Issues: The Environment

Christian Responses Case Study: Will We Ever Learn?

Five hundred years ago, Christopher Columbus wrote about the forests on the Haitian island of La Gonave. He described 'thousands of kinds of trees so tall that they seem to be scratching heaven.' Today, its mountains are almost barren. When the rains come, the rich topsoil is eroded away, causing floods.

One year, 33 people in the town of Anse-a-Galets on La Gonave died in a flood. Three years later, the people were ready for the flooding. No-one died, but two churches, four homes and a drinking-water system were destroyed.

Some say the floods are natural disasters. But they happen, in part, because the people don't care for the land. They cut down trees to make charcoal to cook with, or to sell. It's the only way they know how to survive.

But it hurts them. Without trees, the highlands aren't protected. When rainfall comes, the good soil washes away, and the lowlands flood. So cutting trees to survive actually makes survival more difficult.

The people of La Gonave are experiencing the problems that come when people don't take care of the environment. Read Genesis chapter 2 verses 4 - 17of the Bible, particularly verse 15 - to see how God expects us to care for his world.

• How well do you think the people of La Gonave are fulfilling the responsibility of caring for God's 'garden'?
• In what ways have you taken responsibility for caring for the world or 'garden' God has given you?

Consider:

• Noting everything you throw away in a day or a week. Decide which item you could avoid throwing away by recycling, reusing or not purchasing.
• Contributing to, or getting involved with an organisation that plants trees to repair damage people have caused by cutting them down.