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Here's a link to the magazine I help to edit.

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A Word in its Season is a monthly magazine used to publish a selection of recent Christian ministry — using edited scripts taken from recordings of Bible readings, addresses, gospel preachings, and other words of ministry, as well as other occasional pieces that are not available elsewhere.

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This needs some explanation.  I'm doing an online module of study on economic development, part of which is internet discussion with my fellow-students.  And part of the marking is to provide personal reflections on the discussions.  These make up the first seven sonnets; but economists don't have real answers; so I went on afterwards to the eighth sonnet.

On The Advantages of the Developed Nations

First movers in industrialisation

Gained a first step towards imperialism,

And while most states have outward liberation

They’re held in thrall to neoliberalism;

Resources were available, which first

Allowed the wealth the north can now attain,

But all development entails a thirst

For energy which Earth cannot sustain.

We thought of inequalities in nations,

And India and China’s new advance.

And current change in women’s situations,

Though I had doubts about its relevance.

I wondered how advances in technology

Impinged on nations’ ruling ideology.

On Developing and Measuring Development

While we could all accept that GDP

Is not a useful measure of advancement

We found it rather harder to agree

Alternatives: each measure needs enhancement.

It was proposed each nation should decide

Which let me tell my comrade in Bhutan

They measure happiness – which won’t provide

An answer to the woes the north began.

We thought of global warming to produce

Grief in the south, which cannot be denied;

And rightwing thinking which will not reduce

Our inequalities – and never tried.

While I was sad that if you plant a tree

It has no impact on your GDP.

On Traditional Theories of Development

Economists have their creation myth:

That markets, through a hand that is invisible

Work best for all, or so thought Adam Smith,

Which most think true , but which Marx thought was risible.

Using competitive advantages we all thus

Ricardo thought, live where world trading boomed,

But all was limited thought Thomas Malthus

Since population growth means we're all doomed.

It's all old hat, thinks Sean, while Hannah's found

Positives lacking. Kayley thinks that Keynes

Is useful still, and Neo-Keynesianism sound

When government in wisdom intervenes.

The way I'd set things out seemed satisfying

To David Skene, which I found gratifying.

On Dependency Theory

Next week we were confronted with a query

And I must squeeze thought on it in a minute,

About the value of dependency theory

And I concluded – yeah, there’s something in it.

Although the nations of the south are free

They’re bound to give the north its interest,

While I would ask us all to what degree

They have internalised, ‘the west is best’.

Colonialism stole the south’s resources

And keeps them still as primary producers;

Was this designed? I asked, and, What recourses

Extracted Asia from its seducers?

As metaphor Pat showed a trafficker

Has dumped our useless clothes on Africa.

On the Role of International Institutions

The role of international institutions

Which were set up at Bretton Woods

Is marred, I showed, because their constitutions,

While set up maybe for our common goods,

Lacked in legitimate democracy.

The US has a veto on decisions,

And with its prevalent hypocrisy

Is likely to resist the south’s revisions.

To whom, asked Clare, are they accountable?

Examples of corruption have been found.

Is their attacks on human rights surmountable?

Will they let fossil fuels stay in the ground?

And for how long will the world bank be loath

To think there is another way than growth?

On Endogenous Growth Theory

Endogenous Growth Theory foxed us next,

Perhaps because parts were too obvious.

With thought about it we were less perplexed:

Some institutions may be noxious;

By sorting that, enhancing education,

And using new technology growth grows.

Yet much harks back to Smith’s specialisation:

How much has man advanced in what he know?

But what if growth is not what we desire?

Kayley suggests our turbines might be taller

As our advanced technologies require

Less land and thus their footprint will be smaller.

Tharoor hails, in one book he has compiled,

“The education of the female child”.

On The Role of the State

We started with the British constitution,

Sean designated as “uncodified”,

Which came through parliamentary evolution.

Ros thought codification should be tried

So that all know responsibilities and rights.

The fact one could hold governments in check

Is a development which Lindy cites,

Though changes may become a bottleneck.

Most liked the one I showed from Ecuador,

Especially the section about food;

But courts are one thing we must reckon for

If aims of constitutions are not good.

So Swiss may readily change the agenda

In one of their persistent referenda.

On the Answer to It All

Searching the world for principles and laws

Economists have scanned economies

But their conclusions were unsure because

They only reached to externalities.

Sometimes they helped external human need

But could not solve the need that is within;

They could not cure the root of human greed,

Because the root of human greed is sin.

God came in Christ to deal with sin and sins,

And in His grace to souls the Saviour died;

The only hope for human hearts begins

Because God’s Christ is raised and glorified.

The present worries, and the future’s grim

Unless we have our faith and hope in Him.

