science and the industry watchdog

Well I've long been concerned over the 'purity of science'. I mean, surely there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for every decent discovery? So perhaps is the case with the piles of money thrown into pesticides, genetically modified seed, and many other 'discoveries' which make agriculture more 'efficient'. Where, however, does the health of the ecosystems (upon which our own health depends) factor in shaping these findings? As Wendell Berry notes in Life is a Miracle, "There are scientists, one must suppose, who know all about atoms or molecules or genes, or galaxies or planets or stars, but who do not know where they are geographically, historically, or ecologically." Developing a way of life which orients and shapes us to live faithfully as creatures in and with creation is one of the major burdens of this blog. The fact that billion-dollar corporations have little interest in supporting such a way of life is regrettable, but must be honestly faced. The fact that we participate in these billion-dollar industries every day through our consumption and lifestyles ought to frame a call to repentance.

If you think this is all conspiracy theory, read the latest story here about scientists who are forced to write articles anonymously in fear of losing their research funding (much of which comes directly from large corporations).

To my mind, this is one of the great evils of our age. It will be a glorious day when our Churches begin to pray against this sort of death-dealing evil and find alternative ways of being human in a groaning creation.

"May something like scales fall from our eyes..."