Carbon Fast 2015

19 March: Spend time, not money

Sheila Chauhan, London “Long-term compassion for all within our ecosystem must replace the short-term lust to acquire more. ” Celebrate the new way. For the Easter holidays, plan an outing in nature to rejoice in creation rather than consumption. BLOG While you make plans for the Easter holiday, consider celebrating by spending time in nature with loved ones. As Easter brings us new beginnings after the season of Lent, we embark on a more sustainable relationship with creation. Here are some ideas for a sustainable Easter celebration: Visit a park for a picnic or walk. Plant flowers or a tree with young children. Sit outside with a grandparent or an elderly neighbor. Christ risen means gladness and joy. As you make your plans now to celebrate with your loved ones, look ahead in joy to Christ’s resurrection: Let all then enter the joy of Our Lord! Both the first and the last, and those who come after, enjoy your reward! Rich and poor, dance with one another, sober and slothful, celebrate the day. Those who have kept the fast and those who have not, rejoice today, for the table is richly spread.

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SUNDAY MARCH 18

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all humankind. (Job 12: 7-10)

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17 March: Lower the flow

Sheila- Ann Bennett, South Africa “Cape Town is facing an extreme water shortage. It is predicted that our water will run out by May, and we will have to drink recycled wastewater. We are all under rationing. With 3 kids and 10 people total living in my household, I must come up with creative ways to stick to the limit of 87 litres a day. I need to do washing once a week, and with that water I fill buckets to flush the toilet, water the garden, and clean floors and windows. Water is used for everything: cooking, cleaning, drinking. It is not easy.” Lower the flow. Most sink taps and shower nozzles allow much more water to pass through the pipe than is needed for the task at hand. Install low-flow fittings to limit your water use without sacrificing function. BLOG Many specially constructed taps conserve water without affecting the user’s experience of the appliance. They are readily available and easy to install. Tap standards vary by country, but the water savings are, by and large, significant. Low-flow showerheads can save 20% of the water used. Low-flow sink aerators can reduce 30% of the water used. Low-flush toilets can eliminate 20% of the water used. Because much of the water used in sink and shower is heated, these taps also save energy and decrease the contribution to climate change. Installing a low-flow tap protects the good gift of creation. As you work with your household or parish to install a tap that stewards our water, say thisprayer: Upon the seas and waters send a blessing, O Lord. Teach us to cherish the water of the earth, and to conserve the seas, lakes and rivers. We ask in faith: we ask you to hear us, good Lord.

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16 March: Practice agro-ecology in water use

Paulo Ueti, Brazil “In the Amazon, it is estimated that almost 70 percent of the region is affected by the changing climate. When there is a drought, rivers disappear and communities become isolated , making communication and travel impossible. It is predicted that these dry periods will become more frequent. We are committed by faith to agro-ecology that helps to protect the environment.” Practice agro-ecology in water use. Water your garden in the evening or early morning, when the water evaporates less. Use a drip hose instead of a large nozzle. Install landscaping that suits the natural rainfall in your area. BLOG Tending a garden is a wonderful way to connect with the gift of creation. Irrigating your garden wisely ensures that the water you use goes to the plants you grow and is not wasted. Use a rain barrel instead of the tap. Water in the evening or just before dawn, when water will not evaporate as quickly. Lay a sprinkler hose along your garden rows instead of spraying. Provide a cover of mulch to prevent evaporation and shade roots. Reuse “gray” water from the shower or dish basin.

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15 March: Wash dishes wisely

David Junior, Mozambique “The Chokwe district has huge agricultural potential since it is crossed by the Limpopo river. In the past, this area supplied major markets of the country. But because of increasing floods and droughts, we cannot irrigate in the same way. Due to our water problems, the agricultural area has shrunk by almost 75%.” Wash dishes wisely. Reuse the water in a dishpan or stoppered sink to scrub loose food. BLOG Washing your dishes can be an opportunity to reflect on the privilege of having water and the sacred responsibility to steward it. There are several ways to reduce your water use while washing dishes: If washing by hand, use a basin or stopped sink while scrubbing and use fresh water only to rinse. Reuse the dirty water in your garden. If washing in the dishwasher, wash only when the machine is completely full and avoid use of the heated drying option. As you wash, reflect on this brief statement from Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century monk who spent his life washing dishes: “We must work towards making every action, without exception, into a kind of brief conversation with God — not in any artificial way, but purely, simply.”

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14 March: Get perspective

Tsiry Nantenaina Randrianavelo, Madagascar “Rain is getting scarce, lakes and rivers are dry. Thus, our basic right to water is not respected. Our children are suffering from malnutrition and thirst.” Get perspective. 4 of 10 people worldwide lack sufficient water, which starts at 50 liters per person per day. Look at your water bill and evaluate how your water use compares to that of people around the world. BLOG Worldwide, 4 out of 10 people do not have sufficient water. Because sufficient water underlies all aspects of our lives, these people are at risk of thirst, hunger, and disease. Having a supply of water is just the first step. It is as important that the water be clean and that sanitation be provided. Clean water and sanitation reduces the risk of illnesses such as diarrhea, which takes the lives of 1.5 million children, mostly under the age of 5, each year. After you examine your own water use, offer to lead a discussion of water use and water poverty in your parish. Everyone in the group should bring in his or her own water bill, compare to the global average, and find ways to save water at home. This is an occasion to celebrate the commitment and increased sustainability of your parish.

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