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==Introduction==

==Introduction==

When most of us hear terms like “eco-conscious” or “environmentalism,” what do we think of?  Global warming, compact fluorescent light bulbs, green (literally) reusable shopping bags?  Unfortunately, these things have little bearing on real environmentalism.

When most of us hear terms like “eco-conscious” or “environmentalism,” what do we think of?  [[Global warming]], compact fluorescent light bulbs, green (literally) reusable shopping bags?  Unfortunately, these things have little bearing on real environmentalism.

So what is “real” environmentalism?  It is, first of all, so different from the standard image of environmentalism that it should not even bear the same name; I suggest the term “environmental stewardship.”  Environmental stewardship does not place nature above man.  It does not center around tenuous science (man-made global warming) or over-the-top politically-motivated rhetoric (“We use energy to mix toxic chemicals in with the natural resources to make toxic contaminated products.”)<ref>This is a direct quote from the "sustainability" video "The Story of Stuff," which is unfortunately being shown to school children across America.</ref>  It is, simply, based on a desire to preserve, to conserve, the world that God gave us.

So what is “real” [[environmentalism]]?  It is, first of all, so different from the standard image of environmentalism that it should not even bear the same name; I suggest the term “environmental stewardship.”  Environmental stewardship does not place nature above man.  It does not center around tenuous science (man-made global warming) or over-the-top politically-motivated rhetoric (“We use energy to mix toxic chemicals in with the natural resources to make toxic contaminated products.”)<ref>This is a direct quote from the "sustainability" video "[[The Story of Stuff]]," which is unfortunately being shown to [[Public schools|school children]] across America.</ref>  It is, simply, based on a desire to preserve, to conserve, the world that God gave us.

==In the Beginning==

==In the Beginning==

In the beginning, God made the heavens and the earth.  What is important here is that He made the earth and everything in it.  Each time God created something, He “saw that it was good.”  Thus, there is a certain inherent value in nature from the beginning, because God made it.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  What is important here is that He made the earth and everything in it.  Each time God created something, He “saw that it was good.”  Thus, there is a certain inherent value in nature from the beginning, because God made it.

God also made man, and gave man dominion over the earth, commanding him to “fill…and subdue it.”  The key point here is that this dominion is not unlimited.  It is given to us to be good stewards of creation, much in the way that in the New Testament we are called to be stewards of the Kingdom.  If what God made was good, it follows that is not our right to destroy it.  We must, therefore, protect and preserve the world.  This conviction is based on faith, not politics.

God also made [[man]], and gave man dominion over the earth, commanding him to “fill…and subdue it.”  The key point here is that this dominion is not unlimited.  It is given to us to be good stewards of creation, much in the way that in the New Testament we are called to be stewards of the Kingdom.  If what God made was good, it follows that is not our right to destroy it.  We must, therefore, protect and preserve the world.  This conviction is based on faith, not politics.

==What’s Wrong with Environmentalism?==

==What’s Wrong with Environmentalism?==

The most talked about environmental issue is probably man-made global warming.  The focus on this issue is so pronounced that it has led to mocking comparisons of Al Gore to a prophet and the destruction of the earth by global warming to the apocalypse.

The most talked about environmental issue is probably man-made global warming.  The focus on this issue is so pronounced that it has led to mocking comparisons of [[Al Gore]] to a prophet and the destruction of the [[earth]] by global warming to the apocalypse.

The problem is that man-made global warming is simply not backed up by enough evidence to deserve its position as the foremost environmental issue.  In the face of record cold temperatures in the last two or three winters, doubt has even been expressed that global warming is occurring at all, let alone as a result of primarily human activity.  Since the science simply is not there for man-made global warming, it should take a back seat to more pressing and tangible environmental issues (these issues are noted in the following section).  

The problem is that man-made global warming is simply not backed up by enough evidence to deserve its position as the foremost environmental issue.  In the face of record cold temperatures in the last two or three winters, doubt has even been expressed that global warming is occurring at all, let alone as a result of primarily human activity.  Since the science simply is not there for man-made global warming, it should take a back seat to more pressing and tangible environmental issues (these issues are noted in the following section).  

==Issues for Environmental Stewardship==

==Issues for Environmental Stewardship==

These are issues which may or may not be overlooked by mainstream environmentalism.  In any case, they are, in my opinion, the most important environmental issues out there.  In some cases they have multiple Christian bases (e.g. the waste/consumerism issue).

