Moral, Ethical and Religious Moral, Ethical and Religious Considerations ConcerningConsiderations Concerning

Land husbandryLand husbandry

Module 556 Land Husbandry in Drought Prone AreaModule 556 Land Husbandry in Drought Prone Area

Jittima PoonnotogJittima PoonnotogRRM/ORDRRM/ORD

ProblemsProblems Deforestration in rain forestDeforestration in rain forest

decrease the habitat, wildlife, wildernessdecrease the habitat, wildlife, wilderness create soil erosion, flooding, drought, faminecreate soil erosion, flooding, drought, famine

Diminishing fertile land Diminishing fertile land due to erosion (wind and water) due to erosion (wind and water) and overuse of agrochemical (pesticide,herbicide)and overuse of agrochemical (pesticide,herbicide) increase fertiliser useincrease fertiliser use

Increasing pollution Increasing pollution depletion of ozone, global warming, contamination of food depletion of ozone, global warming, contamination of food

chainchain Reduction of natural resourcesReduction of natural resources

unsustainable livelihoodsunsustainable livelihoods

Global ReligionsGlobal Religions

JudaismJudaism ChristianityChristianity IslamIslam HinduismHinduism BuddhismBuddhism

Summary ConceptSummary Concept

God create the earth and it belongs to God *God create the earth and it belongs to God * Humans can use and modify natural resources but do Humans can use and modify natural resources but do

not have an ownershipnot have an ownership Humans’ role is to protect, maintain and preserve them Humans’ role is to protect, maintain and preserve them

- not to pollute and devastate- not to pollute and devastate Live in harmony with natureLive in harmony with nature All species are interdependent and interrelatedAll species are interdependent and interrelated Kindness towards people, animals, plants and the earthKindness towards people, animals, plants and the earth

* Buddhism does not believe in God* Buddhism does not believe in God

Summary ConceptsSummary Concepts

Islam - Islam - misuse of animals and plants results in misuse of animals and plants results in environmental degradationenvironmental degradation

Hinduism Hinduism not use anything in an amount that cannot be not use anything in an amount that cannot be

replacedreplaced not interrupt the system by using chemical manure, not interrupt the system by using chemical manure,

pesticide, cutting the forestspesticide, cutting the forests cows are worshipped and protectedcows are worshipped and protected

DevelopmentDevelopment

“ “ Sustainable development requires changes in values Sustainable development requires changes in values and attitudes towards environment and development, and attitudes towards environment and development, towards society and work at home, on farms, and in towards society and work at home, on farms, and in factories.factories.

The world’s religions could help provide direction The world’s religions could help provide direction and motivation in forming new values that would and motivation in forming new values that would stress individual and joint responsibility towards the stress individual and joint responsibility towards the environment and towards nurturing harmony between environment and towards nurturing harmony between humanity and environment.”humanity and environment.”

(Gosling, 2001(Gosling, 2001))

Environmental EthicEnvironmental Ethic

Every part of ecosystem has its unique Every part of ecosystem has its unique functionfunction

Humans influence it more than we realise and Humans influence it more than we realise and the result alters many other thingsthe result alters many other things

Land ethic includes soil, water, plants and Land ethic includes soil, water, plants and animalsanimals

It is a moral response to the natural It is a moral response to the natural environmentenvironment

(Wenz, 2001)(Wenz, 2001)

Environmental EthicEnvironmental Ethic

Same action may define either right or wrong Same action may define either right or wrong in different situation of common moralityin different situation of common morality

The community land may wrongly practice as The community land may wrongly practice as people do whatever they want in order to serve people do whatever they want in order to serve purposes and not recognise their purposes and not recognise their responsibilitiesresponsibilities

(Wenz, 2001)(Wenz, 2001)

Natural Resource UseNatural Resource Use Using non-renewable resource should base uponUsing non-renewable resource should base upon

good reasongood reason not extinctnot extinct search for alternative resourcesearch for alternative resource

Resources are for human as well as other Resources are for human as well as other creatures so we should not take everythingcreatures so we should not take everything

Human apply technology to the natural resource Human apply technology to the natural resource in their environmentin their environment

Towards TechnologyTowards TechnologyTechnological advances increases world crop Technological advances increases world crop

productionproduction

e.g.<400 mill tons(1900) to nearly 1.9 bill tons(1998)e.g.<400 mill tons(1900) to nearly 1.9 bill tons(1998) (Wenz,2001)(Wenz,2001)

Irrigation through wells, pumps and dams can Irrigation through wells, pumps and dams can direct water to agricultural landdirect water to agricultural land

Agrochemical (fertiliser, pesticide, herbicide) Agrochemical (fertiliser, pesticide, herbicide) prevent crop yield declineprevent crop yield decline

Genetically modified plant and HYV (high-Genetically modified plant and HYV (high-yielding variety) increase output.yielding variety) increase output.

Effect from TechnologyEffect from Technology SpecialisationSpecialisation

Grow crops for commercial use not for self Grow crops for commercial use not for self sufficiencysufficiency

depend on monetary systemdepend on monetary system concentrate on intensive cropping or concentrate on intensive cropping or

livestock rearinglivestock rearing

Effect from TechnologyEffect from Technology

Monoculture replaces agricultural diversityMonoculture replaces agricultural diversity spend money on fertiliser and pesticidespend money on fertiliser and pesticide loss free animal manureloss free animal manure

Loss traditional agricultural systemLoss traditional agricultural system crop rotationcrop rotation seed collectingseed collecting

Effect from TechnologyEffect from Technology

New kind of cropsNew kind of crops spend money in buying seedspend money in buying seed

Use machinery instead of animal labour or Use machinery instead of animal labour or community labourcommunity labour spend money on fuelspend money on fuel

Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact

Water shortage; need make more / deeper Water shortage; need make more / deeper wells, damswells, dams

Reduce water table; pumpReduce water table; pump Chemical on crop land; pesticide/herbicideChemical on crop land; pesticide/herbicide Soil erosionSoil erosion Soil infertilitySoil infertility

e.g.HYN wheat and rice in Indiae.g.HYN wheat and rice in India

Society ImpactSociety Impact Specialist depend on others to support his Specialist depend on others to support his

requirement by monetary system. Money is a tool for requirement by monetary system. Money is a tool for evaluation life.evaluation life.

People feel insecure due to incompleteness of life’s People feel insecure due to incompleteness of life’s necessitiesnecessities

Specialisation improve efficiency but not have Specialisation improve efficiency but not have holistic world view. They tend to create environment holistic world view. They tend to create environment hazard.hazard.

The poor become poorer as they cannot afford to The poor become poorer as they cannot afford to protect their cropprotect their crop

Moral ImpactMoral Impact

Become privatismBecome privatism Do not feel as a part of environmentDo not feel as a part of environment No responsibility to environmentNo responsibility to environment