Going GREEN for God July 2, 2007
Posted by Han in : Current Affair , trackbackI am sure a lot of us had been in touch with the recent spate of events happening in Malaysia. The high profile Mongolian murder case in Kuala Lumpur, the horrendous increasing crime rates in Johor and Sarawak, the continuous leakage problems found in our NEWLY constructed government buildings; we all had been following excitingly.
Nevertheless, these events do not affect most of our lives directly and short to say it doesn’t really bother most of us at all. However, there is one issue that is of real concern and would directly impact us all, and neither one of us could escape from it. It’s about our ENVIRONMENT. So if you’re asking - what’s the big deal about this environment thing and what are all these concerts and talks being held all over cities throughout the world in conjunction with Environment Day? Well, over here in ShareGodLove.com, we do not want to miss out as well in doing our part as a responsible citizen of this earth and as believers in addressing the most crucial issue now on earth. We hope through this article we will be able to understand the issues better and see what we could do to make the earth a better place to live in.
A couple of years back, I could still remember how the weatherman could forecast fairly accurately the arrival of monsoon season, which would normally hit sometime at year-end. Schools where year end examinations are being held will have to make necessary preparation to ensure that students taking the exams will not be affected by a possible flood especially for those living along the east coast states of Peninsula Malaysia. Today, I just cannot think of how I could live home without an umbrella at the back of my car. The rains have become stronger and heavier, the winds are devastating, the lightning more frequent and the floods destructive. Landslides, fallen trees and floods had all claimed innocent lives just about couple of months back both in Malaysia and in Singapore. Not forgetting the increase of earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons that had become more frequent all over the world. For us who live in this part of the world (Malaysia and Singapore), we used to believe that we live in a safe zone free from earthquakes and tsunamis but alas not anymore considering the recent spate of tremors that shook many of our buildings in both Malaysia and Singapore and not forgetting the tsunami that claims hundreds of thousands of lives in many parts of South East Asia including Malaysia. These are all happening as a result of the change in our climate.
Before we go on, it will be good to find out what the Bible has to say about our environment. Perhaps some may ask what has environment got to do with me? I worship God and not the environment. Look at Job 12: 7-10 and the verse clearly states that every living thing and the breath of humankind were created through Him. Hence, humankind is very much a part of His creation. God loved all His creation and we know that right from the beginning, God had given us quality environment – clean air, water, plants and beautiful animals. However, amongst all His creation, humankind was given a responsibility to bear. Genesis 1:27-28, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them,”Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Mankind was given the responsibility to be in charge of His creation. Since we are in charge, does this mean that we have every right to exploit it to meet our needs? If so, why bother then to keep the earth clean, the air clean, the water clean and use the resources wisely? But friends, the word “dominion” means the right to rule and a ruler needless to say is required to care for his subjects. In other words, the right to rule comes with responsibility. Thus, besides being having the special place in charge of creation, we also have the responsibility to protect His creation. This responsibility is also known as “stewardship”. We share about us being called to be God’s steward and very often it means managing our assets and protecting them so that they are available to meet the ends of the Church. Similarly, we are also called to be stewards to the earth. The word “dominion” i.e. to be in charge of all the earth and every living thing implies a relationship of control and responsibility and the responsibility refers to stewardship.
Since we now know that mankind are suppose to protect His creation or Earth basically, it will be good to take a hard look at ourselves and ask what we had done to our lovely planet Earth all this while which perhaps had contributed to the climate change. Instead of protecting earth, sadly mankind had chosen to abuse earth. We choose to bulldoze our land in the name of development and alter the ecosystems, which God had created. We have disrupted the food chain, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the water cycle. Altering of these processes or the cycles has had direct negative impacts on plants, animals and microorganisms that depend on these processes. In the name of development, more land that was initially covered with vegetation had been cleared to make way for buildings or houses. Natural resources are being used extensively for construction, industries, transport and consumption. The increased population had resulted in mountains of waste being discarded everyday. If we add up all of these works of mankind together, the answer would be none other then a drastic climate change.
Like a child who is having a high fever, we know that the consequences for not treating the fever will be far too costly i.e. the child may suffer from brain damage etc. Similarly, today our planet EARTH is suffering from a high fever as well. If we still insist that nothing should be done at this point, EARTH will be heading towards destruction. I am sure you could agree with me that today the world we live in had become much hotter and take Genting Highlands or Cameron Highlands for example, statistics had shown that temperature had been rising every year and the once cool place had became much warmer as compared to a decade ago. So what exactly have we done to change the climate?
How You and I Contribute Everyday In Changing The Climate
All of us in our daily lives contribute a part to this change in the climate. The greatest impact would be the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (“CO2”) is undoubtedly, the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and the most significant in terms of human effects because of the large quantities emitted. CO2 together with other greenhouse gases such as methane will create the “greenhouse effect”, trapping heat and keeping the EARTH warm. How did we release these gases into the atmosphere? Give these points a serious thought:-
• Cars, buses and trucks are the principle ways by which goods and people are transported in most of our cities. These are run mainly on petrol or diesel, both fossil fuels. The number of vehicles in China is expected to grow by as much as 15 times in the next 30 years to more than 190 million, according to a study by the Asian Development Bank, while in India it could be up to 13 times. Correspondingly, CO2 emissions from these vehicles could be expected to rise by 3.4 times in China and 5.8 times in India alone.