These are issues which may or may not be overlooked by mainstream environmentalism.  In any case, they are, in my opinion, the most important environmental issues out there.  In some cases they have multiple [[Christian]] bases (e.g. the waste/[[consumerism]] issue).

===Litter Cleanup===

===Litter Cleanup===

Who hasn't driven through some wealthy town on garbage day and spotted a new-looking sofa, TV, lawn machine, piece of furniture?  It looks like the stuff you buy, only it's being thrown out!  And where does it go?  Either in the ground, or to China<ref>Electronic waste is often shipped to China to be "recycled," i.e. crudely smashed, burned, or otherwise dangerously broken down by workers.  One village in China has become known as an "e-waste village" because it is a major center of this primitive recycling business.</ref>.  All of these perfectly good items end up useless, dumped in a landfill or scrapped for parts.  And yet, they could be donated, even sold, to those in need.  Thus, the issue of waste reduction is not only environmental (wasted resources) but social (reduces supply of cheap used items for the disadvantaged). There should be a powerful Christian motivation here to reduce consumerism, or at least to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill.

Who hasn't driven through some wealthy town on garbage day and spotted a new-looking sofa, TV, lawn machine, piece of furniture?  It looks like the stuff you buy, only it's being thrown out!  And where does it go?  Either in the ground, or to China<ref>Electronic waste is often shipped to China to be "recycled," i.e. crudely smashed, burned, or otherwise dangerously broken down by workers.  One village in China has become known as an "e-waste village" because it is a major center of this primitive recycling business.</ref>.  All of these perfectly good items end up useless, dumped in a landfill or scrapped for parts.  And yet, they could be donated, even sold, to those in need.  Thus, the issue of waste reduction is not only environmental (wasted resources) but social (reduces supply of cheap used items for the disadvantaged). There should be a powerful Christian motivation here to reduce consumerism, or at least to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill.

Another detailed point must be made under this heading. There is a lot of talk about recycling, and recycling is good. But when an item is reusable (e.g. an old TV) and there is someone who wants that item, it is wasteful even to recycle it. It is economically wasteful (because the market value of the item will almost certainly exceed its scrap value), environmentally wasteful (because it takes no resources to continue using an item, while it takes at least some resources to reprocess an item), and socially wasteful as explained in an earlier paragraph. In short, recycling should not take the place of re-use.  

Another detailed point must be made under this heading. There is a lot of talk about recycling, and recycling is good. But when an item is reusable (e.g. an old TV) and there is someone who wants that item, it is wasteful even to recycle it. It is economically wasteful (because the market value of the item will almost certainly exceed its scrap value), environmentally wasteful (because it takes no resources to continue using an item, while it takes at least some resources to reprocess an item), and socially wasteful as explained in an earlier paragraph. In short, [[recycling]] should not take the place of re-use.  

==="Capitalism" in Garbage Disposal===

==="Capitalism" in Garbage Disposal===

Have you ever thought about how, if you live in a town, you pay the same amount in garbage disposal taxes whether you put out a houseful of trash or just a few bags? The common flat-tax system of garbage disposal is "socialistic," because it does not promote individual responsibility. In "capitalism," individual responsibility is the flip side of individual economic freedom.  

Have you ever thought about how, if you live in a town, you pay the same amount in garbage disposal taxes whether you put out a houseful of trash or just a few bags? The common flat-tax system of garbage disposal is "socialistic," because it does not promote individual responsibility. In "capitalism," individual responsibility is the flip side of individual economic freedom.  

In some municipalities, "capitalist" garbage disposal exists. Sometimes humorously referred to as "pay as you throw," a fee is placed on each unit of garbage put out for disposal. An individual pays for exactly as much garbage as he produces. Therefore, there is a strong motivation to throw out as little as possible, and to compost, recycle, and donate as much as possible. Simply converting flat-tax systems to "pay as you throw" would greatly reduce waste, and reduce the strain on landfills.

In some municipalities, "capitalist" garbage disposal exists. Sometimes humorously referred to as "[[pay as you throw]]," a fee is placed on each unit of garbage put out for disposal. An individual pays for exactly as much garbage as he produces. Therefore, there is a strong motivation to throw out as little as possible, and to [[Composting|compost]], recycle, and [[Charity|donate]] as much as possible. Simply converting flat-tax systems to "pay as you throw" would greatly reduce waste, and reduce the strain on landfills.

===Composting===

===Composting===