to head out there the day before she went back to Estonia. It's a really cute city just like so many others near Rome, but is famous for it's Villas. Alas, by the time we got out there, it was after lunch. All of the Villas closed around noon for lunchtime, and reopened somewhere between 2:30 and 4. This is to be expected, but what we weren't expecting was that all of the Villas closed for the day around 4:10 because it's wintertime. We missed the 10 minute window when one could gain entrance in the afternoon, not knowing this until it was too late. So we weren't able to see the beautiful Villas that everyone raves about, but the city was beautiful on it's own, and we managed to have plenty of fun anyway.

Of course, there was also the spectacular sunset from the city walls as well.

Technorati Tags: sunsets, Tivoli

The Vatican at Christmastime

2007-01-25T06:23:00.001-05:00

Some more beautiful scenes from St. Peter's square.....

I also created a desktop wallpaper of the last photo, if anyone wants to download it for next Christmas, here's a link.

It's pretty much the same as the above, but I added "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us." beneath the nativity.

Technorati Tags: Christmas, St. Peter's, Vatican

Christmas party

2007-01-25T06:16:00.001-05:00

Ok, so my plan is to try to post all of these pictures and stories sequentially - starting with the oldest. So here goes....

Before Christmas, me and my friends from Torre di Babele (the language school) had a "Christmas dinner." Most of the people in the group would be returning home just before Christmas, so it was also kind of a goodbye party for a lot. We spent the whole day decorating and cooking food, then people started to arrive around 7 pm. The whole evening turned out really nicely. Our idea was to have an international Christmas party, so we tried to incorporate foods and/or traditions from everyone's home country. I brought green bean casserole (made with genuine American cream of mushroom soup!), Eva (who is German) made apple strudel, Nuno (Portuguese) made a pork and rice dish that was very yummy, Annika (Estonian) brought some cookies and Lingenberry jam (which also doubled as the Swedish food), etc, etc. We also made a sign that said Merry Christmas in everyone's native language. It was quite a fun night!

Here's a picture:

Technorati Tags: Christmas, international, food

I'm back!

2007-01-24T16:57:00.000-05:00

It's been quite a long time since I've posted anything new on here (over a month now!). I've been having difficulties with the "new" blogger and had to find another program I could use for composing my posts when I'm not connected to the internet. I think I've worked out all the kinks now, so be prepared for several posts in the next few days to catch up on all that's happened in the past month!

I Saw the Pope!

2006-12-20T09:39:00.000-05:00

Okay, I've been itching to post this for several days now, but I had to wait until I had a good internet connection. I saw the pope! Up close! And I got pictures AND some video! :) Ok, this video isn't terribly impressive or anything, but it's there. Last week there was a Mass in preparation for Christmas for all of the university students here in Rome, and at the end of the Mass Pope Benedict came out and said hi. Here are some pictures, and the video:

And of course the video! (let's see if this works...)

Tags: Pope Benedict XVI, swiss guards, christmas, vatican, rome

Good news and more pictures

2006-12-07T09:20:00.000-05:00

Well, yesterday I was able to talk to the director of my program here and got everything all figured out. Apparently the delay in classes is because the program is also available as a distance virtual program at several other universities and they don't have classroom space and/or faculty available until January. What's important is that it hasn't been delayed because of lack of enrollment, and classes will definitely start in January. I also got a list of books for me to start reading, so now I have something purposeful to do with my time as well. It's a good feeling!

Ok, more pictures:
Last Wednesday I went on a hike at one of the nature preserves just outside of Rome. It was nice to get outside of the city and wander around truly along for a little while.

On Friday, I went to the beach town of Nettuno. It's a really cool place, like many small towns in Italy it is a medieval town complete with walls surrounding the historic area and lots of little tiny streets. Medieval towns are so much fun to explore - it's like a giant maze, you never know where the streets are going to take you and if they're going to dead end or not.

And of course, the requisite picture of St. Peter's at night. I think every time I walk across that square at night I end up taking another picture!

Tags: classes, vatican, st. peter's, nettuno, sunset

I think I've figured out why there are so many Italian saints...

2006-12-03T16:47:00.000-05:00

In order to live here without going crazy one needs to learn the patience of a saint.

So, as of now, the subtitle of my blog is still now quite accurate. Yes, I'm an environmental scientist, yes, I'm in Rome, yes, I'm enrolled at a pontifical university, but studying? Not quite. I've yet to have a single class. I'm not actually sure when I will have class. Overall, I've made a point not to make this blog primarily stories of negative/challenging experiences in Rome (there have been plenty of them) because I'd rather focus on the positive aspects of my year here. However, I felt the need to keep everyone updated on this subject.

So, I'll start from the beginning. I came to Rome at the end of September, expecting my classes to start the first week in November. I figured it would be good to have 5 weeks to learn the language and get settled before classes started. The second or third day I was here, I ventured over to my university to make sure my registration was all squared away and to pay for my classes. That went fairly well, but I left feeling like I didn't really know anything about the program that I should know. Here, there seems to be no such thing as "student orientation," "academic advisor," etc. It's common practice for students to show up at the school on the first day of classes to look at the list and see if they have classes that day or not until another day. Getting your class schedule ahead of time is rare. For me, I have my class schedule. Classes meet on Mondays, pretty much all day long. The trick is, which Mondays do they meet?

