Care for the Environment Flashcards
Describe air pollution.
Chemicals are released into the atmosphere which can kill people. EG: the World Health Organisation claim that millions of people die every year from eg. cancer and heart attacks. This is caused by factories emitting millions of tonnes of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere, also the burning of fossil fuels in fires.
Describe water pollution.
Water is contaminated. Diseases in water account for 80% of illnesses in developing countries, eg. cholera. It is caused when people bury rubbish underground which seeps into water supplies.
Describe soil pollution.
Land is contaminated in industrial end countries. Eating crops from polluted soil can cause illnesses eg. kidney problems. It is caused when former factories and power stations leave waste in the soil eg. heavy metals, also dumping pesticides.
What is global warming?
High levels of Carbon dioxide turn the atmosphere into a heat trap and warms the earth. This causes extremes of hot and cold, tornadoes, drought, flooding and raging forest fires. It is caused by and increased number of people driving cars, also the use of electricity, oil and natural gas.
What is acid rain?
The atmosphere combines harmful gasses eg. sulphur dioxide, with water to form acid rain, which kills plants and fish. It is caused by driving cars and factories.
What is E-waste?
Electronic gadgets are dumped in landfill containing lead which is poisonous. It is caused by dumping old computers, mobile phones and TV screens.
What is a steward?
A human being looking after the world on God’s behalf.
Give 3 Bible teachings on the environment.
🌳 Genesis states “God looked at everything he had made, and he was very pleased”. The world is God’s and he created a good world for us. Negative human behaviour damages the environment.
🌳 Genesis also states “the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and to guard it”. We have a responsibility as stewards to look after and protect our planet.
🌳 Exodus states “For six years plant your land and gather in what is produces. But in the seventh year let it rest”. God cares for the land and has set rules to allow us to care for it too. Misuse of land through desertification and over-production damages the earth.
Briefly describe what the Roman Catholic Church teaches on the environment.
They believe that life is a gift from God, given to us to share and develop, not to dominate and exploit. Our actions have consequences, and so we must consider the welfare or future generations in our planning and utilisation of resources. The goods of the earth are to be enjoyed and celebrated.
What does the Church of Ireland teach about the environment?
They bring prayers and actions concerning ecology, environmental justice, human rights and sustainable development to the forefront of public worship. They encourage members to understand that God calls for us to make communities and the environment a better place. They believe we should commit ourselves to living a simplistic lifestyle free from greed, with energy conservation and sustainable use. We should also publicise information about events among friends, neighbours, etc.
List 6 things individuals can do to care for the environment.
🌳 Recycle
🌳 Walk or cycle instead of driving
🌳 Produce/eat organic food
🌳 Campaign for change
🌳 Conserve energy by switching off electric appliances when not being used, etc.
🌳 Save water by taking showers instead of baths, etc
Briefly describe the Assisi Declaration of 1986.
The Christian Declaration attempts to promote care for the environment to others. It states that God created everything in the world out of love and goodness, everything is dependent of him and has purpose. As a result of making man and woman, we have a responsibility to look after the world.
Give details of a project offered by a national effort.
The charity A Rocha has hosted a 4-year project from March 2013 to reforest the threatened dry forest ecosystem in La Libertad, Peru. It involves collaboration between local communities, professionals and university students in order to reproduce seedlings of native species such as Zapote to reforest the damaged land.
Briefly describe St Francis of Assisi’s input to care for the environment.
He gave up his wealth to become a monk. He became the Patron Saint of Animals in his poem, the Canticle of the Creatures. He called all the elements of the earth his brothers and sisters, and believed that we should try to live in harmony for mutual benefit. Animals are art of creation and therefore deserve respect, protection and even worship.
