Poverty and The Environment

January 17, 2011 · Filed under Environmentalism

We’re finally starting our news series!  I’m very excited about this.  We left off with seven theological reasons why Christians should care about the environment.  Read the conclusion here.

Those posts finished up with the promise of a new series dedicated entirely to one overpowering reason why Christians should care about the environment: Environmental degradation affects first and most harshly the poor and marginalized, those will no voice and no power – exactly those whom Christians are called to defend and love.

So here we go.

Introduction to Poverty and The Environment.

Sustainability and the Privilege of Wealth

“Sustainable” is a buzzword these days.  It’s trendy.  It’s on marketing signs and cool apartment buildings in the city.  It’s a cool idea.  Sustainable means able to support and renew itself.  At some level I think we can all understand how sustainable resources and products are good – they can save money despite an upfront cost, don’t hurt the environment, and lately are sort of a status symbol. 

But what we also know in middle class America, is that we don’t need to be sustainable.  We can recycle our cans and water bottles, or not, and just trash them.  We can subscribe to solar, wind, or coal power.  We can use cloth diapers and wash them, or avoid the hassle and use plastic.  We can buy sustainably raised meat products, or the bulk bag at Sam’s Club.  We can’t really see the difference.       

We have choice.  And often the less sustainable product or source is cheaper, or easier, or more convenient.  So despite being in the place of wealthy privilege, having choices, we choose the cheaper option, and we never feel any repercussions.  As far as we know, it really doesn’t matter.  All this noise about “sustainability” could just be a marketing gimmick.   At the very least, since it doesn’t seem to benefit us, it doesn’t matter to us.  And why should we ever choose anything that doesn’t benefit us?

If we are Christians, we have a very good reason to choose something that doesn’t benefit us.  Jesus came from heaven to earth to become incarnate as a man, live a life of perfect obedience to God, and bear all of God’s wrath against sin on the cross, to benefit others.  He commands us to do the same.  The practice of serving others even at a cost to ourselves is not something we can opt in or out of like we do everything else in our consumer society.  It’s not a lifestyle you chose like an outfit.  It is a new life given by God for God’s glory.  It is a command, upon which Jesus placed no restrictions. 

But does sustainability really benefit anyone? 

Yes.  Really. Even us, though we don’t see it yet. 

We are so insulated from environmental degradation as a wealthy nation that we can effectively, completely ignore it.  When our local water source runs out, we’ll just pay a little more and ship it in.  When our soil is unproductive, we’ll just contract out more farms in Mexico.  When our mountains are blown to bits for coal, we’ll just dig deeper or import it if necessary.  We’ll do anything we need to do, because we can afford to not have to change our lifestyles and face the reality of an impending crisis.

But the poor cannot hide from, move away from, or pay to cover up the consequences of the world’s environmental downslide.  When their water table drops below the depth of their wells, they can’t grow crops, wash, or drink.  When their soil is depleted from growing crops for export, they can’t eat. When their energy source is gone, they can’t simply switch providers.  When global climate change raises the water levels and their homes are destroyed they can’t cash in on their insurance plan.  When their ocean waters are overfished, fishermen can’t simply change occupations and find new sources of income.

It is for the sake of the poor around the world, in addition to our own futures, that we must keep God’s earth productive through sustainability.  Eventually, perhaps in our children’s lifetimes, even America will not be able to buy its way out of its share in the consequences. 

What we do with our water, with our coal emissions, with our wood products, with our agriculture, with our food choices, affects the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized, and disproportionately women and children.  We chose based on our convenience, allowing the poor across the world to bear the accumulating cost. 

Environmental degradation negatively affects the poor, primarily affects the poor, keeps the poor in poverty and away from education, contributes to the continuing oppression of women, and the poor are rarely responsible for the degradation that so affects them.  In this series, Poverty and the Environment, we’re going to focus on how the environment affects the poor and what role we play in the global equation.

We’ll look at:

Poverty and water resources

Poverty and global climate change

Poverty and forest resources

Poverty and soil conservation

Poverty and biodiversity

Poverty, women, children and the environment

 Poverty, education, and the environment        

Let us say with Job, “Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?”  and take action. (Jon 30:25) 

“Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, says the LORD, I will protect them from those who malign them. ” (Psalm 12:5 ) 

God cares for and protect the poor.  God calls us to care for and protect the poor.  He will empower us to that end.  Right now, no matter what our situation or location, we can learn about the incredible struggles they face, pray that God would open our eyes to righteous action, and be faithful to “not grow weary in doing good,” whatever form it may take (2 Thess 3:13).