Introduction: World Environment Day is observed on 5th June every year. Churches in Nagaland observe the first Sunday of June as Green Sunday. This article contains the basic description of the environmental problems confronting us today.
Scripture reading: God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:28
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15
1. Maladjustment of man and nature: Man is a part of creation, but he transcends it and is to rule the world. God gave him dominion over the earth and all creations. This dominion over other creations requires wiser and greater responsibilities on his part. In the garden of Eden, God expected man to work it and to take care of it. Work was given as a positive and rewarding responsibility. Work adds vitality to life. God also expected Adam and Eve to take care of their habitat. God being the Creator is the true owner of the world and we have been assigned as caretakers. Misusing what belongs to the real owner can lead to disastrous consequences. Due to our short sightedness and greed a maladjustment between mankind and his environment has arisen bringing about serious complications like the exhaustion of natural resources, impoverishment of the environment and the danger of degradation of the quality of life.
2. The denudation of forests: Out failure to take care of our forests is threatening the very existence of man and wildlife. Legal and illegal commercial logging had taken its toll on our environment. Commercial logging is not to be taken lightly. The industry is buzzing with bribery and kickbacks. It is not a secret that through corruption a person can obtain concession for felling trees and transport clearance. Logging forests is a brutal business. In felling a large mature tree hundreds of smaller trees and saplings are destroyed. Trees stabilize the soil. In the absence of trees and forests the fertile top soil is washed away by rainwater making cultivation impossible. The roots of trees also prevent landslides which is a growing problem in Nagaland too. Trees prevent desertification. The famous Pink City, Jaipur is being encroached by desert due to the absence of trees. Greenery is not mere foliage. Eucalyptus and teak are incapable of imparting much stability to the soil structure. Trees retain water in the soil. Without forests the entire rainwater flows into the sea. The water is then not available as ground water. Thus we experience flash floods followed by severe droughts. The underground water level also sinks and cultivation becomes impossible. Cherrapunji is synonymous with heavy rain. But due to the absence of trees to prevent soil erosion and retain ground water acute water scarcity prevails in winter. If deforestation continues unchecked and if afforestation is not taken up on a war footing, Nagaland will become bone dry during winters. Water management experts warned that there will be violent riots for water due to scarcity caused by droughts and pollution of rivers and lakes. Trees are water bearer.
Without trees rainfall will decrease and cultivation will become rather a matter of luck. Worldwide food scarcity causing famines is expected as food grain productions diminished due to low and unpredictable rainfall. Trees are oxygen cylinders. Trees absorb the harmful Carbon dioxide and release Oxygen. Deforestation contributes to the decrease in oxygen level and increase Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Increased Carbon dioxide level results in lungs diseases, cancer and lower life expectancy. Trees are air conditioners. Trees keep the temperature temperate. Trees and forests are habitats of wild birds and animals. They are store house of many medicinal plants. Trees also reduce air and noise pollution and add beauty to the landscape.
3. The depleting of ozone layer: 25 kilometres above the surface of the earth lies the ozone layer known as the Ozonosphere. This layer shields the earth and protects lives from the lethal ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the Sun. The increase of pollutants in the atmosphere is depleting this crucial layer of ozone. The protective gauze around the earth is being eaten away by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). This will lead to increase in cases of skin cancer worldwide. Other effects include sudden and unexpected climatic changes.
4. Greenhouse Effect: Most of the Sun's radiation are reflected back into space while some are absorbed by the earth. The Green House Effect is the result of burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and methane which results in a build-up carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other gases in the atmosphere due to human activities. These pollutants trap solar radiation in the atmosphere and thereby raising the temperature of the earth which will bring about devastating consequences. Almost three quarters of the globe is water. With the melting of the polar caps half of the remaining land would vanish. The melting of the polar ice caps due to global warming will increase the water level of the oceans and coastal areas and island nations will be submerged under water. Nearer home, Bangladesh and the Maldives will be among the first to disappear under water. The other fearsome outcome of global warming is sudden and unexpected extreme weather changes which will be destructive to people and their crops. Growing population puts pressure on the land as more forests and vegetation are cleared for settlement. Development continues without any consideration for the fragile ecology. Both are responsible for strengthening the process of global warming.
5. Acid rain: Acid rain is caused by sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide released into the atmosphere by burning coal especially in power houses. Acid rain destroys plants, erodes buildings, historical monuments and kills aquatic life. This destructive rain is prevalent in highly industrialized nations. In India the beautiful Taj Mahal is facing the threat of acid rain. It is imperative for power houses to be fitted with desulphurisation mechanism to prevent acid rain.
6. The chain of disasters: The chain of disasters is endless. Unless drastic remedial measures to undo the damage are taken, the run-away global warming and depletion of the Ozonosphere by green house gases could eventually kill all life forms. We do not have much time to change our policies against ecological degradation. Our economic activities have resulted in the exhaustion of natural resources and caused irreparable damages to the environment. But all is not lost yet. We must act urgently to frame laws to reduce pollutants and preservation of the environment. We only have one world and there is nothing more worthwhile than fighting for the survival of our world-- our home.
7. Our responsibilities as citizens of Earth and as Christians: "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." Matthew 9:35
Jesus was always on the move proclaiming the kingdom of God, healing and casting out demons in people. His life is the best model for our religious, social and environmental responsibilities. The feeding of the 5000 teaches us that Jesus is concerned with both spiritual and physical needs of people. We are concerned with people. Our mandate is to preach the Gospel to everyone and also to ensure their well-being be it social, political, economic or environmental. Coming to environmental issues, it is wrong to assume that every problem is caused by activities of human beings. Nature sometimes asserts her superiority and we are left to fend for ourselves.
But there are several things we can do in making this world healthier, safer and more beautiful.
1. By planting trees and protecting our forests and wildlife.
2. By keeping our surroundings clean.
3. By stopping the use of plastic bags.
4. By telling people not to fell trees indiscriminately.
5. By rallying people towards environmental consciousness.
6.By writing about environmental issues to educate people.
7. By praying and sending reliefs workers and materials to those affected by natural calamities and disasters like floods, droughts and earthquakes. The greatest commandments that Jesus gave us are to love God and to love our neighbours. These are two commandments but they are inseparable. One is incomplete without the other. Our neighbours are those who are in dire need as Jesus explained in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
8. By rising our voices against decisions and activities that threatens to upset the delicate balance between human and his natural environment.
9. By using potted plants as Christmas trees instead of felling trees.
10. By minimising Christmas and New Year decorations to reduce electrical power consumption.
11. By avoiding bonfires in festivals and celebration of special days to preserve fire woods.
12. By cooperating with agencies involved in preservation of nature and prevention of pollution.
13. By gaining knowledge and practical application of preventive measures such as re-cycling, treatment of industrial waste before they are dumped, compulsory fitting of desulphurisation plants in powerhouses to prevent acid rain, refitting automobiles and retooling factories to reduce pollution, shifting to renewable energy and solar energy.
14. By exposing industries and manufacturers which are blatantly polluting air and water by industrial emissions and wastes.
15. By loving and appreciating nature around us. Imagine the limitless outer space with all the celestial bodies. Imagine the earth, the only place which can sustain life. They are silent but they continually proclaim the power, the majesty, the glory, the love and the goodness of the Almighty God the Creator-Designer.