Originally, the website for my Master's program said classes began on November 7. So on November 7, I got all of my stuff together and showed up at the university at 8:30 am, half an hour before classes were supposed to start just in case there were any unexpected obstacles (there always are). I was told the room where classes would be meeting would be posted somewhere on the first day of classes. I looked around, and I didn't see any mention of the environmental science program. I looked around some more, and on the second floor, I found a printout of the program from 2005 hanging on the wall. I went back downstairs and asked the man at the reception desk if he knew where the environmental science master's program was meeting. He said probably in the Master's room, and if not, in the room next door. I went upstairs to the Master's room, to find it locked and empty, as well as the room next door. I went back downstairs and asked again. He suggested I go ask someone in Room 202B. So I go to the second floor, B wing and find all of the offices for the different programs. Most of them are empty (it is only a little after 9 am), so I find someone there and ask them. They have no clue, and ask why I asked them. Then they realize I was confused, I was actually in room 102B, since in Italy the floor you come in at is 0 and the one above it is 1. So I go upstairs and ask the professor in room 202B (his class had a 15 minute break). He really has no clue why I was sent to him, as he is a philosophy professor. So I go back down to the reception desk and ask again if he knows anyone who might know. He suggests the program coordinator, but he probably won't be in his office until 10 or 11. I should ask the secretary's office. Too bad they aren't open until 11 either. Well, I walk over to the secretary and hear people talking in the office. I ring them bell, and they open the door looking at me like I'm crazy for wanting to talk to them when it's not office hours. I ask them, and they say the environmental science program doesn't start until later in the month, but they don't know when. OK. At least I had found out something. I go downstairs to see if the computer lab is open, and miraculously it is! I go in and check out the website for the program - it now says that classes start on November 28. Why couldn't anyone else I had asked look at that? Why wasn't I ever notified of the change of dates? I don't know, and I don't think I will ever know.

So, I had an extra month. Not a horrible thing, I suppose. I decided to sign up for another month of intensive Italian classes to fill up my time and try to accomplish something in the month of November. The Italian classes went well and the month went by pretty fast. November 27 rolls around, and I'm starting to get really excited to finally start classes!! Sunday night, I decide to check the website for the program just to make absolutely sure I have class the next day. Turns out, I DON'T. Nope. Classes now start January 8. Oh, and they still end June 30, the same date they ended when they were starting on November 7. Upon further inspection, I realized I would also no longer be receiving a diploma, but a "certificate of completion." What's that supposed to mean? I don't know, but it doesn't sound good.

So I emailed the secretary, asking why the classes were postponed again and if they would be starting for sure on the 8th or if they might be postponed yet again. The response I received was that currently classes are scheduled to start on the 8th and any changes will be posted to the program's website. Right. So here I am now. I have until January 8th, and I'm not sure if my program will be postponed further or maybe even cancelled. I'm currently in the process of trying to figure out what exactly is the deal here, so I'll be sure to post updates once I have the whole story.

In the meantime, I've bought a regional rail pass for the month of December, so I plan on taking lots of day trips. Get ready for lots of beautiful pictures!!

Tags: school, italian culture, patience

Assisi, music, and general updates

2006-11-24T09:57:00.000-05:00

So, it's been a while since I've updated this blog. The past few weeks sure have been crazy! I've been adjusting to living with two Italian girls, working on getting an internet connection (finally!), and I started Italian classes at a new school. In the past few weeks, I travelled to Assisi with a pilgrimage organized for all of the students in the Lazio region of Italy (the region that is Rome and the surrounding area), and I went to several sacred music concerts at St. Mary Major basilica.

The trip to Assisi was really neat. Two busloads of students from my university left around 7 am, headed for Asissi. We would be meeting up with 40 other buses along the way. About 40 minutes into the trip we pulled over on the highway and the boxes with our lunches in them were transferred from a truck that was there at a little rest stop into the cargo area of our bus. I guess that's about as close as you get to drive-through service here in Italy! (except for the many McDonalds scattered throughout the country of course) Next we stopped at a rest area for some breakfast. It is truly amazing how fast and good breakfast at the toll-road rest stops here can be! You'd think having 100+ people buying cappuccini (in real ceramic coffee cups of course, no disposable/plastic!) and cornetti and eating them at a bar that's about 20 feet long would be a long and arduous process, but it wasn't at all.
Upon arrival in Asissi we first had Mass in the Basilica of the Portinicula (sp?) (where St. Francis lived for a while) along with all of the other students. It was interesting, they sang a lot of the same praise and worship songs I learned in my experiences with nondenominational Christian fellowships, except in Italian of course. The church was packed, which was really cool.

Next we ate lunch, then headed up the hill to Assisi proper. I love that little city on a hill. It's just so peaceful and quaint. Being there one feels like they've stepped back in time. It was a beautiful, clear day with only a few clouds in the sky, and those clouds proved to create a spectacular sunset. Here are some pictures:

The following week, there was a sacred music festival that was held in the major basilicas of Rome. I was able to go to one concert, in St. Mary Major. The day before yesterday I also went to another concert in St. Mary Major that was a Mass composed in honor of St. Cecilia by Domenico Bartolucci, the maestro for the Sistine Chapel. The music was truly heavenly - it refreshes the soul. The sounds of the orchestra and choir saturated the air so heavily I almost felt I could taste it. It is one thing to hear classical music on a CD, and another to hear it live but played mediocrely, but to hear such music played and sung with perfection is quite a moving experience. I am only now beginning to truly understand what traditional sacred music is meant to be and why there are those who advocate it so strongly. I think the majority of the world simply doesn't know what they're missing.

