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ENVIRONMENT
The environment is everything which surrounds and affects us. To understand what is
happening to our earth, we need to be aware of how our natural resources and all life
forms are interconnected. We are all dependent on these carefully balanced natural cycles
for our survival. The environment is not "something out there": it concerns us
and our everyday lives.
SIGNS OF OUR TIMES
 Greenhouse effect. The
burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas etc) and industrial processes release more carbon
dioxide than the natural forces can deal with. The excess forms a blanket around the
earth, holding in the heat of the sun. This leads to a gradual warming of our atmosphere,
which could cause the melting of the ice caps, a rise in sea level and flooding. If the
temperature rises more than a few degrees, many life forms will no longer be able to
survive at all.
Ozone depletion. The ozone
layer in the earth's stratosphere protects us from the sun's harmful ultra-violet rays.
Certain chemicals emitted into the atmosphere react with and destroy ozone, thinning and
forming holes in the protective layer, thus increasing the risk of cancer.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), found in plastic foam, refrigerators, air-conditioning and
aerosols, have been linked to this ozone depletion.
Deforestation. Every month
an area of forest roughly the size of Wales is destroyed for timber, firewood,
agriculture, industrial development and cattle (meat) ranching. This exposes topsoil to
the elements, the sun dries it and the rain washes it away. Water normally absorbed by the
roots then runs off the surface to flood low-lying land and destroy crops and homes. When
forests are destroyed, the natural habitat for millions of valuable species of animals and
plants is also destroyed and a valuable source of oxygen is lost.
Desertification. Especially
in tropical areas, most of the vital nutrients and minerals are held in the soil by
vegetation. Although rainforests look very fertile, the quality of the soil is often too
poor to sustain life if the vegetation is destroyed. Eventually it deteriorates into
desert. The same effect is seen when land is too extensively cultivated and the soil
becomes exhausted.
Pollution. The dumping of
toxic and untreated waste into our seas, rivers and lakes; the pollution of our land by
waste and pesticides; the pollution of our air by industrial and chemical processes and
the burning of fossil fuels; acid rain - these are some of the outcomes of what we have
traditionally seen as "development". What we throw into our dustbins and
everything we discard in our daily lives has a direct affect on the future quality of our
air, soil and water.
RESOURCE CHECK
We can analyse our relationships with the earth and its resources by asking ourselves
certain questions.
 | What resources are available?
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| What resources do we need?
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| Who controls them?
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| Who makes them available?
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| Who consumes them?
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These are questions of people and power. 75% of all resources used globally are used
and consumed in the developed countries who create demand and control the market. We
choose what to make and how we use it. Yet we depend on the Third World for many of the
natural resources (wood, minerals, cotton, fruit etc.)., Much of what is produced in
developing countries is exported and the people forced to abuse and over-use their land
resources simply to survive. They have no choice.
WAYS FORWARD
One sign of hope is our increased awareness of the threats to our environment, shown
by the rising concern about the state of the rainforests and efforts to slow down ozone
depletion. We have begun to realise that we need to look into real alternatives for
energy, the disposal of waste, recycling and the use of resources. Our responsibilities as
consumers are surely to support these more sustainable ways in our everyday life.
WHAT IS CAFOD DOING
 Renewing the Earth. CAFOD
is helping to raise awareness about the links between poverty and environmental
degradation through programmes like the 1989-91 Education Campaign. This explores the
relationship between people and the environment - the use of the earth's resources and
ways to make development more sustainable.
Overseas Work. CAFOD
supports local initiatives to protect and renew the environment in Third World countries.
For example, CAFOD supports a nationwide tree planting project in Bangladesh which has
both a practical and an educational importance, especially following the devastating
floods of 1987 and 1991 which have been linked to country-wide deforestation.
THINGS TO DO
1. Find out more about CAFOD's "Renewing the
Earth" campaign. CAFOD has a range of resources and ideas for adult, school and youth
groups.
2. Examine your own lifestyle; what you buy, where it comes
from, how much you throw away and where your rubbish ends up. What can be recycled or
re-used? Are there any other aspects of your lifestyle you could change?
3. Write to Friends of the Earth (26-28 Underwood St, London
N1 7JQ) for information about the campaign to protect the environment. Is there any way in
which you could get involved?
4. Do a survey of facilities available in your area for
recycling (glass, aluminium, paper etc). Also look at how local shops could become more
"environmentally friendly" in the products they sell.
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