As we listen to the migration problems in Europe where immigrants from war-torn countries are overloading boats to cross the Mediterranean Sea and the debate about protection of the southern borders from Donald J Trump (R) and Republicans an interesting thought comes to mind. Are these two issues connected to global warming/climate change?
For those who grew up in the Twin Cities, the first acknowledgment of global warming/climate change probably occurred when roadkill began to include opossums. These strange looking creatures were not part of the normal fauna of Minnesota but began appearing in the 1980’s.
When inquiries were made, we heard the opossums were coming from Iowa, because it was getting hotter. This made sense because opossums like cooler climates and this facilitated our Iowa invasion. Also occurring at the same time was Iowa’s shifting to monoculture farming practices, now called conventional farming of soybeans and corn, which produces more moisture and releases more carbon through the tilling process.
Europe is contending with immigrants from Syria and Libya because of war and famine. The wars are being fought for control in countries where the struggle for food is a daily issue.
In Central and South America, as the planet warms in different areas the ability for people to grow crops to feed themselves lessens. While, the fight over commodities and control of commerce devolves to cartels and organized crime increases over shrinking supplies, which spurs the populace to action and increases the pressure for families to flee the situation. In these countries, the ongoing conflicts are between the gangs and the government.
America, which has idolized itself as that shining city on the hill, the land of plenty is a beacon that calls out worldwide. But as we have seen Trump only wants certain people to come to America. As he said, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” As we learned from The Washington Post, as related from two people briefed on the president’s meeting with lawmakers, Trump then suggested the US should allow more immigrants from places like Norway.
The migration pressure being felt in the US and Europe are likely being affected by global warming/climate change. These conflicts in other countries are occurring because of food scarcity and limited options. When people are exiting in mass the reason for the exodus should be understood, but also the class of morals comes in to question.
If this is the case then the fear of being overrun by people fleeing countries affected by global warming/climate change means Republicans need to double down on their defense and their denial of or else be subjected to the other passages in the bible that call for caring for thy neighbor will haunt them. In the Old Testament, “You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9)
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34)
In the New Testament, “‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me’” (Matthew 25:35-40)
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2)
Good people should pray for these sinners, because they no not what they do, or if they do they will have their own hotspot to populate.