When I was listening to the Mass composed for St. Cecilia, it was only halfway through that I realized the composer and the director of the orchestra that was there were the same person. At first I just figured it was some Mass that was composed a long time ago by someone who had also died a long time ago. But it wasn't. It was composed by a man who was still very much alive and very passionate about creating music that gives due glory to God and brings the listener into a closer relationship with him. It was quite a marvel to realize this. The mood of the music for the different parts of the Mass fit with the mood one should have for them. About halfway through, I started thinking of how the Mass really is basically a love song between Christ and the Church, played out in real life. In Mass we start out by apologizing for the times we've failed Christ, thank Him for all He has given to us, and then remember some of the most important parts of God's relationship with mankind in the scriptures. In the offertory we give the fruits of our labors and our very selves as a gift to God. Then, in the Eucharist, Christ gives His whole self to us and promises to be faithful to us for all time. The craziest thing for me is I got all of those thoughts just by listening to some music in a language I don't even know, Latin. I do think music is a universal language though - you don't need to understand the words to know what it is saying if it is well-composed.

Tags: Assisi, St. Cecilia, Domenico Bartolucci, sunsets, sacred music

The blessing of the motorbikes and more at the Vatican

2006-10-31T08:38:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday I went to the Vatican again, this time to visit the Cuppola. It is so beautiful! Going up there is definitely not for those who are claustrophobic though. Here are some pictures:

In the morning, a very large group of people on motocycles had come for the Sunday Angelus with the pope. It was quite interesting to see so many bikes parked on St. Peter's square - but the coolest part was when they all revved their engines as an applause for the pope - the whole piazza was vibrating from it!

After the Angelus, I went up to the cuppola. No, I didn't take this picture at an angle, it was the wall that was crooked, not the camera!

What a beautiful view....

Next, some pictures looking from the outside of the cuppola down at Rome:

Two shots of the Vatican at night (me playing with the long exposure settings on my camera - they are really fun!)

Note: I apologize in advance if some of the pictures don't match up with the commentary, I can't preview this from the computer that I'm on and there's a good possiblity that the links don't actually match up quite right. Let me know if they don't seem right. :)

You know you live in Rome when...

2006-10-30T09:53:00.000-05:00

You have a hard time finding somewhere to eat lunch because so many restaurants are closed for lunch break.

Saints Rafael, Filippo, Rosa, and Théodore!!

2006-10-22T17:34:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, I had the privilege of going to the canonization Mass for four new saints: St. Rafael Guízar Valencia, St. Filippo Smaldone, St. Rosa Venerini, and St. Théodore Guérin. It was amazing to see how many people had come from all over the world for this Mass. One really neat thing was that probably a quarter of those attending the Mass were deaf, because St. Filippo Smaldone founded an order who's apostolate is to work with the deaf here in Italy. For example, when we were waiting in line to get through security, the line was very quiet, because everyone was signing to each other instead of talking. It was quite a sight. Here are some pictures:

Waiting in line to get in.

Tags: Rome, Pope Benedict XVI, canonization, catholic, Rafael Guizar Valencia, Filippo Smaldone, Rosa Venerini, Theodore Guerin

You know you live in Rome when...

2006-10-19T11:32:00.000-05:00

You see a really large car parked on the side of the road, then realize it's a Mini Cooper.

More pictures

2006-10-10T07:02:00.000-05:00

I've posted more pictures online. They are mostly of a few churches I visited recently, the S. Prassede and S. Giovanni in Laterno.

Tags: pictures, rome, churches

Is God Green?

2006-10-10T06:05:00.000-05:00

A television special will be airing on PBS Wednesday, October 11 at 9:00 pm EST. I won't be able to watch it (we don't get PBS here in Rome), but it sounds very interesting. There is also a lot of information on the PBS website. Here is a brief introduction:

A new holy war is growing within the conservative evangelical community, with implications for both the global environment and American politics. For years liberal Christians and others have made protection of the environment a moral commitment. Now a number of conservative evangelicals are joining the fight, arguing that man's stewardship of the planet is a biblical imperative and calling for action to stop global warming.

But they are being met head-on by opposition from their traditional evangelical brethren who adamantly support the Bush administration in downplaying the threat of global warming and other environmental perils. The political stakes are high: Three out of every four white evangelical voters chose George W. Bush in 2004. "Is God Green?" explores how a serious split among conservative evangelicals over the environment and global warming could reshape American politics.

Also, a related paper is avaliable on the Acton Institute website regarding the connection between the climate change lobby and population control: From Climate Control to Population Control: Troubling Background on the 'Evangelical Climate Initiative'.

Tags: God, Christianity, climate control, population control, evangelical, global warming, pbs, american politics

What a weekend!

2006-10-05T11:32:00.000-05:00

My first weekend in Rome was quite exciting. I started off with a tour of the Ghetto Ebrao and Teatro Marcelo, then went to the beach on Saturday, and to the Sagra dell'uva (Festival of the Grape) in the nearby city of Marino.

The tour on Friday night was pretty interesting; however, the whole thing was in Italian so I didn't catch everything that was going on. We visited what used to be the Jewish Ghetto, where the streets are very narrow and there are many fun surprises around every corner. Here is a picture of the Teatro Marcelo:

The next day I went with my roommate, Eva, and another girl from her Italian class to the beach. It was still very warm! I wasn't expecting it to be warm enough to swim, but once we got there I regretted not bringing a swimsuit.

On Sunday, we went to the wine festival in Marino, a small town about 30 km from Rome. It was quite the Italian experience! There weren't any tourists there, lots of culture, and I felt like it was definitely the "real Italy." The festival's history is very interesting. In 1571, a battle was won on the 7th of October, the same day as a procession of Our Lady of the Rosary and Pope Pius V attributed the victory to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. In 1716 Pope Clement XI extended the feast of the Most Holy Rosary that was started in Marino to the whole Church, to be celebrated on the first Sunday in October.

In 1925, the townspeople decided to have a festival to celebrate the God's gift of grapes to the town, which make the wine the town is known for throughout Italy. So, all rolled into one big festival are the celebration of a battle won, the procession of Our Lady of the Rosary, and lots and lots of wine!

