Words from the SoapBox

You can find very different attitudes towards environment and global warming problem among Christians. There are of course Christians who simply do not care and do not see any real connection between their religion and the idea to save the planet. Religion is about saving humanity, spiritually speaking, not the planet, right? Before moving to the answer to this question, let’s have a quick look at another, even less eco-friendly Christian attitude.

Many Christians (evangelicals) believe in the second coming of Christ, but some of them believe that Christ’s second coming is imminent, that it will happen very soon. Majority of those in this second subgroup also point to global warming phenomenon as a sign before Christ’s coming – a prime example of such a sign actually! Such interpretation of the prophecy also includes the claim that we really can’t do anything in this matter to make things better. The belief, that Christ will come very soon and that global warming is an important sign of His coming, naturally leads to the belief that there is no point in “saving the planet”. Not only will this planet burn in destruction in a very near future, but you are actually working against the prophecy (and so against God) if you are trying to save the planet. Not to mention the peril of wasting your time and energy you should use for other more important things to do. The comment of the late evangelical leader Jerry Falwell, that “the myth” of global warming is a “Satan’s attempt to redirect the church’s primary focus” is just one expression of such a position.

Even if these beliefs are not so explicit and widespread, and despite the change of mood in the environmental issues among the evangelical leaders in the USA in last couple of years, there is still a general feel of relative passivity in relation to the environmental issues among many evangelical and also other Christians. In the internet and in other media you will much more likely find new-age believers and atheist defending the green attitude. Why? Majority of new-age belief-systems include belief in (equal) sanctity of all life, a belief in Gaia Mother Earth, and similar. These beliefs inspire new-agers to action. Atheists on the other hand believe that this world, however bad and imperfect, is the only world we have. So whatever we feel, we better do something about it or we will simply cease to exist as a race! If there is no afterlife you naturally have a very strong motivation to preserve this life and this world.

So, what about Christian beliefs and environmental concern? Are Christian beliefs actually a disadvantage for someone who wants to take eco-friendly attitude? Not necessarily. This of course mainly depends on one’s choice of Christian theology. Which biblical messages are more, and which are less important and relevant today? Such hermeneutical decisions, for Christians who take Bible more seriously, guide their ethical priorities and lead to decisions.

There is an important difference between focusing mainly on the texts where God threatens to destroy the earth because of the sins of humans (e.g. “I, the Lord, now promise to destroy everything on this earth”(Zep 1,2)) and on the other hand focusing on the threats that He will destroy the destroyers of the earth (“It is time to destroy everyone who has destroyed the earth.” Rev 11,8). Also, the responsibility towards the whole of mankind, which is for majority the single most important reason why we should care about the environment at all, is present in the biblical idea of the first human couple and the human race as a big family (whether Adam and Eve are literal or a symbolic doesn’t matter here, the very idea of the human family is what counts). Yet another positive route to environmental ethics in Christian theology is praising the inherent value and beauty of Creation, which definitely doesn’t lack in the Bible (Gen 1:31, Ps 104, Rom 1:20, etc.). Most of these positive reasons for environmental concern are of course present also in Judaism and can be found in Islam too.

So, there are many starting points for a Christian believer when deciding why to take environmental issues seriously. Christianity need not be eco-unfriendly at all.

Author Bio: Gorazd Andrejc is a free-lance writer and thinker based in the UK. His two blogs are the Eco friendly lifestyle blog and the Embodying Theology blog.

Many gardeners today have made the switch from chemical-based to organic green lawn care products. There are many reasons to why you should switch to organic lawn care. Switching is not difficult to do at all; it’s really just a matter of making up your mind. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits to you by doing so.

Good to the Environment

Switching to organic lawn care fertilizer is one of the most beneficial reasons to switch. It is much more environmentally friendly. Chemical-based products are damaging your plants and the environment every time you use them. Organic lawn care fertilizers protect the environment and help keep the world you live in healthy and clean.

Good on your Budget

Why would you use something that is: a. not good for the environment and b. more expensive? Going green is more cost-effective to you! For the most part, organic lawn care products are the same price if not cheaper than their chemical-based competition. Over a period of time as your lawn care adds up you will see how much you are saving yourself.

You are also improving your soil structure by using organic. You are just juicing up your lawn with unsustainable top growth through synthetic fertilizers. A lawn is only as good as its soil underneath it. So, get your soil tested. The results will provide you with answers to what the soil needs, so that you can put money into the materials necessary. You will be able to develop a fertilization plan around what the soil is deficient in. There are many organic fertilizers out there that provide many of the same nutrients as chemical fertilizers. It will save you money in the long run.

