Environment and Medical Issues
Revision
Topics
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Global Warming
Pollution
Natural resources
Stewardship
Infertility
Transplant Surgery
creation
Environment
• the act of creating the universe or the universe which has been
created
• the surroundings in which plants and animals live and on which they
depend to live
Surrogacy
• an arrangement whereby a woman bears a child on behalf of another
woman OR where an egg is donated and fertilised by the husband
through IVF and then implanted into the wife’s uterus
global warming
• the increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere (thought to
be caused by the greenhouse effect)
Embryo
conservation
artificial insemination
Infertility
in-vitro fertilisation
natural resources
organ donation
Stewardship
• a fertilised egg in the first eight weeks after conception
• protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment
• injecting semen into the uterus by artificial means
• not being able to have children
• the method of fertilising a human egg in a test tube
• naturally occurring materials, such as oil and fertile land, which can be
used by humans
• giving organs to be used in transplant surgery
• looking after something so it can be passed on to the next generation
GLOBAL WARMING
1. This is also known as ‘Climate Change’
2. It is the increase in the temperature of the Earth.
3. Some scientists believe that humans affect climate
temperature by burning fossil fuels.
4. Some scientists think that the rise in temperature is natural
and nothing to do with human activity.
Effects include
• Polar ice caps melting
• Drought
• Extreme weather
• Extinction of some plants and animals
Solutions
• Individually reduce the amount of energy we use.
• Governments and organisations to set laws to
make us reduce our energy use.
• Scientists to do research about the causes and
consequences.
NATURAL RESOURCES
These are naturally occurring materials such as oil and fertile land.
Renewable resources – go on forever
a.
Wind
b.
Solar
c.
Wave
d.
Water
Non Renewable – cannot be replaced
a.
Coal
b.
Oil
c.
Gas
Advantages – will never run
out and are ‘clean’ energy.
Disadvantages – cannot be
used everywhere
Advantages – some can be
recycled. They are useful for
transport, electricity, buildings.
Disadvantages – one day they will
run out.
Issues
• Humans very reliant on non-renewable resources
• If they are used at their current rate will run out
very quickly.
• Enormous impact on the planet and human life.
Solutions –
Conservation = use more renewable energy
sources; conserve electricity; walk or cycle;
products from renewable resources.
POLLUTION
This means the contamination of the environment..
It is mostly caused by waste-products humans do not want.
It includes,
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unrecyclable waste,
littering,
radioactive waste,
vehicle fumes,
waste from factories,
chemicals, sewage, oil and fertilisers that get into water.
They damage and spoil the earth, and affect the plants and animals.
Solutions
 Create less waste
 Alternative energy sources
 Government Action
STEWARDSHIP
God gave humans stewardship over the world –
they must look after it for future generations.
Both the Qur’an and the Bible say….…
1. Take care of the environment as it is a gift from God
2. Share resources because Jesus taught us to love and
help each other
3. Conserve resources for future generations
4. Reduce pollution
5. Care for all the plants and animals
Judgement Day
Both Christians and Muslims believe…………….
1. Take care of the environment as it is a gift from God/Allah
2. Share resources because Jesus/Prophet Muhammad taught us
to love and help each other
3. Conserve resources for future generations
4. Reduce pollution
5. Care for all the plants and animals
What Religious People do
 Support environmental organisations
 Recycle and reduce energy use
 Plant trees and crops for the good of others
 Do not over use the Earth’s resources
 Share resources equally
 Not damage the natural environment
INFERTILITY
This means not being able to have children.
• There are a wide range of medical treatments available for this.
• Some are controversial and raise issues.
• Some types of infertility treatment include
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IVF – egg is taken and fertilised in a test tube then placed back in womb.
AIH – the husbands sperm is medically placed into the mother.
AID donated sperm is medically placed inside the mother.
Egg or embryo donation – these come from donors and are placed inside the
mothers womb.
– Surrogacy – another woman will carry the baby
Issues
Expensive
No guarantees
Uncomfortable side effects
Stress on relationships
Should parents know biological parents?
Religious Responses
Both Christians and Muslims can agree or disagree with infertility treatment.
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Against God/Allah has a plan for everyone
Masturbation is used to collect sperm donations and it is a sin
Donated sperm can be seen as adultery
Most do not accept surrogacy
Children are very important to religious families.
Many embryos are destroyed during treatments – against the sanctity
of life.
 Golden Rule – kindest thing to try and do
 God/Allah gave us the knowledge so we should use it to help others
TRANSPLANT SURGERY
This is when body parts from one person, dead or
alive, are used to replace body parts in someone else.
Issues
• It is expensive and limited form of treatment
• How do you decide who receives the transplant?
Should it be the person who has been waiting the
longest? The youngest? Or the one with the best
match? What about people who drink or smoke?.
Organ Donation
• It is voluntary in the UK.
• Most organ donations come from dead
donors.
• Liver, kidney and bone marrow can be from a
live donor.
Christian Attitudes
• A body is not needed for the afterlife
• It is a loving and charitable act
• It is a way of showing gratitude to God for the gift
of life
• It goes against the sanctity of life
• It interferes with God’s plan for every human
beings
• It would be wrong to replace part of God’s
creation.
Muslim Attitudes
• The Qur’an teaches that the body should be buried soon
after death and should be not be interfered with.
• Muslims believe the body will be resurrected on the last
day and the organs will therefore be needed.
• It goes against the sanctity of life
• Some argue that organ donation is ok if it is done to save
the life of others because it is what Allah would wish.
• Live donations are less controversial because people can
survive with one kidney.
• Many would allow living donor transplants to close
relatives.