Here are some children dressed in costumes preparing for the grand procession:

The nobles going to meet the victorious soldiers:

The miracle of the wine fountains (craziness!!):

I also had a great birthday here in Rome, I went out to a cafe with about 10 others from my Italian class and we stayed there most of the night. Overall, life is good here! The things I enjoy the most though are the small treasures that are hidden from the crowds that I come across on a daily basis pretty much. The beautiful churches tucked away in side alleys, fountains in the middle of residential areas, rose gardens I come across on the way to or from different destinations.

Rome Sweet Home

2006-09-26T09:15:00.000-05:00

Well, after a pleasantly uneventful journey, I arrived safely in Rome yesterday. I began unpacking my things and bought some groceries (at the grocery store across the street from St. Mary Major Basilica!). The story of my life thus far in Rome has been a constant battle to keep things dry! As I was unpacking, I realized that the majority of the clothes on the bottom of my big suitcase were damp and/or had wet spots all over them. Turns out my luggage was sitting in the rain for a little while in London. Then today it's been a pretty constant downpour since around noon, so almost everything in my backpack and the clothes I was wearing were pretty soaked. You know it's raining hard when the rain starts to come straight through a perfectly good umbrella!

The view from my window right now:

On a lighter note, the owners of the apartment I am staying in have a cat and a dog, both of which are very friendly. I also have a roommate who is from Germany and will be staying in Italy for two weeks. This morning the cat came into our bedroom and woke us up, purring and cuddling. :) Here's a picture of her:

Tags: Roma, rain, cat

The Green Old Party

2006-09-23T00:17:00.000-05:00

Don Bosch over at the Acton Institute blog has an excellent post on Republican environmental activism. Turns out tree hugging isn't just for hippie liberals! :)

Tags: Republican, environmental activism

I leave for Rome SATURDAY!

2006-09-21T13:04:00.000-05:00

After spending the last few months getting all of my documents together for my student Visa and visiting with friends and family, I'm finally leaving for Rome! I hope to update this blog regularly while I'm there with pictures and stories of my adventures. If you'd like to subscribe to this blog by email so you don't have to keep checking back, just enter your email in the box on the sidebar.

And with that, I'll leave you with some pictures of my adventures this summer:

Bike ride with Margaret and Carmen

Hike to Humpback Rocks

Swimming in the Blue Hole

Wild turkeys in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard

The whole fam!

The Hollywood sign with Lina

And finally, a few views I'll hopefully be seeing again in a couple days:

Tags: Rome, pictures, summer, family, friends

Recent Science and Religion articles

2006-09-20T22:45:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile since I've posted on here, and while I've been slacking, good articles to post about have kept coming! Here's an overview of some good ones:

Evolution and Creation Are Not Foes, Says Priest (ZENIT)
This is yet another article focusing on the need for separation of science and ideology in any discussion of evolution and creation. Father Pascual of Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University states: "Whereas creationism and evolutionism are incompatible in themselves, this is not so of creation and evolution, which are, instead, on two different levels, and are compatible." I think the distinction between the scientific theory of evolution and the ideology of evolutionism is too often overlooked by those on both sides of the debate.

Cantalamessa on "Ecology of the Heart" (ZENIT)
"What defiles man?" asked Fr. Cantelmessa in his commentary on the gospel of Mark September 1st. We spend so much time worrying about pollution in our world today and how it may affect us, but so little time worrying about pollution that comes from within ourselves. He states: "Let's be very clear: It is not a question of opposing the two kinds of contamination. The struggle against physical contamination and care of hygiene is a sign of progress and civilization which must not be given up at any price. However, Jesus told us, on that occasion, that it was not enough for us to wash our hands, our vessels and all the rest; this does not go to the root of the problem."

This really struck a chord with me. I often speak about how as Christians it is our duty to care for the Earth and not pollute it, but how often do I speak about how our care for the Earth should come as an extension of our care for our own souls? We have to start from within ourselves, that is where the most dramatic changes can and must begin from.

New Zealand Bishops on the Environment (ZENIT)
This article goes along with the same theme as the previous one.

"The external deserts in the world are growing, because the internal deserts have become so vast." - Pope Benedict XVI, homily at Inaugural Mass, 2005

Green Offices are Economical at the Acton Institute PowerBlog (via Dappled Things)
Surprise! Cutting down electricity use saves more than the environment, it also saves money.

On Humanitarianism and Animal Rights from Catholic Culture
Jeff Mirus has an excellent article on our culture's confusion of humans and animals, and the important differences between us and the rest of the animal kingdom.

Whew!! Okay, I think I'm (kind of) caught up now!

Hello to Mother Jones!

2006-08-23T11:49:00.000-05:00

I just noticed that a couple of days ago the Mother Jones blog linked to me in the post Noah Was an Environmentalist. Welcome to all of you coming from Mother Jones! I'd love to hear your opinion of the Christian environmental movement, my blog, etc, etc. How exciting, my first real link!

Tags: Mother Jones, links, christian

Black Coffee? ick...

2006-08-14T17:21:00.000-05:00

You are a Black Coffee

At your best, you are: low maintenance, friendly, and adaptable At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you can get your hands on it Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Conservative voices on Global Warming

2006-08-10T17:48:00.000-05:00

More and more conservative voices are expressing concern regarding the need to address the global warming issue seriously. Two examples I have come across recently have been Pat Robertson and blogger Fr. Jim at Dappled Things.

From Reuters via Grist:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Conservative Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson said on Thursday the wave of scorching temperatures across the United States has converted him into a believer in global warming.

"We really need to address the burning of fossil fuels," Robertson said on his "700 Club" broadcast. "It is getting hotter, and the icecaps are melting and there is a buildup of carbon dioxide in the air."

