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Footsteps 47

BIODIVERSITY

All of us have an impact, whether positive or negative, on biodiversity – the amazing variety of life on earth. This may come through the way we choose to live our lives, the way we farm, the way we care for the environment or the way we dispose of our waste. In just a few pages this issue attempts to bring more understanding both about changes in the diversity of life on earth and of how recent scientific advances may impact on our lives.

Please find below articles from Footsteps issue 47 in html.

To download a pdf version of Footsteps issue 47 click here (848K).


Bible study
Biodiversity in the Bible ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the skies and seas.’ With this blessing in Genesis 1:22, God filled the sky, land, and sea with abundant and diverse life! ‘How many are your works Oh Lord! In wisdom you have made them ... More >>
Caring for life on earth
The term biodiversity is used to describe the huge variety of life on this planet. An astonishing 1.8 million different species have been identified and named by scientists. Yet we still do not really know how many there are in the world. We know th... More >>
Cooking with cassava leaves
While reading Footsteps 43 on encouraging change, a reader from Kenya wondered whether cassava leaves are edible. Two people have responded with recipes. Mr Gilbert comments, ‘The majority of people in our country (Democratic Republic of Congo) eat... More >>
Editorial
All of us have an impact, whether positive or negative, on biodiversity – the amazing variety of life on earth. This may come through the way we choose to live our lives, the way we farm, the way we care for the environment or the way we dispose of o... More >>
Farmers’ questions
About biodiversity and GM crops by Avice Hall. The Women Workers’ Training Centre in the flat arid plain of Tamil Nadu works with about 100 villages in the surrounding area. Many years there is hardly any rainfall and there is widespread poverty. M... More >>
Genetically modified crops – greed or need?
Will genetically modified (GM) crops bring large harvests and food for all? Or will they bring monster tomatoes and biopiracy (the unacceptable ownership of genetic material and traditional knowledge)? It is still too early to know what impact geneti... More >>
Glossary of words in this issue
biopiracy The unacceptable taking (or patenting) of genetic material and traditional knowledge without proper informed consent and agreed terms diversity Variety ecosystem Communities of plants, animals and other living things, together with the no... More >>
Improving bio-diversity at local level
Case study from Maradi, Niger by Trudi Dickins and Joel Matthews. The Maradi Integrated Development Project (MIDP) is a Christian development programme which is part of SIM (Society for International Ministries) Niger. They believe the gospel is at... More >>
Letters
Benefits of tree planting Since 1978 the Methodist Mission Agricultural Programme in The Gambia has helped construct hand-dug wells in many parts of the country to encourage village orchards and dry-season vegetable gardens. With Ansumana Mendy, the... More >>
Neem: who owns it?
Traditional property rights and biopiracy by Nigel Poole. For many centuries, the medicinal value of the leaves and seeds of neem (Azadirachta indica) has been known in India, its country of origin. Neem products have valuable medicinal properties ... More >>
Partridge rearing
In answer to Mabete Miankenda’s query about raising partridges in Footsteps 45, I have bred and reared three kinds of partridges. I hope that you have available some broody hens. I would suggest that you begin by searching for nests of wild partridge... More >>
Pattavam Village makes history
In April 1997 a special ceremony took place in Pattavam village in Kerala, South India. In a symbolic and moving ceremony, an old farmer handed over to a young child of the village, a register of nearly every species and crop growing within the villa... More >>
Producing neem oil
Neem trees live for between 100 and 200 years, growing up to 30 metres high. They start producing fruit after a few years and become fully productive after ten years. The Sanskrit name for neem means ‘the curer of all ailments’ and the Swahili name,... More >>
Resources
Outreach education packs There is a set of three useful Outreach packs on Genetic Diversity and Food Crops with a total of over 200 pages. These packs are available free-of-charge to ‘multipliers’ in the Outreach network. Multipliers include newspap... More >>
Setting priorities
For health or development workers, each day is likely to bring many problems and concerns that need immediate attention. However it is easy to let these immediate problems take over any long term planning. We all need to set priorities in our lives a... More >>

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