On the Brink of Salvation or Extinction

I wanted to share the following online news article that caught my attention several days ago. I have highlighted some important phrases, and I would like use this article as an illustration in the closing comments.
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CHILE COASTAL BIRD FACES EXTINCTION

Time appears to be running out for the Gaviotín Chico, a small bird whose coastal habitat extends from northern Chile to southern Peru.

According to the organization BirdLife International, the birds – also known as the Peruvian Tern – nest on broad sandy beaches and dunes. But as houses, hotels, industries and even shanty towns continue to set up shop along the Chilean and Peruvian coastline, the birds are being displaced, leading to a precipitous population decline. BirdLife International, which reports a 70 percent population decline in the past decade, red-listed the species as “endangered” starting in 2005. At the time the organization estimated its total population at 1,000-2,500.

Chilean ornithologists, however, fear the total population may be smaller still – maybe even as low as 200. “The way that people use the beaches make then unattractive to the birds. A lot, therefore, can’t nest and thus they have a very low population,” Juan Aguirre Castro, president of the Union of Chilean Ornithologists (AvesChile), told the Santiago Times.

After studying the coastal area between northern Chile and southern Peru, AvesChile associates identified just three breeding grounds north of the border. In each of the sites they were able to identify no more than a few nests. Their findings were similar on the Chilean side with the one exception being the beaches just north of Mejillones, in Region II (just north of Antofagasta). Considered the world’s last sizeable Gaviotín Chico breeding ground, Mejillones could be home to approximately 80 percent of the remaining birds, said Aguirre.

“These birds are so specialized. They only nest on certain types of surfaces, not just on any beach. And it can’t just be any kind of sand, but rather small stones of a very specific size… There are only a few places they can breed, and (Mejillones) is one of those places,” he said.

Unfortunately for the birds, Mejillones is also what Aguirre describes as a “development pole,” i.e. a hot spot for residential and industrial growth. Located some 45 miles north of Antofagasta (see map below) , the coastal town is home to a large port and is a popular debarkation point for goods coming not just from Chile, but from Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil as well.

Mejillones is also home to a huge, 591-MW thermal-electric power plant that produces a good portion of the electricity for Chile’s Northern Power Grid. Much of that electricity is used by the area’s numerous copper mines, whose energy needs continue to climb from year to year.
As a result, at least two more power plants are planned for Mejillones. Construction on one of those plants began this past October. The 165 MW plant is scheduled to begin operating in 2010. An even bigger plant is still awaiting approval by Chile’s National Environmental Commission.

“We’re taking over the places that the birds normally use, especially in Mejillones, with the construction of the mega-port and with all the companies that are moving in. They’re obviously going to cover up the space where the Gaviotín used to nest. We don’t think they’re able to adapt very quickly, to find another place to nest, meaning it’s possible the species will just disappear. It’s in serious risk of extinction,” said Aguirre.

AvesChile recently sent a letter to the Environment Minister urging the government to protect the endangered bird. Among other things, the organization pointed out how the government itself recently included the Peruvian Tern on its first ever list of endangered native species.

Aguirre, however, is less than optimistic about the future of the species. “At the political level, these types of considerations aren’t taken very much into account…It’s not a scenario that’s very favorable for the Gaviotín,” he said.

(HT: Benjamin Witte)
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My thoughts after reading this article:

- Humans are not birds, and thus will not go extinct...but every human will die at some point. At death, humans have two possible destinations, Heaven or Hell. The Bible clearly teaches that one's destination is determined by whether they have trusted solely on Christ and what He did on the Cross or rejecting Him.

-For the Peruvian Tern, possible extinction can be influenced by some environmental decisions of use of land and whether to increase development. So in some sense, their "salvation" is in the hands of people.

-For humans, sin and the sin nature has, is, and will be the hastening factor for physical and spiritual death. Since Adam and Eve, every human has been born with the sin nature. God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, has provided the answer to the sin problem. Christ paid the penalty for sin and provided the perfect sacrifice on the Cross. Humans are not the answer to their own problem. They don't have a spark of goodness in them. God is the only answer and we must tell them...that is our responsibility.


(click on map for larger view - North is left)

-Mejillones (see map above) was mentioned in the article. This city is real close to the city of Antofagasta, the city where we desire to minister, long term. Using the illustration of the birds needing to be "saved from extinction", the Chilean people in the northern region need to hear the truth of the Gospel soon. The end is coming. When? We don't know. There are many areas around this region of Chile that are growing and expanding. There are so many new communities that need a local church and a Gospel witness.

-Please continue to pray for our family as we prepare to serve in this needy area of Chile. We desire to be salt and light in a dark and decaying world. Many are in need of hearing the Gospel. Your prayers and financial support allow us to come closer to the goal of impacting Chileans with the Gospel and Biblical truth.