Fr. Jim has recently posted his opinion of Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth." I was going to post just a snippet, but a snippet just doesn't do it justice:

I really had very little interest in seeing Al Gore's new film, An Inconvenient Truth. I have always been skeptical of claims that we were catastrophically altering the climate. I have always been put off by the weirdo-factor (for lack of a better word) of the more hard-core environmentalists I have known. And I really dislike Al Gore's politics -- pretty much across the board, not just on climate-related issues.

But, a friend wanted to see it, and I don't like to be left out of a conversation that everyone else was starting to have, so I went to see the movie earlier this week.

All of that having been said by way of preface, I think this may be one of the best films I've seen in quite a while. It's not kooky. It's not boring. It backs up its claims with science. And even Al Gore comes off in a sympathetic way. I have to say that this documentary has readjusted my own views in some significant ways. Besides all the dramatic numbers related to carbon dioxide and temperature changes, two things stood out to me.

First, like many people, I had rested much of my own skepticism on the skepticism of many other voices. But the film pointed out something: An analysis of 928 peer-reviewed scientific articles on climate change looked for the percentage of articles disputing the consensus opinion that global warming is occurring and is driven by human activities. Of those 928 articles, not a single one disputed the consensus. That amazed me. A similar study of articles in the popular press showed significant numbers of articles claiming that there was in fact no consensus. The second thing that stood out is that, in the wake of An Inconvenient Truth's release, there has been next to no serious attempt at a scientific debunking of the movie. Even Fox News has praised the film!

So, I encourage you to see the movie. There's also a blog that accompanies it and continues the conversation that the movie provokes. If this issue really is as serious as the experts in the field think it is, we really do have a moral obligation to act.

Tags: conservative, global warming, an inconvenient truth, christian, catholic

Group works in churches to bring awareness of, tips on energy cuts

2006-08-09T23:17:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Interfaith Power & Light sounds like the name of a public utility, complete with monthly bills. But it's not. Interfaith Power & Light, active in 21 states and the District of Columbia, works at educating churches and their members about how to make a dent in global warming. It's part of the organization's way of caring for God's creation, and the work is done on many fronts. "The focus is mitigating climate change but through congregations ... making congregations the model of behavior for individuals through conservation, new technologies, making congregations more energy-efficient, and then having it filter down to the individuals to make changes in their lifestyles and make their lives more energy-efficient," said Tim Kautza, science and environmental education specialist for the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, a member of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light.

Tags: Catholic, energy conservation

Orthodox, Catholics Unite in Conserving Creation

2006-07-22T21:48:00.000-05:00

Orthodox, Catholics Unite in Conserving Creation
Pope Sends Message to Symposium in Brazil

MANAUS, Brazil, JULY 18, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI sent a message encouraging Christians to collaborate in the protection of the environment.

The message went to the 6th symposium on "Religion, Science and the Environment," organized by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I.

The conference is being held in the northern Amazon region of Manaus, Brazil, on "The Amazon: Source of Life."

Benedict XVI's message expresses his appreciation for the values which inspire the symposium, maintaining that religion has a decisive role to play in the protection of the environment.

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president emeritus of the Pontifical Councils of Justice and Peace and "Cor Unum," participating in the event, transmitted the Pope's words.

There are "practical objectives and (the objective) of man's survival that can and must bring together all people of good will," said the Pope in his message, which was quoted on Vatican Radio.

Ecumenical collaboration

In the task of protecting creation, the Holy Father makes reference to the common commitment of Catholics and Orthodox, seen as "an example of that collaboration" that they must both "seek with constancy to respond to the call to a common testimony."

"This implies that all Christians must cultivate at the very least openness of spirit that is dictated by charity and sinks its roots in faith. In this way they will be able to offer together to the world a credible testimony of their sense of responsibility for the protection of Creation."

According to Vatican Radio, Bartholomew I very much appreciated these words and wished to announce the Pope's visit to Turkey at the end of November.

The present symposium, which began in Manaus, gives participants the opportunity to visit traditional communities, get to know the local reality and meet with specialists who work in the region.

On boat trips on the Amazon river, local representatives have the time to debate on topics relating to environmental ethics and issues of importance to Amazonia, such as the loss of biodiversity, deforestation, the challenges facing indigenous peoples, etc.

It is the sixth of a series of symposiums, held also in ships that navigated the waters of the Aegean (1995), the Black Sea (1997), the Adriatic (2002), the Baltic (2003) and the Danube River (1999).

It is organized by the NGO "Religion, Science and the Environment," linked to the Orthodox Church, and cosponsored by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

ZE06071809

Comments on this later, I'm currently visiting grandparents have limited internet access..

Quote of the day: Charity

2006-07-17T16:38:00.000-05:00

Charity is the only answer to all social problems.
– Bl. Juan Moreno

(via MyCatholic)

Tags: charity, social problems, quotes

Grieving Over Contraception and Sterilization

2006-07-17T14:30:00.000-05:00

Here is a great article from Zenit regarding the emotional effects of contraception:

Grieving Over Contraception and Sterilization
Interview With Theresa Burke of Rachel's Vineyard

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pennsylvania, JULY 16, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Debates over the use of the "morning-after" pill have often focused on the physical health of women.

Less discussed is the mental, emotional and spiritual health of women who use the drug, which can cause early abortions.

One specialist who does deal with the problem is psychologist Theresa Burke, the founder of Rachel's Vineyard Ministries. She reports that many women suffer pain and regret from use of contraception and sterilization in her book "The Contraception of Grief: The Genesis of Anguish Conceived by Abortifacients and Sterilization" (published by Priests for Life).