• All of us uses electricity both at home and work. Electricity is the main source of power in urban areas. All our gadgets such as computers, handphones, kitchen appliances and etc. run on electricity generated mainly from thermal power plants. These thermal power plants are run on fossil fuels (mostly coal) and are responsible for the emission of huge amounts of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
• We generate large quantities of waste in the form of plastics that remain in the environment for many years and cause damage. Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photo degrade-breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the foodweb when animals accidentally ingest. Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles and other marine animals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food. Plastic bags are made from petroleum and the manufacturing of it contributes to the diminishing availability of our natural resources and the damage to the environment from the extraction of petroleum.
• We use tons of paper in our work at schools and in offices. Timber on the other hand is used in large quantities for construction of houses, which means large areas of forest have to be cut down. Have we ever thought of the number of trees that we destroy in a day? Trees are extremely important and valuable to mankind and we’ll learn more about it later.
• A growing population would mean more mouths to feed. Because the land area for agriculture is limited, high yielding varieties of crop are being grown to increase output and such high yielding crops require large quantities of fertilizers. More fertilizer means more emissions of nitrous oxide (another greenhouse gas) both from the field into which it is out and the fertilizer industry that makes it.
• The slashing and burning of land clearing activities which is common in many countries in Asia creates an atmosphere of haze which in turn caused this region to be one of the most polluted in the world. We’ll never forget the haze from Indonesia that had caused many people to suffer from respiratory illnesses both in Malaysia and in Singapore.
Why Are Trees Valuable and Important?
As mentioned earlier it’s time we should learn why trees are extremely important, valuable and necessary to mankind and EARTH. Trees are essential in our life and are the ground troops on an environmental frontline.
1. Trees Produce Oxygen
Let’s face it; we could not exist as we do if there were no trees. A mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year. What many people don’t realize is the forest also acts as a giant filter that cleans the air we breath.
2. Trees Clean the Soil
The term phytoremediation is a fancy word for the absorption of dangerous chemicals and other pollutants that have entered the soil. Trees can either store harmful pollutants or actually change the pollutant into less harmful forms. Trees filter sewage and farm chemicals, reduce the effects of animal wastes, clean roadside spills and clean water runoff into streams.
3. Trees Control Noise Pollution
Trees muffle urban noise almost as effectively as stonewalls. Trees, planted at strategic points in a neighborhood or around your house, can abate major noises from freeways and airports.
4. Trees Slow Storm Water Runoff
Flash flooding can be dramatically reduced by a forest or by planting trees. One Colorado blue spruce, either planted or growing wild, can intercept more than 1000 gallons of water annually when fully grown. Underground water-holding aquifers are recharged with this slowing down of water runoff. Trees that grow near the seashore had proved to act as a shield against the high powered tsunami waves, which in turn could help protect the lives of those living near the shores.
5. Trees Are Carbon Sinks
To produce its food, a tree absorbs and locks away carbon dioxide in the wood, roots and leaves. Carbon dioxide is a global warming suspect. A forest is a carbon storage area or a “sink” that can lock up as much carbon as it produces. This locking-up process “stores” carbon as wood and not as an available “greenhouse” gas.
6. Trees Clean the Air
Trees help cleanse the air by intercepting airborne particles, reducing heat, and absorbing such pollutants as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Trees remove this air pollution by lowering air temperature, through respiration, and by retaining particulates.
7. Trees Shade and Cool
Shade resulting in cooling is what a tree is best known for. Shade from trees reduces the need for air conditioning in summer. In winter, trees break the force of winter winds, lowering heating costs. Studies have shown that parts of cities without cooling shade from trees can literally be “heat islands” with temperatures as much as 12 degrees Fahrenheit higher than surrounding areas.
8. Trees Act as Windbreaks
During windy and cold seasons, trees located on the windward side act as windbreaks. A windbreak can lower home heating bills up to 30% and have a significant effect on reducing snowdrifts. A reduction in wind can also reduce the drying effect on soil and vegetation behind the windbreak and help keep precious topsoil in place.
9. Trees Fight Soil Erosion
Erosion control has always started with tree and grass planting projects. Tree roots bind the soil and their leaves break the force of wind and rain on soil. Trees fight soil erosion, conserve rainwater and reduce water runoff and sediment deposit after storms.
If our green house gas emissions are not brought under control, the speed of climate change over the next hundred years will be faster than anything known. We need to limit the temperature from increasing any further or to less than 2’ Celsius so as to prevent the worst effects of climate change. So what are the ways that we could do to help protect EARTH and curb climate change? Here are some ways for us to ponder: -
• Give a plant or plant a tree – Trees and plants absorbed CO2. So give them away to friends as gifts or plant one today at home.
• Guard the green– Forests are the world’s natural lungs. They purify the air ad absorb heat-trapping gases. So protect them and plant more trees.
