The Christian View on the Effects of Modern Science and Technology on the Environment (Pollution, Desertification)

In Genesis 1, man was given the responsibility of taking care of the environment

Ways of taking care of the environment

1. ​Cleaning up the environment, clean up rivers
2. Educating people on the importance of conservation
3. Dispose industrial wastes properly
4. Enforce use of environment—friendly fuel (unleaded fuel)
5. Factory owners to supply protective wear to factory workers
6. Planting of trees and flowers
7. Establishing airports, industries, and disco clubs away from residential areas
8. Advocate for laws to be passed to minimize noise from vehicles, aircrafts, entertainment centres
9. Waste to be managed through
   1. ​Reuse e.g. bottles
   2. Recycle
      plastic bottles to be recycled to plastic bins, old newspapers to be recycled to tissue papers
   3. Recover
      burning waste products to produce electricity Waste can be managed to reduce use of ‘Throw away’ goods e.g. batteries to use of electricity.

The Christian View on the Effects of Modern Science and Technology on the Environment (Pollution, Desertification)

Pollution and Its Effects

Its Introduction Into the environment of substances or energy that is liable to cause hazards to human health, harm to living resources and ecological systems.  
​In simple terms pollution Is the contamination of the environment
Substances that cause pollution are called pollutants. Some of the pollutants Include:-

• IndustrIal affluent
  
• Pesticides/InsecticIdes
  
• FertIlIzers
  
• Ultra -violent rays from nuclear plants
  
• Dust
  
• Smoke
  
• Noise
  
• Waste Heat
  
• Exhaust gases from automobiles

CRE KNEC QUESTIONS SINCE 1996 TO DATE pp1

Types of pollution

1. Water pollution
2. Air pollution
3. Land pollution
4. Radiation pollution
5. Sound pollution (noise)

Water pollution

This is the Increase of substances in water in excess of its rightful chemical components thus makIng it unsuitable for human, animal or plant use

• Disposing domestic and Industrial waste Into rivers, lakes, seas etc. pollutes water
• Disposing agricultural chemicals pesticides into water bodies
• Oil spilling into waters
• Poor sanitation bathing or washing clothes in rivers or dams

Effects of water pollution

• ​Causes diseases, which are communicable such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery
• Leads to death of marine life — birds (Flamingo) fish by oil spills
• Mercury (metal) leads, silver is poisonous. They kill organisms
• Water becomes unfit for human consumption

KCSE CRE QUIZ AND ANSWERS 1995 TO DATE pp2

Air pollution

Presence of contaminants in the atmosphere caused by

• a. Smoke
• b. Fumes
• c. Dust — from mines, quarries

When there is an increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that’s pollution

• Other major atmospheric pollutants include gases such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), and sulphur dioxide (S02)
• Nitrogen Oxide (NO) i.e. fumes from vehicles, aircrafts, industries

Effects OF AIR POLLUTION

• Leads to diseases such as bronchitis, asthma
• Leads to depletion of the Ozone layer leading to ultra —violent rays of the sun penetrating to the earth causing skin cancer, cataracts (eye problems), low plant yields
• Causes rusting of roofs
• Causes acid rains
• Carbon dioxide (02) in the atmosphere has led to global warming
• Formation of smog (thick fog), which can lead to accidents
• Colored rain due to large amounts of dust in the atmosphere
• Eyesight loss due to gas leakages from industrial plants

Land pollution

Land pollution is any physical or chemical alteration to land, which causes change in its use and renders it incapable of beneficial use without treatment

• Improper or excessive use of insecticides, pesticides makes land acidic
• Land is also polluted by improper disposal of waste / garbage, broken glasses.

Effects OF LAND POLLUTION

• Waste is an eye sore spoiling the beauty of the environment
• Broken glass can lead to injuries
• Open mining leaves pits, which are a danger to people and animals

marriage

Noise pollution

• Experienced especially in urban centres, near roads, running water, mining areas, airports, music from bars, nightclubs etc
• An instrument called sound meter measures noise. The lowest unit is 0 Decibel, which is okay. More than 80 decibels is harmful to the ear

Noise over 80 decibels can cause (effects)

• ​Deafness, hearing problems
• Psychological disorders —frustrations, irritation
• Insomnia
• Shock due to sudden noise
• Cracking of walls

Noise can be minimized by

• Construction of soundproof buildings
• Location of residential areas away from industries, airports, bars, main roads
• Banning of unnecessary hooting, playing of loud music in public vehicles
• Installing silencers in generators
• Education people on the effects of noise pollution​

​Pollution caused by radiation

• Mainly in developed countries - ​ Atomic explosions e.g. Hiroshima / Nagasaki in Japan in 1945. The side effects of mutations of born children. Some children born with deformities. The radiation caused chromosome mutations. Some mutations on the cells of the parent / grandparents

• Nuclear power stations also a danger
• Medical equipment e.g. X ray machines when one is over exposed to these radiations (x — rays) it can lead to development of cancer.

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Desertification

This is slow encroachment of desert - like a condition to land that was previously productive making it desolate, uncultivated and uninhabitable. Human activity accelerates creation of deserts

Causes of deserts

1.Natural

• a) Persistent rains in a semi arid areas
• b) Exposure of an area to very high, very cold temperatures
• c) Inadequate rainfall for a long period of time

​2. Human
Human activities that lead to desertification are:-

1. Cutting down of trees (deforestation)for land use such as building, industries, and not replacing them
2. Use of water from wells to irrigate land. Its harmful especially salty water — salt on soil salivation is toxic to soils
3. Incorrect use of pesticides and fertilizers destroy soil nutrients
4. Industrialization — industries emit carbon dioxide (C02) leading to formation of acid rain, which leads to unproductive land hence desertification
5. Overgrazing especially among the pastoralist communities
6. Poor farming methods like cultivation on riverbanks and slopes, which causes soil erosion, leading to desertification.

KCSE Kiswahili

Solutions to Desertification

Land can be restored through the following ways;

• Removal of people, livestock from certain areas e.g. forests
• Installation of good drainage systems
• Reduction of water logging/salinization
• Use of alternative sources of fuel such as wind, solar, biogas instead of cutting down trees to use as fuel (charcoal)
• Advocate for penalties to those who pollute the environment — factories
• Replace trees that are cut down
• Build water storage facilities to store rain water then use it for irrigation
• Educate people on the importance of the environment
• Use of manure instead of harmful fertilizers

Emulate Prof. Wangari Maathai planting trees — 8th October 2004 she was awarded the Nobel peace prize, an international award, for her efforts in preserving the environment

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Revision questions

1. ​How can modern Christians evaluate scientific and technological discoveries
2. Why is the church in Kenya opposed to plastic surgery?
3. How has science and technology improved human life?
4. What are the consequences of science and technology in our society?

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