Global Concerns

Global Concerns

1. Christian beliefs around the world

   • The value of Gods creation
     • " God saw all that he had made, and it was very good "
     • the created world is valuable and precious
     • God is the maker
     • Things created by god should not be damaged or destroyed
     • God said " let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds in the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures the move along the ground "
     • Creation in God's plan
       • 'I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you'

2. Environmental Problems

   • There are 3 factors that threaten both existing ways of life and future survival :
     • pollution
       • caused by car exhausts, power plants, nuclear waste disposal activity, factories.
         • level of pollution increased since humans started using coal and gas during industrial revolution.
           • Emissions of green house gases affect atmosphere and threaten to disrupt or damage life on earth.
     • Abuse of natural resources
       • world has limited supply
       • Drained very quickly cause of way of and increasing population
       • Life forms become extinct and there is less variety in the world
     • The destruction of natural habbitats
       • The forests of the lungs of the earth
       • Plants and wildlife are being destroyed
       • soil erosion and landslides
       • Natrual and beautiful landscapes are lost

3. Climate change

   • the long term change in the average temperature
     • including the increase in average temperature
       • rain and snowfall
       • wind patterns
     • These changes are caused by -
       • processes on earth and external forces such a variation in sunlight intensity
       • Human activity
   • The bad news
     • the climate of the planet is changing
       • due to human activity
         • burning fossil fuels
         • production of chemical gases
     • increased green house gases
       • These raise global temperatures
   • Worse news
     • climate change is inevitable
     • if pollution and deforestation stopped now
       • it would take the earth over a thousand years to recover
   • The effects of climate change on human life
     • Crop yields will be reduced
       • deaths among the elderly and sick will increase due to hotter days
         • poorer parts will be effected earlier and worse
     • appropriate house will have a reduction in quality of life
       • water sortages

4. Individual and community responses

   • Individual
     • recycling and reducing unnecessary packaging
       • home energy conservation and insulation
         • reduce energy needed to heat houses
         • don't leave taps running
         • do not leave appliances on standby
         • use energy efficient light bulbs
       • recycling materials more can reduce the need to burn and bury waste
       • no plastic bags
       • reduce unnecessary packing
   • Community
     • non-polluting forms of transport
       • walk or cycle short distances
       • use planes only when necessary
     • buy local
       • buy your food from local producers
       • not from around the world

5. National and internal responses

   • National responses
     • The stern report
       • a review of the economics of climate change
         • concluding -
           • climate change is real
             • human activity is contributing to it
               • the world should spend 1 percent of global gross domestic product to avoid the worst of it
     • UK government policies
       • working on reducing carbon emissions
         • finding non-carbon producing alternatives for electricity generation
           • supporting the elopement of new greener car fuels
             • encouraging energy conservation and recycling
   • International responses
     • The earth summit in rio de janeiro
       • A united nations conference to re-think economical development
       • christian attitudes to Earth summits
         • They support the idea
         • encouraged ordinary people to respond to it
     • Kyoto protocol
       • a international framework convention on climate change
         • aims to reduce greenhouse gases by 5 percent
     • european union 2020 targets
       • european union has committed to reducing its overall carbon emissions to at least 20 percent lower than in 1990
       • also 20 percent of energy to come from renewable sources

6. Christian responses to environmental problems

   • Simple living and respect for life
     • natural resources should not be wasted
       • because they are Gods creation
       • Are there for everyone
     • misuse of the natural word is sinful
       • Destroying Gods plan
     • "The bible says that God expects, even demands, that we be stewards of his creation"
     • Over indulgence and being greedy is criticised upon in the bible
   • A change of lifestyle is needed
     • christian leaders argue the problem requires a change of lifestyle
       • They argue that we need more rational use of the earths resources
         • people are consumers
     • better management
   • The earth charter
     • supported by 2,500 organisations, including global institutions e.g. the world conservation union
     • it has 13 principles
       • examples :
         • 6. Prevent harm to the Earth
         • 1. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity

7. Christians beliefs about respect for each other

   • The mission of love: justice and respect for all
     • If a christian doesn't have compassion how can God's love be within them
     • The poor are blessed and the kingdom of heaven is theirs - luke 6:20
     • Christians believe they have a duty to attend to the demands of justice and peace
   • Why do people matter
     • because man was created in Gods image
     • "The glory of God is a person fully alive"
     • Christians believe every human has dignity and deserves to be respected
     • "Love your neighbour"
   • Matthew 25:31-46
     • The works of mercy : actions of love
       • visiting and looking after the sick and those in prison
       • caring for strangers
       • providing for those who are hungry and thirsty

8. World divided

   • Poverty
     • Children are normally born into poverty and sometimes starve to death
       • They can't afford basic needs for survival such as food, water, clothing, shelter, sanitation, education and health care
   • How are the worlds resources contributed
     • unevenly
     • Europe and central Asia - 3.5 percent live in poverty
     • Africa - 38.5 percent live in poverty
   • " if a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich "
   • " no society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable "

9. What are the causes of world Poverty?

   • Environmental problems
     • droughts
       • destroy crops
     • weaken community
     • poor countries
       • not enough resources
       • families go unfed
       • people get ill
       • workers are weaker
   • Health care
     • lack of basic needs
     • child mortality is high
     • women likely to die in child birth
     • people die unnecessarily
       • hard for countries to develop economically
   • Conflict
     • take workers and resources away
     • health and education services suffer
     • destroys lives
   • Bad government
     • corruption
     • mismanagment
     • corrupt rulers
     • waste of resources
   • HIV\AIDS
     • huge numbers
       • younger adults
         • die young or are weaker
     • country cannot develop
   • Debt
     • poorer countires
       • borrow large sums of money
         • Have to pay back loans
           • can't spend money on their own people
   • Trade barriers
     • unfair trade rules from richer countries
       • have to make goods cheaper
       • can't sell in rich countries
   • Greed in more economically developed countries
     • rich countries leave poor countries with less

10. How christian's respond to the needs of the poor overseas

    • How do christians respond to poverty?
      • when they see suffering they have to act
      • a prayer
      • giving to charity
    • Christian charity
      • raise money for organisations such as christian aid
        • cafod
        • tearfund
      • some have fast days
      • they give up things for others
    • Campaigning against exploitation
      • a responsibility for christians
      • children are forced to work
        • unsafe conditions
        • long hours
        • low pay
      • they believe this wrong and should be stopped
    • Fairer trading
      • fairtrade
        • an indépendant non-profit organisation
        • works with farmers in poorer countries
      • most products we buy are grown by producers in the developing world
        • They are then sold on to larger companies

11. Christian aid, tearfund, CAFOD and trocair

    • Faith in action
      • educational and awareness campaigns
        • emergency relief
        • development project
        • campaigning to promote justice
    • Raising awareness
      • educating people in richer countries
        • leaflets
        • books
        • videos
      • defending the rights of the poor
    • Long term aid
      • development
      • work to help people help themselves in the long term
        • " Give a man a fish and he can feed himself for a day, give him a fishing rod and you can feed him for a lifetime "
          • improve things as access to drinking water
      • long-term changes to communities
    • Emergency aid
      • short term aid
      • respond to emergencies
        • food supplies
          • raising funds