The land is like my mother. Like a human mother, the land gives us protection, enjoyment and provides for our needs – economic, social and religious. We have human relationships with the land: mother, daughter, son. When the land is taken from us or destroyed, we feel hurt because we belong to the land and we are part of it. - Deacon Djiniyini Goudarra

There is close inter-connection between social injustices and environmental injustices. The increasing environmental injustices are the consequences of social injustices. The former cannot be addressed without addressing the latter.  The present patterns of production and consumption are the principal causes of environmental degradation.

Interconnectedness between SOCIAL and ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES
- 1 billion people are affected  and 2 million are killed each year due to drinking and washing with polluted water.
- In the year 2000, two and a half billion people consumed wood at a greater pace than its rhythm of regeneration.
- The rich 20% consume 85% of non-renewable energy resources.
- Industry continues to produce 2.5 billion tons of toxic waste each year and to dispose of it in the poorer countries.
- 17 of the world’s major fisheries have reached or exceeded sustainable limits – 9 are in serious decline.
- Emissions from fossil fuels have increased almost 400% since 1950.

INTEGRITY OF CREATION

1. THE WORLD’S OCEANS which regulate the earth’s climate, which provide 100 million tons of sea food annually, which are rich in salt and minerals and
which can be distilled into fresh water are now being polluted by toxic substances from industries, by sewage/ garbage from urban areas, by pesticides, fertilizers, animal manure etc. due to modern methods of agriculture and farming.

2. POLLUTION OF LAND AND AIR
- Due to the burning of fossil fuels for industrial purposes
- Lead emissions from cars
- Increasing number of refrigerators and air-conditioners
- Dumping of toxic waste materials.

3. DESERTIFICATION AND SOIL EROSION
- Desertification has ecological, social, economic and human consequences
- Desertification is the process whereby arable land loses its trees, bushes and grasses. The fertile topsoil is then exposed to wind and weather. This depleted soil turn into sand.
- Each year about 23,000 sq. miles of fertile land turns into desert. Another 77,500 sq. miles of cultivable land and pasture are destroyed or seriously depleted. Eventually, these areas become so exposed that the desert takes over
- Desertification is especially taking place in the land south of the Sahara; also in certain parts of Asia, along the east coasts of the USA and Latin America

4. DEFORESTATION
The forest is home to many people, animals, birds and insects. It provides food, medicines, fuel, wood and paper. Green plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Fewer trees mean lesser carbon dioxide will be absorbed. Rainforests are disappearing because of: Mining operations; The timber industry; Road construction; Cattle Rearing (to export beef to the North); Ownership of land. Deforestation is the principal cause of the elimination of: Indigenous Peoples who live in forests; Species: animals, birds, plants including 7000 medicinal components.

 5. DAMAGING EFFECTS OF THE DEPLETION OF THE OZONE LAYER
- Effects on the immune system
- Increase of skin cancer
- More eye diseases
- Reduced timber yields
- Lower crop production
- Disturbances to the ocean system
- Degradation by paints and plastics.