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The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 1, verses 8-5

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was thus: His mother, Mary, that is, having been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit.  But Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and unwilling to expose her publicly, purposed to have put her away secretly; but while he pondered on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary, thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this came to pass that that might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord, through the prophet, saying,  Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is, being interpreted, 'God with us.'
But Joseph, having awoke up from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had enjoined him, and took to him his wife, and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

The Gospel of Luke Chapter 2, verses 1-20

But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world. The census itself first took place when Cyrenius had the government of Syria. And all went to be inscribed in the census roll, each to his own city: and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city Nazareth to Judaea, to David's city, the which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him as his wife, she being great with child.
And it came to pass, while they were there, the days of her giving birth to her child were fulfilled, and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds in that country abiding without, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And lo, an angel of the Lord was there by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared with great fear. And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people; for to-day a Saviour has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign to you: ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure in men.
And it came to pass, as the angels departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us make our way then now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger; and having seen it they made known about the country the thing which had been said to them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at the things said to them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things in her mind, pondering them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it had been said to them.

The Apostle Paul’s Epistle to Timothy Chapter 1, verses 14-16

But the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. Faithful is the word, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. But for this reason mercy was shewn me, that in me, the first, Jesus Christ might display the whole long-suffering, for a delineation of those about to believe on him to life eternal.

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In considering the question of societal collapse I drew on the academic information available to me.  My conclusion, based on that, was that the future is likely to see the development of more authoritarian governments, while there will be actual breakdown in more vulnerable nations, those near the equator, and those in low islands.  Immigration will be a particular source of tension.  There will be outbreaks of war, civil war, famine and disease.
But as I was developing these thoughts it occurred to me that "war, civil war, famine and disease" are an interpretation of the so-called "four horsemen of the apocalypse" in the book of Revelation.  The move towards dictatorial power is seen in revival of monarchies.  Much, of course, is symbolical, but the connection of what is expected in prophecy and what is the reasonable expectation for the academic papers is notable.
As always therefore my mind reverts to the fact that I have no confidence in man to resolve his own problems - and I do have confidence in God intervening in Christ.  Of course, God already intervened in Christ when He came in the first time and took up the question of sin.  The intervention to come will be to set up what is right in a renewed world, with all the climate changes set to its new beneficent norm.
For the moment it seems appropriate to deal responsibly with the world we have, while awaiting a new world where righteousness dwells.

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I think that anyone who begins to study Sustainable Development must soon begin to reflect on their own lifestyle and how the subject impinges on them personally.  These are simply a few reflections, and I would be glad of any comment on them.
Specifically I come to the course, like anything else in my life, as a Christian, and that must colour my thinking.  By Christian I mean someone who regards Jesus Christ as Lord.  (Other comment of mine is here; and I am always glad to answer any questions on this.)

I have considered the facts provided about climate change and biodiversity in particular.  I have also considered the responses there have been to them.  On climate change it has been argued that we have had 30 wasted years; on biodiversity we have already seen the failure to hit one of the targets in the Aichi agreement.  As the Michael Moore film shows clearly, if humanity is to secure its own survival it has to change radically.

I have no confidence in humanity doing this; in the end, I have no confidence in humanity doing sufficient to save the world.
Yet I have some wonderful pictures of sustainable development:
“There shall be abundance of corn in the earth, upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon; and they of the city shall bloom like the herb of the earth.”
Or
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be gladdened; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.  It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and shouting: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon.”

These come from my Bible, and I am confident in them coming about.  But I believe that this transformation is beyond the capacity of humanity.  So if it is to come about it requires an intervention from beyond our limits – an intervention from God, through the Lord Jesus.

Now I realise that you may not believe in God; but if there is not a God, we are only a random collection of molecules that somehow has the features of life and consciousness, in the midst of a random universe.  So what is the point of “sustainable development”?  Sooner or later the lot will be wiped out, and the universe will return to its primal deadness.  What do a few more years or decades or centuries count in the history of the universe?
Blewitt, and other literature, refer to “spirituality” as an aim.  But what is “spirituality” if there is no higher Being than ourselves?

You may reasonably ask why I am doing the course; and, I do ask myself.  But I value information and I have found the discussions, from our own to those in the literature, fascinating.  If there is anything I can learn that would be of value to others I would be glad of it.  In a practical way I look to find if there is anything that guides me with regard to my impoverished Christian friends in India.

But I think our main response to all of this is: we need to pray.

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Click on the + and write (politely) what you want, and drag where you think best.

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Click on the + and write (politely) what you want, and drag where you think best.

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Please use the space!

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Blackbird fledgling hatched during lockdown

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Her shyness moulded her face
To a solemn look
For my first photo.

Teased, her shyness
Could not prevent the escape of her giggles
From fingers over her lips.

She was exhibit A;
Exhibit B, a cancer report; exhibit C,
The newspaper account of her need.

How often - in nine of her twelve years -
Had she shyly sat
While elders and betters talked over her head?

They gave me cake and a biscuit
As we discussed her.  Then shyly
She leaned forward to brush the crumbs from my knee.

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https://dcbindia.blogspot.com/

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https://dcbverse.blogspot.com/