Thanks for those terrific links, backhoe! And thanks for the thread, CW; you always find some of the most interesting stuff!
As for the notion that these guys "suddenly" understand our role as stewards of the Creation because they've been convinced by junk science, I say: Hokum! The first and second Chapters of Genesis are models of what our Creator expects in our stewardship. We have been entrusted with CARE of our fellow creatures and all creation.
Absolutely right. I resent the way the environmental movement got highjacked by people with an anti-people, anti-business agenda.
There is nothing wrong with wanting a clean environment, not being wasteful- in my opinion, those are good, even conservative values.
If you cut a stand of trees, you should replant them, so you or others can use them again if needed. It makes sense to reuse what you can- I just get annoyed with how "recycling" has been turned into a cheapjack, quasi-religion by some.
I'll give you a good example- on the Island I grew up on, recycling was mandated for years, and every week people would take their carefully separated trash to the old Air Guard armory, and carefully place each bag in the properly-labeled bin... then...
The county garbage trucks would haul it to the mainland, where it all got dumped into the same hole in the landfill, and a bulldozer flattened it all together.
A few years ago, the local news hounds finally ran this little fact down, and a great upheaval ensued, several politicians losing their seats to reformers.
Needless to say, the recycling bins went away- but I still recall all those duped citizens- many old, semi-ambulatory retirees- worshiping at the little tin God of the "properly-labeled dumpsters."
Having said that, we should be good stewards of the Earth, and the beasts of the field- not only because of the Biblical charge laid upon us, but because life has a way of giving back what you put into it.