PARTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT• Alive (Trees, animals, insects)• Dead(rivers, soils, air)
• Is there an environmental crisis?o Land is being converted and habitats destroyed at an increasing
rate.o Some estimate that three species are becoming extinct every day.o Land is being degraded by overuse of fertilizers, herbicides, and
pesticides.o Hazardous chemicals and wastes are finding their way into the
environment.o Pollution is rapidly ceasing to be a local problem and is becoming
a global problem.o The atmosphere's ability to regulate itself is being perturbed by
excess carbon dioxide, CFC's, and other gases.o Human cultures that know how to live in harmony with nature are
rapidly disappearing.
• That man is to have rule and dominion over the earth justifies the notion that what can be done should be done.
• The ultimate value is human survival.o Man cannot survive without a healthy planet.o We must act to preserve our planet in order to rescue
the future of our children.o This view will ultimately be destructive in the long run.
• God is the Creator of all things. (Gen. 1, 2; Job 38–41; Ps. 19:1, 24:1–2, 104; Rom. 1:18–20; Col. 1:16–17).o All of nature is equal in its origin, including man.o Nature has value in and of itself because God created it.o The rock, tree, and cat deserve our respect because God made them to
be as they are.• While man is a creature, he is also created in God's image
(Gen. 1:26–27; Ps. 139:13–16).o Man is therefore separated from creation yet related to it.o Man was given dominion over nature.
Man is not sovereign over the lower orders of creation. He does not own them. They belong to the Lord.
Since man was told to cultivate and keep the garden, we certainly may use nature, but only as God intends (Gen. 2:15). An example is the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:15–30). Technology puts nature to man's use, but unnecessary pollution and waste degrades nature.
We are to exercise dominion over nature not as though we are entitled to exploit it, but as something borrowed or held in trust.
• Wood• Charcoal• Shade• Building• Fodder and hay• Fruits• Food (honey, cereals,
• 89% of trees cut are used for fuel in Africa (FAO)• Consumption exceeded annual forest growth rates• 75% of trees in Kenya are cut and used as fire
wood. (Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences)• The total forest cover has dropped to 1.7% of the
total landmass in Kenya from a high of 2.0% in the early 90s.
• THE JIKO; Fast, healthy and cheap cooking
• Much faster, healthier and cleaner than three stone cooking• Smoke free kitchen because of the chimney• Heat and smoke stay inside the JIKO so two pots can be heated• Saves time: less wood to collect and less time for cooking• Twice as fast as three stone cooking• Saves 50% of money for fuel; uses less than half the usual wood• The jiko lasts for years• Damaged parts can be replaced• The jiko can also be placed in a house with makuti roof• No damage to your floor, walls or roof• Cooking with the jiko saves money for school fees, medicine, food etc.• The jiko allows you to cook in the traditional way but it reduces the
amount of fuel required and the risk of injury or death by smoke inhalation.
• It’s environmentally friendly.
• One jiko costs 3,000 Kshs.• This price includes:
o Transporto Installationo Trainingo 6 month service.
• The household should plan to plant 5 trees per person per year.