Moral, Ethical and Religious Considerations Concerning Land husbandry Module 556 Land Husbandry in Drought Prone Area Jittima Poonnotog RRM/ORD

Problems Deforestration in rain forest Deforestration in rain forest decrease the habitat, wildlife, wilderness decrease the habitat, wildlife, wilderness create soil erosion, flooding, drought, famine create soil erosion, flooding, drought, famine Diminishing fertile land due to erosion (wind and water) and overuse of agrochemical (pesticide,herbicide) Diminishing fertile land due to erosion (wind and water) and overuse of agrochemical (pesticide,herbicide) increase fertiliser use increase fertiliser use Increasing pollution Increasing pollution depletion of ozone, global warming, contamination of food chain depletion of ozone, global warming, contamination of food chain Reduction of natural resources Reduction of natural resources unsustainable livelihoods unsustainable livelihoods

Global Religions Judaism Judaism Christianity Christianity Islam Islam Hinduism Hinduism Buddhism Buddhism

Summary 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 not have an ownership Humans can use and modify natural resources but do not have an ownership Humans’ role is to protect, maintain and preserve them - not to pollute and devastate Humans’ role is to protect, maintain and preserve them - not to pollute and devastate Live in harmony with nature Live in harmony with nature All species are interdependent and interrelated All species are interdependent and interrelated Kindness towards people, animals, plants and the earth Kindness towards people, animals, plants and the earth * Buddhism does not believe in God

Summary Concepts Islam - misuse of animals and plants results in environmental degradation Islam - misuse of animals and plants results in environmental degradation Hinduism Hinduism not use anything in an amount that cannot be replaced not use anything in an amount that cannot be replaced not interrupt the system by using chemical manure, pesticide, cutting the forests not interrupt the system by using chemical manure, pesticide, cutting the forests cows are worshipped and protected cows are worshipped and protected

Development “ Sustainable development requires changes in values and attitudes towards environment and development, towards society and work at home, on farms, and in factories. “ Sustainable development requires changes in values and attitudes towards environment and development, towards society and work at home, on farms, and in factories. The world’s religions could help provide direction and motivation in forming new values that would stress individual and joint responsibility towards the environment and towards nurturing harmony between humanity and environment.” The world’s religions could help provide direction and motivation in forming new values that would stress individual and joint responsibility towards the environment and towards nurturing harmony between humanity and environment.” (Gosling, 2001 )

Environmental Ethic Every part of ecosystem has its unique function Every part of ecosystem has its unique function Humans influence it more than we realise and the result alters many other things Humans influence it more than we realise and the result alters many other things Land ethic includes soil, water, plants and animals Land ethic includes soil, water, plants and animals It is a moral response to the natural environment It is a moral response to the natural environment (Wenz, 2001)

Environmental Ethic Same action may define either right or wrong in different situation of common morality Same action may define either right or wrong in different situation of common morality The community land may wrongly practice as people do whatever they want in order to serve purposes and not recognise their responsibilities The community land may wrongly practice as people do whatever they want in order to serve purposes and not recognise their responsibilities (Wenz, 2001)

Natural Resource Use Using non-renewable resource should base upon Using non-renewable resource should base upon good reason good reason not extinct not extinct search for alternative resource search for alternative resource Resources are for human as well as other creatures so we should not take everything Resources are for human as well as other creatures so we should not take everything Human apply technology to the natural resource in their environment Human apply technology to the natural resource in their environment

Towards Technology Technological advances increases world crop production e.g.<400 mill tons(1900) to nearly 1.9 bill tons(1998) (Wenz,2001) e.g.<400 mill tons(1900) to nearly 1.9 bill tons(1998) (Wenz,2001) Irrigation through wells, pumps and dams can direct water to agricultural land Irrigation through wells, pumps and dams can direct water to agricultural land Agrochemical (fertiliser, pesticide, herbicide) prevent crop yield decline Agrochemical (fertiliser, pesticide, herbicide) prevent crop yield decline Genetically modified plant and HYV (high- yielding variety) increase output. Genetically modified plant and HYV (high- yielding variety) increase output.

Effect from Technology Specialisation Specialisation Grow crops for commercial use not for self sufficiency Grow crops for commercial use not for self sufficiency depend on monetary system depend on monetary system concentrate on intensive cropping or livestock rearing concentrate on intensive cropping or livestock rearing

Effect from Technology Monoculture replaces agricultural diversity Monoculture replaces agricultural diversity spend money on fertiliser and pesticide spend money on fertiliser and pesticide loss free animal manure loss free animal manure Loss traditional agricultural system Loss traditional agricultural system crop rotation crop rotation seed collecting seed collecting

Effect from Technology New kind of crops New kind of crops spend money in buying seed spend money in buying seed Use machinery instead of animal labour or community labour Use machinery instead of animal labour or community labour spend money on fuel spend money on fuel

Environmental Impact Water shortage; need make more / deeper wells, dams Water shortage; need make more / deeper wells, dams Reduce water table; pump Reduce water table; pump Chemical on crop land; pesticide/herbicide Chemical on crop land; pesticide/herbicide Soil erosion Soil erosion Soil infertility Soil infertility e.g.HYN wheat and rice in India e.g.HYN wheat and rice in India

Society Impact Specialist depend on others to support his requirement by monetary system. Money is a tool for evaluation life. Specialist depend on others to support his requirement by monetary system. Money is a tool for evaluation life. People feel insecure due to incompleteness of life’s necessities People feel insecure due to incompleteness of life’s necessities Specialisation improve efficiency but not have holistic world view. They tend to create environment hazard. Specialisation improve efficiency but not have holistic world view. They tend to create environment hazard. The poor become poorer as they cannot afford to protect their crop The poor become poorer as they cannot afford to protect their crop

Moral Impact Become privatism Become privatism Do not feel as a part of environment Do not feel as a part of environment No responsibility to environment No responsibility to environment