RSSNatural
The past month has been bursting with human suffering. There were terrible storms in the American midwest. There was a cyclone that killed tens of thousands in Myanmar, and there was an earthquake that resulted in thousands of deaths and thousands of more disappearances. It seems that the news has become a virtual parade of human suffering. And none of this is out of the ordinary. We have gotten used to it in recent years.
Natural disasters at home and abroad appear to be growing more numerous and more disastrous than ever, from Hurricane Katrina devastating the American Southeast to the cyclones, tsunamis and other tragedies occurring elsewhere in the world. People are dying by the hundreds of thousands almost every time we turn the newspaper page.
There are many questions on most of our minds, but foremost is: Why? Why do these disasters keep striking with such vehemence? If we knew why, maybe we could stop it from happening. Many think it is the work of a vengeful god or creator who has had enough of us, but there is, of course, no way to prove if this is the case. Others blame global warming and its far-reaching effects on our planet. The scientific and political communities are still split on this issue, but as time goes on, more people agree that human activities like deforestation and carbon emissions are contributing to a global climate change that is causing a change in weather patterns, which lead to natural disasters on a large scale. If this science is right, the issue of overpopulation comes into a harsh light. A growing human population will result in more and more of the responsible activities.
Of course, proving this science may be a long time coming, and at this point, it is difficult to say with 100% certainty the cause, frightening scale, and accelerated speed of these disasters. Yet, as pointed out, not everyone believes that it is the result of human activity. The why to so much suffering may not be settled for some time. But, whether or not one blames the human population for our woes, one cannot deny that the human populations is growing, at such a speed that we are having trouble accomodating everyone comfortably. Cities are becoming overcrowded; people are living highly concentrated in smaller spaces than ever before. So, when disasters strike in these hotbeds of human activity, there are simply more people to be injured and killed– and more people to report back to the rest of the world about the devastation.
Given the size of population relates to the amount of suffering, how can we prevent more people from suffering? How can we do this? This answer may surprise some, but it is one of the only things we can control with certainty in this changing world: Curb population growth! Stop having so many babies! In China, as a result of a recent earthquake, almost 40,000 people have died, and hundreds of thousands more are in mourning. China enforces a one-child-per-family law. Think about how many more would have been killed and thrown into grief if each family had more children. How many more would have suffered?
Maybe, it’s time for the rest of the world, especially the United States, to take the hint. Population growth is slowing, but the sheer number of us right now means even if we reproduce more slowly, our population will continue to grow exponentially for some time; and, as we’ve seen, the more of us there are, the more of us are bound to suffer, as resources are used up by our burgeoning numbers, and global warming continues apace, whether we are causing it or not. Overcrowding and overpopulation will result in more fatalities worldwide. More pain. More suffering. If we try to make fewer babies, fewer people will experience these tragedies.
It seems crass, maybe even a violation of human rights–as we have been calling China’s laws for some time–that people need to stop having so many children. But, particularly in the United States, where our pursuit of life, liberty and happiness leads us to put a premium on the quality of our citizens’ lives, we must concede that the more of us there are, the less happiness there may be to go around. If we really want our children to live happier lives, there simply need to be fewer of them.
30 Comments, Comment or Ping
Crystal
The end is near - which means a new beginning is coming. I hope we survive it…
[Reply]
TROUBLMan reply on May 21, 2008 12:01 pm:
What makes you believe the end is near? And please describe the new beginning. The end has been near my whole life. People have had doomsday theories, many that have came and past, as far back a I can remember. Y2K anyone…
Granted, everything does come to an end, but it feels like humans are addicted to not only destruction but stories of destruction. Sometimes I feel like people want the world to end simply to confirm their religious beliefs.
To me, the end and beginning happen constantly. Everything is in constant flux. If a new beginning is coming how can we say that things ended?
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Crystal reply on May 21, 2008 1:16 pm:
This planet is in constant flux. Man’s time on this earth will not last forever. And if it could last longer in this universe then we have to start thinking differently.
When there is an end there is always a new beginning even if we are not there to witness it.
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TROUBLMan reply on May 21, 2008 1:23 pm:
You’re right. Man’s time on earth will not last forever.
I’m teaching my kids to think differently. My biggest goal in life is to make it to the moon. I make sure I tell young people this because I want them to dream about going to Mars. Seriously!