Good and Safe

Organic lawn care is safer for you to use. When using chemical fertilizers you have to be careful and worry about spilling it or having your children or pets around it. But, organic fertilizers are completely natural and you will never have to worry about the damage chemicals could do.

Less Waste

One of the biggest problems with chemical lawn fertilizers is their “kill everything” approach. They will often kill things like unwanted dandelions and ants, but they will also kill helpful organisms such as earthworms, bees and beneficial microorganisms. If your lawn was made of up 50% weeds, then you would still poison the soil in the remaining 50% with unnecessary chemicals. With organic lawn fertilizers, there is no concern for toxic runoffs.

Bio-Degradable

Man-made chemicals are much harder to dissipate, and often form more potent by-products in the process. Chemicals react with our planet in very unnatural ways; therefore organic products are better for the earth.
Organic fertilizers are widely available and are not hard to find in stores so this is nothing to have to worry about if switching to organic lawn care.

If you would like more information on how to implement an organic lawn care google natural lawn fertilizers for a variety of natural organic lawn care tips and strategies.

Author Bio: Eric Winston is a lawn expert with BUR-HAN Lawn Care, a Vancouver organic lawn care company. For more great tips please visit their website at http://www.bur-han.ca

Anybody who has the slightest knowledge of the world around us knows that our planet is heading for troubled times. There are parts of the world where the population is growing unchecked leading to an ecological crisis. On the other hand, there are countries where industrial development is also growing at a fast pace and this is leading to a pollution problem of the highest level. The growing awareness of this problem has led to people to follow green policies. This determines their choices when it comes to lifestyle, consumption and even to the political parties they support.

There are many people in Europe who are of the opinion that political parties have a very important role to play in conserving our environment. After all, it is they who form rules and laws concerning how industry has to be regulated. This has a direct bearing on how natural resources will be utilized and how effluents from industry have to be managed. This is possibly the only way that pollution and its destructive effects on the environment can be brought under control before it becomes too late for the planet.

As a result of this growing desire to protect the earth, there are many people who now vote for green parties. These parties espouse a political ideology that places a very great emphasis on environmental goals. These parties also believe in involving citizens in their efforts, making it a very participatory style of governance and not a top down approach.

Most traditional political parties are oblivious to this concern of the citizens whose votes they seek. They propose to improve the quality of life by increasing investment in infrastructure and industry. They don’t at all consider the long term impact of their policies on the environment or on the quality of human life. Even existing investment in power generation does not take into account the fact that fossil fuels are being depleted at a worryingly rapid pace.

Followers of green politics are also supporters of conservation, feminism and world peace. They tend to be more open to new ideas, more particularly, the use of technology to improve industrial efficiencies. They propose that development is not a bad thing as long as it is not unchecked.

Even though green politics first originated in Europe, they are now present all over the world. Green parties rarely get to form governments, but they do have an important role to play. Even if they cannot directly form policies, these parties usually do a lot to pressurize governments to change the direction they are taking.

There is also a movement to get green parties from various countries to unite their efforts in order to get better publicity and so that their efforts can be synergized. It obviously makes sense for green parties to unite to fight campaigns together so that they can convert even more people to their cause. This is probably the only way for people to do something to conserve the planet for future generations.

Author Bio: I am basically a graduate at the University of Hamburg and you can get awesome articles and valid information from the ones which I submit specially for you to take a look at. Check out Green Images, Green Graphics or Green Pictures.

Absolutely without question it just seems that we tend to collect a lot of us., and our lives also create a law to waste. This fact is never more obvious than when you are packing up all of your closets and cupboards and drawers getting ready for a big move. In this year alone, more than 4 million Canadians will pack up their entire households for a big move. If you’re among all of those people that are can I be transitioning this year, please consider the environment and choose as many environmentally friendly options as possible.

Moving environmentally friendly doesn’t mean that you have to get horses and wagons and wrap all of your furniture up in old dusty blankets and pack all of your boxes with old newspapers and transport everything across the country in three months camping along the way.

