Sustainability is living in a way that allows the environment to renew it self, before consumption is required.
“Over-consumption is not only unsustainable, it is an ethical issue. If there are only finite resources available, and some of us take more than our fair share, then inevitably others will have less” (White, 2009, p. 2). In the west we over-consume, if the rest of the world lived as we do it would take three of planet earth to sustain the consumption. Our economy has been built on the back of greenhouse emissions, we have a moral responsibility to help those effected by this, most of whom did not create the problem. This externity (economic action that has consequences for others that are not part of the market) becomes an ethical issue (White, 2009).
Ethics are what we believe we should or should not do and they shape our actions. However what we do is not always a reflection of what we believe (Wilkins & Sanford, 2009). "What we believe, really believe, is not always congruent with what we say we believe or think we want to believe" (Wilkins & Sanford, 2009, p. 21).
As Christians we must be concerned with the welfare of the planet and of the people inhabiting it. "God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order" (Genesis 2:15, The Message). "Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self..." (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Children's lives will be enriched as they learn to care for people, places and things (Ministry of Education, 1996). A life becomes worthwhile when it requires you to have a purpose beyond yourself (Handy, 2002).
Ethics are what we believe we should or should not do and they shape our actions. However what we do is not always a reflection of what we believe (Wilkins & Sanford, 2009). "What we believe, really believe, is not always congruent with what we say we believe or think we want to believe" (Wilkins & Sanford, 2009, p. 21).
As Christians we must be concerned with the welfare of the planet and of the people inhabiting it. "God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order" (Genesis 2:15, The Message). "Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self..." (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Children's lives will be enriched as they learn to care for people, places and things (Ministry of Education, 1996). A life becomes worthwhile when it requires you to have a purpose beyond yourself (Handy, 2002).