Burke shared with ZENIT some hidden effects of contraception and sterilization.

Q: What compelled you to write about grief associated with the use of abortifacients and sterilization? When did this trend first come to your attention?

Burke: For the past 20 years, I have been involved in the study and treatment of pregnancy loss and unresolved grief.

I never expected the subject of contraception linked to deep and hidden emotional pain to repeatedly surface during our weekends for healing after abortion.

Indeed, many abortions were associated with a failure in contraception. Any woman who leaves an abortion clinic is released with an arsenal of birth control pills. The behavior that led to the pregnancy is never addressed, but she is armed with the resources to prevent another pregnancy … or so she thinks.

Besides these obvious reasons for grief, I was rather astounded that a growing number of women, including non-Catholics, were coming forward to say that they were also experiencing profound feelings of grief and loss because of contraceptive use which resulted in spontaneous abortions.

The subject was also being brought up by those who came to assist on our retreats, and had a moment of powerful spiritual revelation regarding a deep and unnamed grief they held buried within their soul.

I have encountered this unique grief on many different occasions. I'd have to say that among the many hidden sources of shame and grief in the Church today, perhaps none go as unnoticed, unmentioned and ignored as the emotional pain from the use of contraception.

Subsequently, when the realization dawns that a child, or several children, have been lost through various methods of birth control, there can be serious emotional consequences.

Initially, my focus was only abortion, not contraception. However, I saw our role as helping women face and grieve the reality hidden in their hearts. If their soul was in pain, who was I to say that it was not real?

I gave them permission to speak the truth that was hidden and to grieve the pain that was surfacing. I also witnessed the liberation and freedom, the openness to life, the joy and vitality that followed that experience.

Janet Morana, the associate director of Priests for Life, also encouraged me to write about this.

Janet felt that the pain she suffered from contraception was profound and she knew there were many others who also shared in this grief. She felt that few in society recognized or validated this hurt and that like abortion, pregnancy loss from contraception, is also a forbidden grief.

When Rachel's Vineyard became a ministry of Priests for Life, it was one of the first new issues I began to investigate.

Q: Briefly, how do some forms of birth control act as abortifacients? Why do so few people know about these facts?

Inconvenient Christians

2006-07-07T23:51:00.000-05:00

The website Inconvenient Christians is offering free tickets to see the movie "An Inconvenient Truth" if you are a "Committed Bible believing Christian" and promise to post your opinion of the movie on their website. I think this is a great opportunity to see this movie for free and to start meaningful discussion within Christian groups on the topic of global climate change. I'm going to take advantage of their offer, you should too!

Family is a full-time job!

2006-07-07T21:03:00.000-05:00

Well, I haven't posted anything on here in over a week. Why? I moved home with my family for the summer!! Living with my family has certainly been a full-time job for me, it's crazy. Today a girl from New York City arrived to stay with our family for a week and a half through the Fresh Air Fund. It seems like a really cool program, I think it will be fun having her here. In preparation for her arrival, we have been cleaning the house like crazy though! I think we put out 20 bags of trash this week! In addition, my youngest sister's good friend has gone to the beach for two weeks, so I've also been re-living summer vacation as a ten year old spending time with my little sister. We've gone bike riding, played in the river, went to 7-11 for slurpees, and just hung out. It's been fun!

Overall, coming back home for the summer I have realized how much I've become accustomed to living alone. When you live alone, your day is dictated only by you, and your plans for the day pretty much. When you live with family, you might have time to do some stuff you wanted to do, but mostly your day is dictated by the needs of others. Living with others, especially family, is above all a school of love. I'm only now realizing just how vital an aspect of life it is. I hope I am able to truly appreciate and take advantage of these few months living with my family!

Who do you confide in?

2006-06-28T21:18:00.000-05:00

According to a study from Duke University, about 1 in 4 people don't have any close friends they can confide in. The Confessionator reports on Social Isolation in America, and offers some insightful thoughts on the importance of a relationship with God strengthening relationships with others.

Extreme Hammocking!

2006-06-28T16:43:00.000-05:00

OK, I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for most extreme sports (even if most of the time I just think about how cool they would be rather than doing them myself). I'm also a big fan of hammocks, and recently read an article in Blue Ridge Outdoors on the growing trend of day hammocking (think hiking + nap and lounging in beautiful scenery). So naturally, when I saw a post on Gizmodo entitled Extreme Hammocking my interest was piqued! What combination could be better than relaxation and adventure? Check it out!

Tags: hammock, fun, extreme sports

Does the Earth ask things of us?

2006-06-27T16:43:00.000-05:00

The Dominican Sisters International (DSI) think it does, and decided to find out just what exactly the Earth is asking of them. Mark Shea and Disputations have both rightly commented on just how far off this question is. The Earth is not a being, it cannot ask questions, and the "New Cosmology" is not "the critical lens from which all preaching needs to flow and all justice action should emerge."

My question is this - what is this "New Cosmology" that they speak of? Where did they get it, why did they come up with it, and what does it say? It sounds like a New Age concept that is devoid of any true Christian theology.

After doing a Google search for "New Cosmology" it became apparent that folks from all sorts of fields are coming up with new cosmologies of their own. Many are from physicists researching general relativity and quantum physics, but some are looking to find spirituality within scientific theories. The one the Dominican Sisters are referring to comes from Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme, who have co-written a book called The Universe Story : From the Primordial Flaring Forth to the Ecozoic Era--A Celebration of the Unfolding of the Cosmos.

A quick look at Brian Swimme's website returned the following questions from an interview with "What is Enlightenment?" Magazine:

WIE: You often speak about the fact that we are at a unique juncture in human history because we now have knowledge of the fourteen billion years of cosmological evolution that brought us to this point—and that this knowledge carries with it a responsibility that we never before imagined. can you give a basic outline of the vast scope of this evolution?

