Two leading Church of England Bishops are asking us to give up something more worthwhile than chocolate for lent this year. "Traditionally people have given up things for Lent. This year we are inviting people to join us in a carbon fast," says The Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones. "It is the poor who are already suffering the effects of climate change. To carry on regardless of their plight is to fly in the face of Christian teaching."
"The tragedy is that those with the power to do something about it are least affected, whilst those who are most affected are powerless to bring about change," he added. "There's a moral imperative on those of us who emit more than our fair share of carbon to rein in our consumption."
Jones, who is also vice-president of Tearfund, a Christian relief and development agency working with a global network of local churches to help eradicate poverty, came up with the idea of a carbon fast in a meeting with Dr Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London and David Miliband, who was serving as the British Environment Secretary at the time. Working with Tearfund, Jones has put together a 40-day fast plan.
On day one, Ash Wednesday (Feb 6th), participants are asked to "remove one light bulb and live without it for the next 40 days." At the end of the 40-day program, which includes tasks such as shopping locally, forsaking the use of the "stand-by" mode on electronic items, and stopping junk mail, Tearfund suggest you "replace your missing bulb with an energy-saving lightbulb" since "over its lifetime, you will save 60kg of carbon dioxide per year."
`We all have a pivotal role to play in tackling the stark reality of climate change," says Chartres. "Together we have a responsibility to God, to future generations and to our own wellbeing on this earth to take action."
Whether you're Christian or not, if you'd like to participate in the carbon fast, click HERE for a PDF of the full 40 Day Plan (which is also printed HERE). For daily reminders via email click HERE.
40 Day Carbon Fast
Day one (Ash Wednesday.) Remove one light bulb and live without it for the next 40 days.
Day two Check your house for drafts with a ribbon or feather. If it flutters, buy a draft excluder.
Day three Tread lightly - whether that's by foot, by bike, on to a bus or on the gas as you drive. Find a way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions when you travel today.
Day four Are you recycling everything possible? Really - everything? Look into it today.
Day five Can you talk about your Carbon Fast at church today? Encourage others to join in.
Day six Turn your central heating thermostat down by one degree.
Day seven Say au revoir to standby. Check that all electrical equipment is switched off when not in use. The TV alone will save a hefty 20kg of carbon dioxide per year.
Day eight Unplug your mobile phone charger: it uses electricity even when it's not charging.
Day nine Climate change isn't a distant threat - it's affecting poor communities now. Pray for Tearfund's work to help vulnerable communities adapt to the changing weather.
Day 10 Give your dishwasher a day off or promote it to a EnergyStar energy efficient appliance.
Day 11 Use local shops or farmers' markets instead of driving to out-of-town shopping parks. They will thank you; supermarkets won't notice your absence.
Day 12 Tell politicians to take action on climate change today. Check out Tearfund's campaign work at tearfund.org/climate.
Day 13 Put the heat on your electricity or gas suppliers and ask them if they have a green plan. Make the switch and feel cosy.
Day 14 Take a shower instead of a bath: you'll heat less water.
Day 15 Snub plastic bags. Get into the habit of taking your rucksack to the supermarket or go retro with a trolley. Ask your supermarket to remove unnecessary packaging.
Day 16 Switch off lights as you leave the room.
Day 17 Only fill your kettle with as much water as you need.
Day 18 Cut the air miles. Don't consume any food that you know has been imported by plane (apart from Fair Trade products).
Day 19 Grace Maglasey and her husband Andrew struggle to grow enough food because their village in Malawi is caught in a cycle of floods and droughts. Join in with Grace's prayer today: "We pray that those of us who farm should harvest a lot of food so that this year we will not have hunger. In the name of Jesus, Amen."
Day 20 Compost. Put the nutrients from food waste back into the soil - not into a methane-emitting landfill.
Day 21 Only run your washing machine when you have a full load.
Day 22 Find one way to save paper today: re-use an old envelope or print double-sided.
Day 23 Turn the taps off. In one day a hot, dripping tap could fill a bath.
Day 24 Counsel your local council. Thank them for their recycling facilities but ask them if they could provide any more.
Day 25 Who works hardest in the house? Mum? Dad? No, the refrigerator. It's churning away 24/7. Treat it to a good de-icing to make sure it's running efficiently.
Day 26 "Love does no harm to its neighbor" Romans 13:10. But while our lifestyles consume more and more energy, our poorer neighbors are suffering. Reflect on ways to love our neighbors in our increasingly connected world.
Day 27 Pressure a car owner to check their tire pressures. Low tire pressure means high fuel consumption.
Day 28 Do a carbon footprint test online to estimate your toll on the earth, and offset it with a Terra Pass.
Day 29 Run your washing machine at 30 degrees. This uses 40% less electricity than running at 40 degrees.
Day 30 Find out a new fact about the impact of climate change today. Amaze your friends.
Day 31Fit aluminum foil behind your radiator - allowing you to turn the radiator down and save £10 a year per radiator.
Day 32 Any old iron? If they're on their last legs replace old electrical appliances with energy-efficient models. They could save a third of the energy.
Day 33 Have an embrace-the-silence Sunday. Turn off everything. No TV, no radio, no ringtones, no cars. It'll be good for the soul.
Day 34 Stop junk mail. (The Daily Mantra recommends you give 41Pounds.org a try, they'll do all the hard work for you and make a donation to charity.)
Day 35 Put an insulation jacket on your hot-water tank. If everyone does, we'll cut enough carbon dioxide to fill 148,000 hot-air balloons.
Day 36 Re-use an item you would have thrown away - such as a jam jar, an envelope or an ice-cream container.
Day 37 Put a lid on it. That's pans when cooking; and use a kettle to boil water.
Day 38 Draw the curtains to keep the heat in.
Day 39 Could your church be greener? Talk to your church leaders.
Day 40 Replace your missing bulb with an energy-saving light bulb. Over its lifetime, you will save 60kg of carbon dioxide per year and up to $120. Make a personal pledge to serve others by pursuing a more sustainable way of life.
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