I’m still not sure about new beginnings. I believe in new perspectives.
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Malia
I’m going to fall back on this one because you already know where I stand!!!!!
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TROUBLMan reply on May 21, 2008 1:18 pm:
Don’t fall back. We need you to bless us with your knowledge. I may know where you stand, but what about the rest of the world. If you believe it, isn’t it your responsibility to share your knowledge with the world. Preach… You know some of us need it.
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Malia reply on May 21, 2008 1:38 pm:
In recent years, horrific wars, rumors of more wars, horrendous natural disasters, and massive destruction of the environment clearly document End Times Bible prophecies.
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Connor Pitetti
The end is coming! The end is coming! The sky is falling!
If there had been a Fox News Network operating while the events of the Bible were taking place, do you think the news would have looked any different than it does today? Wars, famines, natural disasters. These things happen. They have always happened. They always will happen. Every generation sees itself as the last, or one of the last, to walk the planet; every day is the end of days. As early as a hundred years after the death of Christ learned people were writing documents lamenting the ‘lateness of the days’ and the certainty of the approaching apocalypse, and I’m sure they were writing them before that.
China can not prevent earthquakes from happening. Earthquakes have been happening in China and around the world for a very long time, and they are not going to stop happening any time soon. The fact that there are millions more Chinese living in China now than there were a thousand years ago means that the earthquakes of today take a greater toll on human life, but it doesnt mean that they are ‘worse’ than the earthquakes of the past. The same is true of other natural disasters. Some of these disasters may be exacerbated by global warming, true, but they will happen regardless of any sort of human activity, positive or negative. Lag has got it right; the more poeple there are alive, the more people are going to die, no matter what else happens.
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Malia reply on May 22, 2008 8:52 am:
You’re right, Wars, famines, and natural disasters have always happened, there is more tied into Bible Prophesy than that—that is the obvious. One world currency, a chip in order to buy and cell, these chips are already in animals, soon they will be implanted into humans, the acceleration of knowlege (the internet can educate you on anything), the gospel being preached to the four corners of the world (again technology, setellite tv, and the internet are making all of these a reality RIGHT NOW—-IN THIS GENERATION!!!! We are seeing these revelations come to pass right b efore our eyes….
If you’re right…cool!
But what if I’m right?????
I would really be concerned more about MY ETERNAL SOUL and if I was going to spend eternity with my Father in Heaven or in the depths of Hell…..rather than whose right or not!!!!
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The R
Revelations is coming…u betta recognize… .is it Obama, McCain, some heathen overseas…. ? who knows…no man knows the hour..but the signs are there right?
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TROUBLMan reply on May 21, 2008 2:01 pm:
You believe the end of the world is coming during the next presidential term?
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"A Mom" reply on May 21, 2008 9:18 pm:
I believe these are warning of things to come. For some it will be the end.
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Crystal reply on May 22, 2008 7:37 am:
I don’t believe it. But I believe our children’s children will not survive it
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TROUBLMan
People have predicted the end of the world for hundreds of years and been wrong. Many have been religious, some haven’t. What do we say when there predictions are wrong?
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"A Mom" reply on May 22, 2008 1:40 pm:
I think we are making our own end. What we do to our planet and ourselves. Yes people have predicted this because they realize what we are doing. Whether you are religious or not. Destruction belongs to man who destroys.
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sparkule
It’s really scarry when u think about it. I Jus look a some ppl when they have a family of 9, 10 ppl knowing how society is as a whole. It’s not rational thinking and some have these babies and beat the hell out of them when the baby starts crying 2 long.
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Sherrie L Massey
The New Living Translation
Matthew 24 - Study This Chapter
1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. 2 But he told them, “Do you see all these buildings? I assure you, they will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another!” 3 Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and asked, “When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world F132 ?”
