Pollution is a problem in all countries, but the source of the problem may lie elsewhere. As consumption increases, pollution usually increases. The State of the World 2004 report by the Worldwatch Institute contains some alarming statistics. The 12% of the world’s population living in North America and Western Europe account for 60% of the world’s consumption, while the 33% living in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa account for only 3%.
These consumption patterns have a great impact on the environment. For example, pollution from transport, industry, energy production and large waste sites affects the world’s climate. This contributes to global warming and increases the risk of floods and droughts. Industry and logging in the South – which are often producing exports for the North – may do great damage to the environment.
This issue of Footsteps challenges us to think about what can be done to reduce the effects of pollution. Advocacy work can be really important. The article about La Moya ecological reserve looks at how action by a few committed people helped to clean up the local area. We look at what is being done by governments to reduce the use of plastic bags in various countries. Other articles focus on reducing the amount of rubbish we produce. The centre pages look at creative ways that rubbish can be used again. There is an article about how an NGO in Bangladesh set up a project to turn organic waste into compost. We also look at less obvious types of pollution, such as smoke pollution within some Kenyan homes.
The Bible study helps us to think about what our attitude towards God’s earth should be, and challenges us to take environmental issues seriously.
Rachel Blackman