Brian Swimme: It’s really simple. Here’ the whole story in one line. This is the greatest discovery of the scientific enterprise: You take hydrogen gas, and you leave it alone, and it turns into rosebuds, giraffes and humans.

WIE: That’s the short version.

Brian Swimme: That’s the short version. The reason I like that version is that hydrogen gas is odorless and colorless, and in the prejudice of our Western civilization, we see it as just material stuff. There’s not much there. You just take hydrogen, leave it alone, and it turns into a human—that’s a pretty interesting bit of information. So that’s why I love the short version.

So where does this "New Cosmology" clash with Christianity? I think the answer is pretty apparent - that you "just take hydrogen, leave it alone, and it turns into a human." I don't think you have to be an experienced theologian to see a problem with this statement. So often the good-intentioned concern for the Earth ends up coming from these ideas which are antithetical to the core of Christian theology. This is really a shame, because any authentic Christian spirituality already should include respect for God's creation, there is no need to search elsewhere. Anyone who searches for answers to dilemmas within the body of Christ and does not find an answer needs to delve deeper into the mysteries of Christ.

For a more thorough examination of a "New Cosmology" within Catholicism, Bill Jacobs, director of the Catholic Conservation Center, has written an excellent article, "A Cosmos Without the Redemption of Jesus Christ?"

Tags: creation spirituality, new cosmology, thomas berry, brian swimme

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The Importance of Charity

2006-06-27T10:47:00.000-05:00

Julie D. over at Happy Catholic has a great post on the importance of charity. A must read!!

Tags: Catholicism, Christianity, charity, love

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Human Ecology vs. Anthropocentrism

2006-06-23T15:59:00.000-05:00

Ok, I'm jumping in! Here's my first "real" post - my thoughts on Catholicism and environmental issues - non-Catholics and non-scientists, please let me know if this makes sense or if I lose you! I'll try not to use too much jargon.

In May, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations, addressed the U.N. at a session of the Economic and Social Council's Commission on Sustainable Development. His address covered many issues, from clean water access to transportation to global warming, but what I found most interesting was one of his opening paragraphs:

In addition to the irrational destruction of the natural environment, there has been the more serious destruction of the human environment. Although people are rightly worried about preserving natural habitats, too little effort has been made to safeguard the moral conditions for an authentic human ecology. Such an ecology will place the human person at the center of environmental concerns, while simultaneously promoting an urgent sense of human responsibility for the earth, be it at the level of states, commerce or individuals. Happily, as the essential symbiosis of life on the planet becomes plain, there is already a growing acknowledgment that good environmental policies are by extension good people policies too.

Complete Text

Now, at first glance one might see this paragraph as dismissing environmental concerns as unimportant compared to other issues. I know many environmentalists who would probably pass this off as a typical anthropocentic view of the world - the typical "we are at the top of the food chain and can do whatever we please to make ourselves happy" idea. However, I see this as a much broader concept than merely doing what's best for man and forgetting the rest. I think the key to this is when he says "while simultaneously promoting an urgent sense of human responsibility for the earth, be it at the level of states, commerce or individuals." This is not an issue of either/or, of choosing to protect the environment or be happy, healthy humans. Both are necessary. So many times groups demonize the each other and assume their positions are mutually exclusive. I find the greatest polarization to be between pro-environment and pro-life groups. Why do you think this is the case? I'm interested to hear other's comments on this.

Technorati: human ecology anthropocentric environment

del.icio.us: human ecology anthropocentric environment

Bless the Lord

2006-06-23T14:21:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite scripture passages comes up often in the Liturgy of the Hours for morning prayer. Here it is:

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord.
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord.
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord.
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.
You sons of men, bless the Lord.

O Israel, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Preists of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.

(Daniel 3:57-88)

On a lighthearted note, Jeff Miller over at The Curt Jester wondered what Daniel might have said had he been exiled to Florida:

Heat and humidity, bless the Lord
praise and exalt him above all forever
Gators and geckos, bless the Lord
Lack of mountains and hills, bless the Lord
Swamps and wetlands, bless the Lord
Thunderstorms and hurricanes, bless the Lord
You Manatees and all water creatures, bless the Lord
Birds of the air and tourists flying South, bless the Lord
Fireants and giant cockroaches, bless the Lord

Technorati: scripture creation

What's in a name?

2006-06-20T21:34:00.000-05:00

Why is this blog called "God's Green Thumb"?

One day I was thinking about how we are all part of the body of Christ. We all have different callings in life - and I think if I had to equate my calling in life to a certain part of the body of Christ, I figured I would probably be his "green thumb."

So what exactly will I be studying in Rome?

2006-06-20T21:02:00.000-05:00

The following is a copy of my course of studies for the next school year in Rome. I will be studying environmental science at a Pontifical university. Why, you might ask? The program focuses on integrating Catholic theology, spirituality, and ethics with contemporary environmental issues. How cool is that? Read on for more info...

Master’s Program (Diploma) in Environmental Sciences

A society’s sensitivity towards environmental issues demonstrates its level of civilization: For this reason, it is essential to use all available competence (whether human, educational, scientific, technological, economical or ethical) in order to analyze and solve the problems involving Man’s work and Creation.

It is necessary to develop an optimistic cultural view, different from the one which seems to predominate nowadays: A view that will no longer be based on the conflict between human activity and environment. Man is not “the cancer of the Earth”, nor should Nature be worshipped as if it were a pagan goddess.

A reductionist approach, such as that of materialism, does not lead to any solution.