4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will lead many astray. 6 And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come. 9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But those who endure to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come. 15 “The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about: the sacrilegious object that causes desecration F133 standing in the Holy Place” – reader, pay attention! 16 “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 17 A person outside the house F134 must not go inside to pack. 18 A person in the field must not return even to get a coat. 19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for mothers nursing their babies in those days. 20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For that will be a time of greater horror than anything the world has ever seen or will ever see again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones. 23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t pay any attention. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you. 26 “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! 27 For as the lightning lights up the entire sky, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. F135 29 “Immediately after those horrible days end, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. F136 30 And then at last, the sign of the coming of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the nations of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. F137 31 And he will send forth his angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. 33 Just so, when you see the events I’ve described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I assure you, this generation F138 will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever. 36 “However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. F139 Only the Father knows. 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the Flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the Flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 42 So be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 “Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would stay alert and not permit the house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected. 45 “Who is a faithful, sensible servant, to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family? 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and begins oppressing the other servants, partying, and getting drunk – 50 well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected. 51 He will tear the servant apart and banish him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Revelation 6:9-17
9 And when the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their witness. 10 They called loudly to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people who belong to this world for what they have done to us? When will you avenge our blood against these people?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters F20 – their fellow servants of Jesus – had been martyred. 12 I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. 13 Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from trees shaken by mighty winds. 14 And the sky was rolled up like a scroll and taken away. And all of the mountains and all of the islands disappeared. 15 Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy people, the people with great power, and every slave and every free person – all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who will be able to survive?”
The New Living Translation
Revelation 6 - Study This Chapter
1 As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then one of the four living beings called out with a voice that sounded like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked up and saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.
3 When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” 4 And another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to remove peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere. 5 When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” And I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And a voice from among the four living beings said, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day’s pay. F16 And don’t waste F17 the olive oil and wine.” 7 And when the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, “Come!” 8 And I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green like a corpse. And Death was the name of its rider, who was followed around by the Grave. F18 They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease F19 and wild animals.
9 And when the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their witness. 10 They called loudly to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people who belong to this world for what they have done to us? When will you avenge our blood against these people?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters F20 – their fellow servants of Jesus – had been martyred. 12 I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. 13 Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from trees shaken by mighty winds. 14 And the sky was rolled up like a scroll and taken away. And all of the mountains and all of the islands disappeared. 15 Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy people, the people with great power, and every slave and every free person – all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who will be able to survive?”
The New Living Translation
Revelation 6 - Study This Chapter and Chapters 7-10
1 As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then one of the four living beings called out with a voice that sounded like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked up and saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.
3 When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” 4 And another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to remove peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere. 5 When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” And I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And a voice from among the four living beings said, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day’s pay. F16 And don’t waste F17 the olive oil and wine.” 7 And when the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, “Come!” 8 And I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green like a corpse. And Death was the name of its rider, who was followed around by the Grave. F18 They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease F19 and wild animals.
9 And when the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their witness. 10 They called loudly to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people who belong to this world for what they have done to us? When will you avenge our blood against these people?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters F20 – their fellow servants of Jesus – had been martyred. 12 I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. 13 Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from trees shaken by mighty winds. 14 And the sky was rolled up like a scroll and taken away. And all of the mountains and all of the islands disappeared. 15 Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy people, the people with great power, and every slave and every free person – all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who will be able to survive?”
[Reply]
Malia reply on May 22, 2008 7:31 am:
YIPPIE!!!!!! I LOVE YOU GIRL!!!! Thank you soooooooooooooooooo much for blessing us with your presence!!! I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU,—-you have made my day!!!! PLEASE BELIEVE IT!!!! Call me soon!!!!
Thank you for sharing the Word with them!!!
TM—-I love you and I think you are soooooo damn intelligent and I KNOW you will be a great leader one day! I love the fact you and Terry even ask the questions becausee it means that something inside of you is searching. Sometimes I feel like God brought me to all of you because HE loves YOU so much! I also think HE says HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU NEED TO SEE TO BE CONVINCED???? Earthquakes, Ice Storms, Hurricanes, deaths, wars, rumors of wars, one world currency, implant chips——geesh!!!!! God reveals Himself to you everyday and you just aren’t paying attention, It’s like it’s not enough for you!!!!! You know things about me that others don’t know so there’s no way that I can deny the precesne of God. I wouldn’t even be ALIVE today if not for the grace of God!!!! Sometimes when I see how smart you are it trips me out becausee when you do become a leader I feel like if you aren’t representing for Jesus….it won’t matter much anyway.
I’m just sayin……..
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"A Mom" reply on May 22, 2008 1:45 pm:
Even though people ask the question I believe we all at Troubl are together for a reason. That reason is to make a better place for all. This is what the Lord has always said to us. “Im teaching you to be like me” and he is real.
