NIMBY

What is our responsibility toward the earth?

Background

• Remember when we burned our garbage in a pit or steel barrel?

• Then two things happened -
  Plastics and Styrofoam
  Fast food drive-thru

• We kept burning our garbage and soon learned that plastic and Styrofoam emit toxic fumes when they are burned.

• Factories were producing more toxic waste - dumped into rivers and dumps. These chemicals were getting into our water, fish, animals, and plants.

• RESULT: The federal government (EPA) started controlling our water, air and land.
  They required that dumps stop burning the trash. Too much was toxic.
  They required landfills - garbage covered with dirt each night.
  This meant that even the garbage that could break down and be safe would not break down.

Playing the Blame Game

• People blame the factories.

• Factories blame the EPA.

• Government blames our wasteful use of resources.

• Is it CFC's (aerosol spray cans) destroying the ozone?

• Is it factories and power plants spewing fumes into our air?

• Is it farmers using more chemicals on our food and in the ground?

• Is it humanity being very wasteful of natural resources?

• Is it a failure to "tend the garden" which God has given us?

• Is it the government and nuclear waste that is harming our planet?

• Is it packaging of our products that creates excess waste?

• It is our laziness that causes us to drive everywhere, with car exhaust causing the problems?

• It is our desire for the disposables (diapers, napkins, plates, razors, etc.)?

• Is the problem caused because we litter the roadways?

• Is it our refusal to re-use, recycle, and repair?

Radical Views

• PETA - animal rights organizations
  Don't eat meat (become a vegetarian)
  Don't wear fur or leather

• Go back to the 1800's (before cars, factories, electricity)

• Stop using all things that harm (pesticides, herbicides, freon, plastics)

NIMBY - Acronym for "Not In My Back Yard"

• We want cell phones but we do not want the tower in our yard.

• We want to waste garbage and throw away piles of junk - but no garbage dump near us.

• We want criminals put away in prison and do not let them out early - but don't build the prison near my house.

• We want drug addicts dried out - but no drug rehab in our neighborhood.

• We want cheaper nuclear power, but do not store the waste near us our haul it thorugh our city.

• NIMBY = We want all the conveniences but none of the inconvenience

What does the Bible teach?

• Genesis 2:15 - God commanded Adam to "dress and keep" the garden.

• Matthew 26:6-8 - Alabaster box was thought to be a "waste" of resources.

• Revelation 11:18 - God will destroy them that destroy the earth.

Moral Principles Involved

• Selfishness - NIMBY, I am just one person, my trash isn't the problem

• Lazy - not want to be bothered with recycling, want disposable things

• Wasteful - of resources, things

• Shift Blame - Blame cars, factories, government

• Love of things, this world - we want convenience, instantly