Major Eastern ReligionsIndia

Majority: Hinduism•80% of India’s population is Hindu•Muslims live mainly in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and North India•Religion influences language in South Asia•Sikhism is a blend of Hinduism and Islam

ChinaMajority: Buddhism

•teaches that human suffering is caused by selfishness or the desire for things. •Founder Siddhartha came to be called the “Buddha,” or Enlightened One. Buddhists also believe in reincarnation.•Confucianism: a philosophy…family, responsibility, & learning.•Daoism: Laozi-calmly accept fate.

JapanMajority: Non-Religious

•Shinto - belief in kami, or spirits• Buddhist - believe that suffering is caused by selfishness•Confucian - belief system that emphasizes the importance of honoring one’s parents, of being honest, respecting others, working hard and acquiring learning

China’s Environmental IssuesExacerbated by Population Density

• Air pollution: Industry w/ inadequate regulation.

• Land Degradation: This is due to drought, overgrazing, incorrect use of ground water, and logging

• Includes:

– Cropland losses– Desertification:Disapp

earing wetlands– Grassland

degradation– Soil erosion– Overgrazing– Salinization

• Water pollution and shortage: again…industry.

– Freshwater – Groundwater depletion– Oceans

• Loss of biodiversity – increase in invasive species

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India2.4 percent of the world's land---16 percent of the world's population

Land• Overuse of India's once

abundant forests = desertification, contamination, and soil depletion

Water• Availability of safe drinking water• Industrial Effluents, BOD, COD, Fec.

Coliform, Metals, Pests., Herbs.• Untreated sewage. Rivers such as

the Ganges, the Yamuna and Kaveri rivers, all flowing through highly populated areas, are heavily polluted.

Air• Fuelwood and biomass

burning: primary reason for near-permanent haze and smoke observed above rural and urban India.

• Used for cooking and heating.• Lax emissions standards and

high traffic density.• Greenhouse gas emissions

and particulates from combustion.

Japan• More environmentally “responsible” than

many of its continent-mates.• The Fukushima Dai Ichi nuclear reactor

issue from the tsunami in 2011 is still a major issue.

• Japan has been irresponsible with regard to the world fishery and whaling.