A new concept of environmental protection is necessary: It has to be interdisciplinary and it has to be based on the Christian Humanism’s philosophy, according to which the quest of Truth, Righteousness and Beauty joins Faith and Reason.

Our Program aims to develop a more encouraging idea about Man and human potential: Man shall be viewed as a blessing rather than a plague for the planet; as a medicine, rather than a cancer for the world; we think of a Man whose progeny rouses hope instead of despair, both for human kind and for Creation; a Man who will take care of the world, so that the environment will become, instead of a problem, a resource.

Our purpose is to restore a “vertically” oriented, theocentrical view, according to which Creation should be healed, developed and governed for the common good. We reject a “horizontal” concept of environment, which “divinizes” fauna and flora. We lift up our eyes to Heaven, so that we may learn the Universe’s laws; we refuse to become victims of Gaia, a vindictive goddess who takes revenge for every human deed.

The Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum, along with the Ministero dell’Ambiente, has organized a Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences, which follows an interdisciplinary approach.

It will devote special attention to:

·The anthropocentric and integral concept of human development, according to the best philosophical and theological tradition of the Catholic Church.
· The study and practice of the most advanced techniques that science and technology make available to environmental problem solving.
· The economic and civil progress of nations in accord to the best principles of integral human development. Such principles consist in fostering the possibilities of human beings, as far as their person, dignity and work is concerned.

What lectures, subjects and contents are offered?

In the academic year 2003-2004, we are offering six modules. They are presented below, each one with the titles of the related lectures and seminars.

Anthropology: The relationship between Man and environment: philosophy and history.
When Man worshipped nature: The origin of pagan religions.
Overcoming of pantheistic and polytheistic religions.
Man, environment and the Abrahamitic religions (Hebraism, Christianity and Islam).
Modern pantheism, the Charter of the Earth.
Young people's culture, New Age and Neo-paganism.
The Animalism: history and nature of a fundamentalist ideology.
Environmentalism and neo-paganism in the new young people's culture.
Feminism, ecologism and birth control.
Man and the custody of Creation: the Biblical teaching.
The protection of the environment in John Paul II's magisterial teaching.

Module 2: Science and Technology

History of scientific innovations and contributions to environmental problem solving.
Evaluation of scientific contributions to human progress.
Cultural and environmental impact of scientific and technological innovations.
Agriculture, chemistry and pollution.
Biotechnologies and transgenics: The importance of an evergreen revolution.
Climatic variations and greenhouse effect.
Energetic development between metropolitan legends and scientific reality.
Electromagnetic fields and their danger for health.
Typology and main sources of electromagnetic radiations.
Physical characterization of electromagnetic radiations and assessment of possible causes of electromagnetic pollution.
"The mad cow": spongiform encephalopaties in animals and in man.
Technologic development and scientific information.
Order and development of biologic processes.
Nutrition and protection of vegetable organisms.
Pollens, allergies and phyto-sanitary control.
Public health and pollution.
Space technology and environmental protection.
History of climatic changes, variations in the atmosphere.
Meteorology, data collection and investigation method.
Antarctic Geography and its influence on climate.
Geology and proper use of soil.

Module 3: Economy and Environment.

The environment from being a problem to being a resource.
Failure of T.R. Malthus’ theories.
Utilitarism, bounds and drifts. >From Jeremy Bentham to Peter Singer.
From human capital to the social doctrine of the Church.
Industrial revolution and globalization. Advantages and drawbacks.
Economic analysis and solution of major environmental problems related to energy, transportation, commerce and industry.
Liberal economic doctrine and protection of the environment.
Shortage and abundance of resources.
Food availability and population growth.
Economic growth, demography and environmental impact.
Sustainability, conditions and needs of development.
Industrial activities and environmental development.
Development economy and environmental protection.
Waste processing: from being a problem to being a resource.
Industry and environment: advantages and limits.
Unsustainability of underdevelopment.
Underdevelopment and environment.
Sustainable development and human rights.
Environmental impact of buildings and roads.
Bioarchitecture and Christian Humanism.
Architecture and respect for the environment.

Module 4: Bioethics and environmental issues

Bioethics, animal and vegetable biotechnologies.
Vegetable immunizations and second-generation biotechnologies.
Xenotransplant ethics.
Notes on animal clonation.
Animal engineering: technical purposes, possible risks and benefits.
Vegetable biotechnologies, ethical remarks.
Environmental impact of animal breeding.
History of animal breeding for human feeding purposes and the “mad cow” disease.
Ethics and environment, the role and concept of man.

Module 5: Legislation, Rights and Jurisprudence.

Fundamentals of environmental legislation.
European and Italian legislation.
Epistemological bases of environmental Law.
Industry and environmental legislation.
Consumers’ Associations and quality of life.
Human rights and animal rights.
Patents and Patent regulations on biotechnologies: ethical and legal aspects.
G.M.O.: International and European legislation.
V.I.A. (Assessment of Environmental Impact).
Environmental consulting for productive activities.

Module 6: Environment, information and the mass- media.

Scientific knowledge and public information.
Environment: the grossest errors in its evaluation.
Energy and information.
Analysis of information sources through the internet.
Accidents, risks and catastrophism.
Environment and ecological disasters .
Scientific-Medical Information Observatory.
Radiations: Between fears and certainties.
Professional Correctness and Scientific Information.

And also:

Websites about the environment.
Computer-Lab work-sessions.
Experimental research projects.
Internships, International meetings and on-field demos.

Hello!

2006-06-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

Hello! I hope to be starting this blog soon, it will contain musings regarding environmental science and Catholicism, a combination of the two, and interesting adventures in Rome (and the process of getting there!). The development of all of this is still in the process in my mind, so hang in there with me! :)