The
Creation Groans
(Signs of the Time - September 2005)
As we wait our Lord’s return, we are cognizant of Romans 8:22: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now (KJV).” When we reflect upon the state of the entire creation at this time -- mankind, the earth, the air, the water -- we can almost hear all creation groaning for the promised revitalization that will be implemented by our Master upon the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
AIDS
One does not need to look far to comprehend the numbers associated with
AIDS. According to an international AIDS and HIV charity, AVERT, located
in the UK, AIDS and HIV is nothing short of an epidemic and, quite frankly,
the numbers associated with this disease are staggering. The AVERT web
site reports that some “37.2 million adults and 2.2 million
children were living with HIV at the end of 2004. This is more than 50%
higher than the figures projected by the world health organization in
1991 on the basis of the data then available.”
During 2004, 4.9 million people became infected with HIV, which causes
AIDS. It is anticipated that during 2005 this number will double. 2004
also saw 3.1 million deaths from AIDS -- a high global total, despite
antiretroviral therapy, which reduced AIDS-related deaths in the richer
countries. Deaths among those already infected will continue to increase
for some years even if prevention programs manage to cut the number of
new infections to zero. However, with the HIV-positive population still
expanding, the annual number of AIDS deaths can be expected to increase
for many years, unless more effective provision of ARV medication begins
to slow the death rate.
Around half of the people who acquire HIV become infected before they
turn 25 and typically die of AIDS before their 35th birthday. This age
factor makes AIDS uniquely threatening to children. By the end of 2003,
the epidemic had left behind 15 million AIDS orphans. These orphans are
vulnerable to poverty, exploitation and themselves becoming infected with
HIV. They are often forced to leave the education system and find work,
and sometimes to care for younger siblings or head a family.
In 2004, an estimated 640,000 children aged 14 or younger became infected
with HIV. In 2003, over 90% of newly infected children were babies born
to HIV-positive women, who acquired the virus at birth or through their
mother's breast milk. Of these, almost nine-tenths were in sub-Saharan
Africa. The overwhelming majority of people with HIV, some 95% of the
global total, live in the developing world. The proportion is set to grow
even further as infection rates continue to rise in countries where poverty,
poor health care systems and limited resources for prevention and care
fuel the spread of the virus.
The total number of people living with HIV continues to rise in high-income
countries, largely due to widespread access to antiretroviral treatment,
which prolongs the lives of HIV+ people. This causes an increase in the
pool of HIV+ people who are able to transmit the virus to others. It is
estimated that 1.6 million people are living with HIV in North America
and Western Europe - a figure that includes 65,000 who were newly infected
in 2004.
Midwest drought
While the AIDS epidemic is a new affliction in today’s world, a
very old problem is occurring in the North American grain belt where severe
drought has developed. According to the Wall Street Journal, August 4,
2005, “One of the worst droughts across the central U.S. is
beginning to shrink potential harvests of corn and soybeans, and slow
commercial shipping on some of the busiest rivers.” The drought
is causing the overall American corn production to drop by some 16%. When
one considers that corn is used for sweetening soda pop, making ethanol
fuel and fattening hogs and chickens, Americans can expect to see some
significant impact on the cost of many goods in the coming months.
Ocean pollution
The oceans may seem too vast to pollute. After all, they comprise more
than 70% of Earth’s surface. Yet as we know from the effect of chemical
emissions on earth’s atmosphere, uncontrolled pollution carried
on long enough can devastate any aspect of the globe. In 2004, more than
60 million gallons of oil were dumped or spilled into the ocean. The spills
and dumps occur mainly from offshore drilling platforms losing some of
their production into the sea. With the quest to produce more oil in offshore
locations, this number is sure to climb in 2005.
Despite living in an enlightened age and being part of an advanced country
very conscious of environmental issues, Victoria, BC, and St. John’s,
Newfoundland, have opted to dump their raw sewage into the oceans rather
than treat it first. This sewage carries with it organic waste and nutrients
that can lead to oxygen depletion, as well as disease-causing bacteria
and parasites that require closing beaches and shellfish beds.
Home to more than 6-billion individuals, the earth cannot long endure
the damage it is now exposed to. Surely with all creation, we indeed groan
for the soon return of our Lord.
George Rayner