earth day 2014 - a christian perspective

Apollo 15 - NASA

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Earth Day 2014

State of the Planet

A Christian Perspective

Elton B. Sherwin

Executive Director,

The Carbon Zero Institute

These are one persons observations and have not been endorsed by any church body

In 2014

More people well fed vs. any time in history

Billions of people who do not worry next meal

Don’t worry about famine in Europe and China

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Miraculous medicine

Far fewer deaths during

childbirth

Safer water and air quality

in some places

More than doubled life

expectancy

Image: Paco Alcantara

However…

Challenges:

World’s fisheries and coral reefs collapsing

Challenges with fresh water, soil and food

Climate is changing

2 billion new relatives on the way

2 billion living on less $5 a day have hard life

Do worry about next meal

Many don’t have access to clean water

Many die from preventable diseases 7

How Should We Think

About This?

Bi-polar world

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Two Extreme Viewpoints

End is near

Humanity is going off a cliff

Nothing we can do

Ignore the problems

Technology (or the market) will

save us

Not my problem

It’s not that bad

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“…fill the earth and subdue it.

…work it and take care of it.”

Genesis 1:28b, 2:15b

Biblical Perspective

Mankind has Excelled

At

Filling the earth

Image Wired.com

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“…fill the earth

…take care of it.”

Genesis 1:28b, 2:15b

Future Focus

Looking Ahead

Four Focus Areas

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My opinions, have not been endorsed by any church body

Four Focus Areas

1. Climate

Minimum +7º Fahrenheit in much of U.S.

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Evangelical Call to Action on

Climate Change

Signed by over 260 senior evangelical leaders

“Human-Induced Climate Change is Real…”

“The Consequences of Climate Change Will Be

Significant, and Will Hit the Poor the Hardest…”

“The need to act now is urgent. Governments,

businesses, churches, and individuals all have a

role to play in addressing climate change—

starting now.”

Underline added

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Signatories are People We Know

Richard Mouw, Ph.D.,

Former President,

Fuller Theological Seminary

Richard Stearns,

President, World Vision

Philip Eaton, Ph.D.,

President emeritus, Seattle Pacific University

Duane Litfin, Ph.D.,

President emeritus, Wheaton College

William P. Robinson, Ph.D.,

President emeritus, Whitworth College

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Not Bastions of Liberal Thinking

Huntington University

Anderson University

Rock Bridge Seminary

Fresno Pacific University

Crichton College

Lipscomb University

Eastern Nazarene College

Abilene Christian University

Houghton College

Northwestern College

Belhaven College

North Park Theological Seminary

Messiah College

They are collectively a thoughtful crew

Tabor College

Simpson University

Warner Southern College

MidAmerica Nazarene University

Mississippi College

Montreat College

Eastern Mennonite University

Southwest Baptist University

Trinity Christian College

William Jessup University

Milligan College

Missouri Baptist University

John Brown University

Second Focus Area

1. Climate

Minimum +7º Fahrenheit in much of U.S.

2. Deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity,

overfishing food scarcity

Historic causes of collapse of civil society

Easter Island, Haiti, Ethiopia…

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Third Focus Area

1. Climate

Minimum +7º Fahrenheit in much of U.S.

2. Deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity,

overfishing food scarcity

Historic causes of collapse of civil society

3. Surprise events: wars and plagues

Nuclear arsenal, germ warfare, pandemics

“Black Swan” events

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Fourth Focus Area

1. Climate

Minimum +7º Fahrenheit in much of U.S.

2. Deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity,

overfishing food scarcity

Historic causes of collapse of civil society

3. Surprise events: wars and plagues

Nuclear arsenal, germ warfare, pandemics

4. Population

7 going to 9 or 10 Billion 20

High Population Density

Causes or accelerates

Deforestation

Water / food scarcity

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Greenhouse gases

Genocides and wars

Projected

Population

Growth to 2050 Image: Anthony Marr

Quick Pop Quiz

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“…be fruitful

…increase in number;

fill the earth.”

Genesis 1:28 partial

When This Was Written

The World’s Population

Was?

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Closer to

2

than

7,000,000,000

Another

2,000,000,000

Coming…

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Projected growth to 2050

Image: Anthony Marr

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being fruitful,

increasing in number,

and filling the earth.

to

Now is the Time

to Transition from

…taking care of it.

Three Recommendations

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Expand Projects that

Reduce Family Size

Increase funding from: NGOs,

foundations, charities, donor governments,

and churches:

Female run small business - 3x increase

Girls in high school - 3x increase in funding

Radio and TV focused on women’s health

and empowerment – 10x increase in funding

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#1

Make a 10% Commitment

All NGOs, foundations, charities, donor

governments, churches, mission trips:

For all projects that improve life expectancy:

Food, new crops, wells, water purification, drip

irrigation, vaccines, most drugs, most public health

projects, child wellness programs, etc.

10% of funding go to family planning

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#2

Focus on Areas Where

Population Increase Could

Destroy Civil Society

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#3

Egypt

Pakistan

India

Islam

Africa…

Projected growth to 2050

Image: Anthony Marr

Table Discussion

What projects does your church, NGO or

non-profit fund that increase population?

Water projects, clinics, vaccines, food aid, etc.

Does your organization fund projects that

fully offset this growth:

Female run small business

Girls in high school

Radio and TV focused on women’s health

Family planning resources, etc.

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“…fill the earth and subdue it.

…work it and take care of it.”

Genesis 1:28b, 2:15b

Now is the Time to