Download Religion and Planet Earth

The Bible has a creation story
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Day 1 - Light / Dark
Day 2 Water and Sky
Day 3 Plants and Land
Day 4 Sun, Moon and Stars
Day 5 Sea Creatures
Day 6 Animals and Humans
Day 7 God rested
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Christians do not believe that this is a
scientific account of creation just a story to
explain God was behind all life.
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The creation story is used to explain that
humans should respect the world as God’s
creation and that humans are Stewards –
protectors of the planet. The world is his gift
to humanity.
Muslims do not have a specific creation story
but the Qur'an refers to Allah as a creator of
all things.
Most people believe that the universe started
with a great explosion which produced
matter and gases enabling planets and stars
to form.
As the planets evolved they could sustain life,
over time more complicated creatures began
to exist with humans finally coming into
being.
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Religious people believe that there is our
universe is amazing and show that it was
created by a God – Awe means filled with
admiration for the universe
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Examples include the Grand Canyon / Niagara
falls / Ayres rock / Amazon Rainforest
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Carbon emissions from cars or factories
The amount of waste we produce – litter and
land pollution
Pollution of rivers and seas.
Destruction of natural habitats
Using up all the natural resources
Acid Rain
Toxic Chemicals
Greenhouse effect / Climate Change
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Pollution is created from cars and factories
that hangs in the atmosphere. It traps the
sun's rays around the earth like a greenhouse.
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There could be many floods as the level of the
sea rises in accordance to the melting ice caps
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Freak weather patterns such as tsunamis and
hurricanes are starting to appear.
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Droughts can lead to severe famine.
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The loss of natural habitats for animals.
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Conservation means to protect and look after
the environment and its species of plants or
animals.
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Deforestation is taking place because –
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Farming land is needed - Land for cattle or
crops /Trees for furniture or building houses
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Destroys natural habitats – many animals and
plants face extinction
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Adds to climate change without so many
trees more Co2 is left in the atmosphere
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Damage to the soil - erosion causes flooding
or landslides
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Due to the rising population the demand for
natural resources has increased. Fossil fuels
like coal, gas and oil are in danger of running
out
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Renewable energy resources are in the
process of being developed. Wind, Wave,
solar and geothermal power provides an
alternative to making electricity.
There is a new generation of nuclear power
stations that help tackle climate change as it
is cleaner than burning fossil fuels.
Many people worry about the radioactive
properties that can hurt people or the
environment.
An accident or terrorist attack at a nuclear
plant would be catastrophic.
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Stewardship is the religious idea that people
have been given a special responsibility to
look after the planet as it belongs to God.
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God created all life and humans have a duty
to protect it. In return for protecting the
planet we may use its resources such as
plants and animals to help us live.
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Religious people believe that god will Judge
people according to how they have treated
the planet and how they have looked after his
creation.
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Islam calls this the “Day of Judgment”
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Muslim's believe the world belongs to Allah.
Allah created all life and it must be respected.
To abuse the environment is abusing God.
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People will be held to account on the Day of
Judgment. Allah will reward humans that look
after his creation and punish those who do
not.
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An Earth Summit is a meeting of
representatives of different countries,
including religious leaders.
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They discuss the threat to the Earth and
agree on international action
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Religious people think as Eco schools does.....
recycle and reuse where possible.
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Take the bus or share lifts.
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Respect all plant and animal life.
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Try not to pollute the Earth by dropping litter
or waste.
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Write to an MP over issues
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Campaign against deforestation / destruction
of natural habitats
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Donate money or join a charity that helps
protect the environment