A2 Model Answer :

Qst (a) Examine the factors which have contributed to the present debate about the environment (30 mks).

Qst (b) critically evaluate, from a religious perspective, the view that the problem of human greed lies at the root of the present environmental crisis (15 mks).

Ans. There are a number of factors which have contributed to contemporary concerns about environmental issues. They include concern about :

Population Growth – The ever-increasing population of the world makes corresponding demands on food resources, which are invariably unequally distributed. The number of people in the world will soon break the 6 billion barrier. There is an understandable concern about how many more people the world can support – particularly in terms of resources.

From a religious perspective, the General Synod of the Church of England has urged the Government to consider what contribution it can make to the encouragement of the stabilising of the world`s population so that human beings can live in sustainable harmony with the rest of the natural order and flourish without want.

The Problem of Resource Depletion – There is concern that fossil fuels cannot be recycled and cannot be produced by humans, and are thus finite (limited). Air is being polluted and essential environments upon which other creatures depend are also being consistently depleted, along with over-fishing and deforestation.

The U.S.A. uses over 100 times the energy per person than the developing world; most energy is made from oil, gas, coal and nuclear – all of which cause more pollution problems. Chemicals and pesticides are killing off certain parts of the insect chain, causing the emergence of ‘superbugs’ immune to all pesticides, and also running off into the rivers and water table causing pollution. There is the problem of deforestation – there are less than 20% of the world`s forests left.

In Roman Times much of North Africa was used for growing grain. Now it is the Sahara Desert. Over farming and poor land husbandry have turned a considerable proportion of the world into useless desert.

Use of Pollutants such as CFCs (chlorofluoro-carbons)– There are real concerns about the depletion of the ozone layer – due to emissions of CFC gasses – which may cause humans to suffer from additional solar radiation, leading to an increase in skin cancer.
Acid Rain – Acid emissions erode the stonework of buildings, kill trees and other vegetation, and acidify the water ...

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Use of Pollutants such as CFCs (chlorofluoro-carbons)– There are real concerns about the depletion of the ozone layer – due to emissions of CFC gasses – which may cause humans to suffer from additional solar radiation, leading to an increase in skin cancer.
Acid Rain – Acid emissions erode the stonework of buildings, kill trees and other vegetation, and acidify the water of lakes, killing fish and other water life. First noticed in 1960 in Scandinavian lakes, researchers were convinced by about 1980 that the fault lay in the sulphur dioxide given off from the burning of fossil fuels.

N.B. All of the above concerns have a moral dimension – which can take a religious perspective. Christians see the environment as evidence that God`s hand is at work in the continuous cycle and patterns of the seasons. They remind themselves of this in their weekly worship and at certain times of the year. They do this through supplication (asking for help through prayer), in the Creed; at the communion service and at a special service each year called Harvest Festival. At Harvest Festival Christians remember the special relationship between the Church and the planet.

Many organizations have been set up to try to solve some environmental problems. Some of the most well known are : Friends of the Earth, Save the Children, Christian Aid, Oxfam and Traidcraft. All of these organisations are based on Christian environmental principles.

Qst (b) Critically evaluate, from a religious perspective, the view that the problem of human greed lies at the root of the present environmental crisis (15 mks).

Ans. It could, with some considerable justification be argued that human greed is a major contributory factor to much of the present environmental crisis.

This can be illustrated by statistical data such as the fact that one-fifth of the world`s six billion population are living in extreme poverty whereas in the rich Northern Hemisphere there is much extravagance and waste. In the UK in 1992 for example 63 million was spent advertising breakfast cereals. This amount of money in the developing world could have provided :

500,000 tool kits to help build wells in Ethiopia
500,000 emergency shelters large enough to house 10 people after a disaster
1.5 million vaccines to immunise children against 6 killer diseases

Those who live in the rich Northern Hemisphere nations ( ¼ of the world`s population) :

pump out 4/5ths of the world`s Greenhouse Gases
consume 5/6ths of the world`s resources

In the poor Southern Hemisphere :

live 3/4ths of the world`s people
who consume just 1/6th of the world`s resources
and have average incomes 18 times lower than those in Northern Hemisphere nations

N.B. Christians would argue that there is a need to consider the problems of the world not only because they are inhabitants of the world and so live in it, but also because they have a duty to the planet.

The first Book of the Bible – Genesis describes both the creation of the world and the relationship between it, God, and humanity.

Genesis chapter 1 describes God the Creator giving human beings ‘power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small’ – a reference which gives the impression that animals are there for the use of human beings.

Such a portrayal may have contributed to the lack of respect mankind has shown to the animal kingdom over the years – resulting in depletion of fish stocks and some species becoming extinct – as a direct result of human greed.

However a contrasting attitude is portrayed in Genesis chapter 2 where the concept of Guardianship is emphasized and humanity`s moral responsibility for the animal kingdom and environment.

In verse 15 humans are told ‘to cultivate and care for’ the Garden of Eden and the animals and birds were brought to the first man so that he could name them.

These 2 contrasting attitudes of power and guardianship have come down through the history of the religious debate on the environment.

Animal rights activists argue that those who adopt the ‘Power’ position (regarding man as having ‘dominion over the animal kingdom’) are guilty of ‘Speciesism’ – a prejudice in favour of one`s own species and against other species.

Amongst Christians, Christian Churches and others – the Guardianship position (which regards mankind as a steward of the earth) has gained increasing popularity.

This view suggests that we are stewards of all creation, which means we are responsible for all living things. It is argued that if our planet is to have a future we must treat animals as partners not competitors for the planet.

The position of the Church of England (Anglican Church) for example relates to the idea of Christian Stewardship, and the human responsibility this implies. The Church`s General Synod has urged Government :

to take all possible steps, both nationally and internationally, to establish a just and economical use of the Earth`s energy resources and to minimise the impact of consequential environmental pollution.

The Methodist Church sees the universe as a whole as a product of God`s creative and imaginative will. All it`s parts are interdependent. Men and women are to be stewards, not exploiters of it`s resources – material, animal and spiritual. Christians must support those working for conservation and the development of more appropriate, sustainable life-styles.

The Catholic Church has echoed similar environmental concerns in recent years – emphasizing :

Economic Justice – the economy is for all the people and the resources of the earth are to be equitably shared by all.
Stewardship – all property has a ‘social mortgage’. It is ‘borrowed’. All people are to be respected and to share the earth`s resources. By our work we are co-creators in the continuing development of the earth.

In conclusion then there would appear to be a growing consensus on the need for a more responsible (and less selfish) attitude towards human usage of the world`s resources and a growing realisation of our interconnectedness and inter-dependence.

Such a view has been influenced considerably by Christian perspectives – which regard environmental issues as much spiritual problems as scientific or economic problems – in that they relate to our responsibility to each other and to the world as part of God`s Creation.

D.McCready 8.08.02