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TROUBLMan reply on May 22, 2008 2:33 pm:
I love you and know you are soooooo intelligent also. I believe Jesus and the lessons that he brought the world. God does reveal himself everyday. I hear him when the birds sing outside my window. I feel him when the rain falls on me. I see him when I look in the mirror. We share the same faith, I just don’t frame my faith under any one religion. I believe in knowledge, love and positive change regardless of religion. Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad all had positive messages, they just had different ways of achieving their goals. I believe in the positive things that every God believes in. And with that being said, I’m definitely representing for Jesus.
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Ms. MoneyPenny
You may be right but then who isn’t these days…..the end has been coming for some time now. All I can say is make sure your affairs are in order with the man upstairs and you will be alright.
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TROUBLdMami
Has it come to this? Do we really think we need to stop producing children because we f’ed up? We need to focus on what we can do, instead of what we feel is the end…Yes, there are prophesies, there are theories, there are studies, but whatever is going to happen will happen regardless of what precautions we take. We take advantage of our natural resources and mother nature, of course there will be repercussions…
[Reply]
Malia reply on May 22, 2008 8:19 am:
You are absolutely right TROUBLDMAMI—–Our only job is to fear and obery God—it isn’t really that difficult unless you’re a sexual deviant, a drug dealer, menace to society, etc……Jesus came so that we might have life and have it in abundance….in the days of Noah people were eating and drinking and marrying and having babies and so it shall be when the Son of Man comes!!!! I’m going to get married, I’m going to have more babies, I’m going to be overwhelmingly happy and live the life of my dreams while I wait for that time to come!!!
MS. MONEYPENNY said it correctly when she said make sure your affairs are in order with the man upstairs and you will be alright!!!! I ain’t mad at you!!!!
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"A Mom" reply on May 22, 2008 1:50 pm:
I agree with you on all you say, one thing I don’t believe is that fear thing. My god want’s me to love and obey him. I think fear is one thing that my parents put into my head as a young child. As an adult I believe God is Love and he put things in our way at times to teach us, but I don’t fear him.
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Q. reply on May 22, 2008 8:32 pm:
i’m just sayin’.. can the local street pharmacist get a break? why does he have to be between a sexual deviant or a menace to society? can’t O-Dog get a break??
man, i’m on a roll tonight..
[Reply]
Malia reply on May 27, 2008 9:50 am:
You know what?!?!?! I’m gonna pray for you Q, because you are not gonna worry me today!!!!
It’s all your fault!!!! If I was putting God first I wouldn’t have a cold right now!!!! Sexual deviants and O-Dog will not be in heaven. Neither will Nino Brown, Iceburg Slim or Tony Montana!!!
I’m just sayin’……
[Reply]
Conni
I don’t think this is an indication that the end is near, I think it’s an indication that the Earth is tired of us destroying it, and it’s just hitting back. We dump toxic stuff everyday, we don’t recycle, we use gallons and gallon of water daily and never stop to think where it’s coming from and where it go to. On a daily basis look at what we dump into the trahs and it get buried back into the eath. Who says dirt will dissolve plastic, diapers, metal cans, etc. Nope personally I think that Gaia is just pissed.
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TROUBLdMami
As we are learning…our faith is tested everyday…to live in fear is ignorance and stupidity…we are atoms, molecules, creations…we have no control when we think about it…walking out the house everyday is a risk…
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"A Mom" reply on May 23, 2008 12:23 pm:
Troubldmami
I agree with the things you are saying, but a lot of our everyday risks we put on ourselves, and we do have control over how we treat our enviroment as well as each other.
[Reply]
TROUBLdMami reply on May 24, 2008 7:11 pm:
I agree…we have put ourselves in this situation when it comes to the depletion and abuse of our natural resources…Our actions have caused these results…
[Reply]
Reply to “Natural”
SEE ALSO
♦ A MOM - Show Me Some Love
March 14, 2008
♦ Lag - $ Where the Mouth Is
June 19, 2008
♦ TROUBLMan - Around the World
February 12, 2008
♦ TROUBLMan - Brave New World
November 11, 2008
♦ TROUBLsome - Tune In, Tune Out
December 13, 2007