• Go paper-less – Send e-cards and e-mails rather then letters, memos and cards.
• Eliminate your paper trail – Print and photocopy on both sides; circulate documents via the Intranet; reuse envelopes; use wastepaper as notepaper. Every tonne of paper recycled will save 17 trees, 2,080 litres of oil and 5cu m of landfill space. Recycling 1 kg of paper can save 2.5kg of greenhouse gases.
• Compost your kitchen and garden waste – Return your nutrients and energy found in leftover food and yard trimmings back to the soil instead of dumping them at landfills. Find out more at compost.org.uk.
• Choose climate friendly appliances – An energy efficient refrigerator can save nearly half a tone of CO2 a year, compared with an older model and remember to keep the temperature between 3’C and 5’C so as not to waste electricity. A grimy condenser coil can raise energy use by 30%, so keep it dust free.
• Light up with less – Switch to energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFL) as they use less energy and thus reduce CO2 emissions
• Turn it off – Leaving your television, computer, monitor and DVD player on standby mode can chalk up a hefty electricity bill. Switch them off when you go to bed. For security reasons one or two lights at the front or the back of a house may have to be left on throughout the night – use sensor lights and switch off the rest in the house.
• Keeping cool – Set the air-conditioning in your home or office at comfortable temperature and not freezing. Raising the temperature by 1.5’C can save one tonne of CO2 a year. Keep doors closed.
• Seek out cotton – Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon are derived from petrochemicals and are made using vast amounts of water and energy. Use cotton material preferably organic.
• Support local produce – Buy locally produced food and goods whenever possible. Shifting goods all over the world burns up fuel, which creates pollution and worsens global warming.
• Never dump, recycle! – A person throws away 10 times his bodyweight in rubbish each year. One kg sent to the landfill produces 2kg of methane. Reusing things saves the need for new materials and energy.
• Think before you buy – Everything we buy sends ripples through the environment as its production and disposal exhausts energy and resources, and leaves behind waste.
• Say “No” to plastic bags – Bring your own shopping bag.
• Buy second-hand – You will avoid consuming all the energy used in producing and transporting a new product.
• Smart cooking – A pressure cooker can cut cooking time by a third, hence saving energy.
• Eat less meat – The meat industry emits about 18% of the world’s greenhouse gases, which much of it coming from nitrous oxide in manure from cows’ digestive tracts.
• Abandon your car or car-pool – Avoid unnecessary car trips. Walk or cycle for short distances and take the bus or train whenever possible. Car-pool with your colleagues to work and fewer cars on the road means less traffic congestion, climate-changing gases and air pollutants.
• Pump up your tyres and drive ecologically - For every 6psi that a tyre is under-inflated, fuel ca rise by 1% consumption. Stick to speed limit and avoid rapid acceleration or harsh breaking to avoid higher fuel consumption.
• Pay bills online – So as to avoid car trips and save paper too.
• Wasted power – Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it had been fully charged.
• Wash when full – Fill your dishwasher and washing machine with a full load. This will save you water, electricity and washing powder.
• Ecological travel – Turn the lights and air-conditioning off when you leave your hotel room. Ask for your room towels to be washed every other day.
• Don’t add to waste heaps – Separate paper, plastics, metals, glass and aseptic carbon for recycling. Recycling saves the landscape from dumps, reduces usage of energy and prevents emissions of methane.
• Shop at the ‘pasar’ – Produce sold at wet markets is fresher and cheaper, and does not come wrapped in cling film or polystyrene. Don’t forget to bring along reusable containers for fish and meats and a basket for everything.
• Buy refills – Choose cleaning products and toiletries such as dishwasher soap, floor cleaners, washing liquid and shower gel in refillable packs, which results in less trash.
• Practice “Green Purchasing”- Always choose goods which produce minimal waste and cause the least damage to the environment.
• Live simply – Every product we use, whether it’s a paper cup, dress or car, leaves an ecological footprint. Think about living with less, so as to tread lighter on Earth.
Global warming is not a problem for someone else to sort out as we are all responsible. God had given mankind the responsibility to care for EARTH. Mother Earth is ailing and she may not get better if we don’t do something. Going green is very much an attitude and the practice of good habits rather then expecting and waiting for governments or organizations to take the first big steps such as passing laws or developing goods that are environmentally friendly. Both you and I need to take the first step and it starts at nowhere else but right here at our home and offices. Choose any of the ways listed above and try to make it a personal commitment to do it today onwards. As an environmental steward, we have the responsibility to help aid our Mother Earth, which is part of God’s creation to recover from her overdue sickness. So will you choose to GO GREEN FOR GOD TODAY and help make Earth a better place to live in tomorrow? Share with us.
Article by: Reuson Seet
Comments»
New and Used Car Reviews…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
If you’re able to share particularly on which parts of the article, it will help us to explore further on those areas.
Thanks.
Jessie…
I never knew this thank you this will help me with my study…
Hi Jessie,
We are all learning… & will be glad if you could share with us as well what you’ve come across on keeping our Earth healthy in your studies which may not be found in this article. Thanks
future of oil…
Man i love reading your blog, interesting posts !…