Environmentally green moves just mean to be an aware of your environment and choosing methods which are the least harmful to it. Environmentally friendly moves are a growing trend in the moving industry. It generally involves rethinking traditional methods for moving which have always been a big waste such as tossing away boxes made of cardboard and dumping bubblewrap and plastic that you use for moving your belongings. Green moving just means to rethink how you’re doing everything and look at your move through environmentally friendly glasses. It’s about making choices that you can rest comfortably with knowing that you did your part.

In the first place try not to accumulate so much stuff. When you really think about it less is better for the environment anyway, if you make that kind of a choice it also means that you have less stuff to move. The last things that you have to move also mean the last diesel that the moving trucks will have to burn to get your stuff there. Environmentally friendly moving can also be thought of in terms of how you’re going to live at your new home.

You probably want to consider holding a garage sale, or listing your items on craigslist or through websites such as eBay or giving away items to the neighbors and friends.

Most moving companies offer used or recycled cardboard cartons. Make sure your moving boxes are constructed of recycled materials. Take advantage of companies like ferguson moving and storage which offer environmentally friendly choices.

Slowdown on that bubble wrap. Most of the time bubble wrap is not necessary and you can use newspaper for the same items at a much lesser cost and its environmentally friendly. I’m not suggesting that you have to use newspapers, but recycled white newsprint instead. Old newspapers make everything dirty including your hands in everything you catch not a great choice when you’re trying to clean the house for the new owners or unpacking at your new home and then having dirty hands that you might touch the walls of the counters and have additional cleaning that will be required. Another choice is to also use up old sheets and towels for packing material these often make great stuffing areas for empty cavities that you have inboxes. These cavities must be filled anyway so items in the cartons will not move during transportation across Canada.

You also want to check out environmentally friendly products for cleaning when you’re moving out of your old house.

Ask your movers if they have environmentally friendly choices that you can select from. Ask if they’re moving blankets are made from 100% cotton which has been recycled and if they rent plastic packing crates.

Author Bio: Lorne W. MacInnes is a managing partner of Ferguson Moving & Storage Ltd which is one of the oldest Vancouver movers in the moving industry and is an expert in the Vancouver movers relocation sector. http://www.fergusonmoving.com

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Most people consider recycling to be a recent phenomenon of the green revolution, however, there is evidence of recycling taking place from as long ago as 400BC. It was around the mid 1900s though that recycling was first given real attention. During the Second World War, resources were hard to come by and Governments ran massive recycling campaigns to ensure nothing was wasted.

Here are a few examples of what was recycled and for what reason…

- Metal and tine were recycled for use weapons, tanks and aircraft.

- Rubber was collected to make new tires.

- Boiled bones were recycled to make glue for aircraft, ground up to make fertilizer or turned into glycerin for explosives.

- Left over food provided feed for chickens, pigs and goats and people would bring their scraps to communal bins.

People were also encouraged to mend belongings, such as clothes, rather than buy new. Campaigns such as ‘Make Do And Mend’ and ‘Sew And Save’ advised people on how to recycle textiles and make clothes last longer. Knitting also became very popular around this time.

Families had to plan meals carefully to ensure that food did not go to waste. With no fridges or freezers, perishable food had to be bought in small quantities and substitutes had to be found for foods that were no longer available. Meat fat was commonly saved to make pastry, and even the cream from milk was stored in a jar and shaken to make butter and buttermilk.

Everyone did what they could and came together to achieve a common goal. At first the Government’s had to tell people what to do and regularly remind them of it, but it did not take long for people to become accustomed to it, and not only recycle themselves, but also remind their friends and neighbors to do it too.

It is sad that it took people such a long time to recognize the importance of recycling, and also that it took such unfortunate circumstances to draw it to our attention. These days, we realize the importance of recycling to preserve the Earth’s resources and to reduce pollution.

Even so, we are still failing to recycle a lot of items that are recyclable. Though we know what we should be doing, and though it is not difficult for us to do it, there is still a very relaxed attitude to recycling. Too many of us simply cannot be bothered to recycle, and that is undoing the good work being done by those who do take the little time and effort required to recycle.

The uses of recyclable materials may be different now from what they were during the War, but we can still look to our grandparents and the older generations for tips and inspiration. If they could do it, then why can’t we do it too? We should all be doing what we can now, and not be waiting around for a major crisis to kick-start us into mass recycling again.

Author Bio: Ware 4 Recycling Bins Ltd have been promoting cost effective recycling bins, trolleys and waste containers for over 5 years.

Category: Society
Keywords: recycling tips, recycling, recycle, green living, green, environment, environmental, society

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