Carbon Fast 2015

Bishop Ernesto, Mozambique “The effects of climate change are real in Mozambique, with historic flooding in the north a drought in the south. It is amazing how much a change in water affects our day-to-day lives. This impacts on human’s wellbeing as well as all of God’s creatures.” Re-use shower water to flush the toilet . Use a bucket to catch the water in your shower, and reuse it later for flushing. BLOG Stewarding the gift of water means using it to its fullest. While showering, set a bucket of water at your feet to catch the flow. If bathing children, scoop water out after they have finished. Pour the water in your bucket into the toilet tank to flush it.

Barbara Oosthuizen, South Africa “An ecological disaster such as running out of water affects us all–from the wealthiest to the poorest. For the first time, those who have always had easy access to water will experience what it feels like to have little. A crisis such as this is an equaliser.” Take shorter showers. Time how long it takes you to shower. Set a goal of reducing that time, and use an alarm to make sure you’re on track. BLOG Showers use the resources of God’s creation in two ways. First, the water itself is drawn from aquifers, reservoirs, and other sources. Second, water treatment and heating are very energy-intensive. In many areas, the water in showers is sanitized to the same level as water used for drinking, an industrial process that demands a great amount of electricity. In homes, the water is then heated, which again demands a large amount of electricity. Shortening the length of your shower by any amount is a step in the right direction. Set yourself a goal and use a timer to check your progress. While setting your timer, reflect: “Water is a sacred gift from God and, speaking for Christians, it’s not only not just full-time conservationists who are called to be stewards of God’s creation–it’s all of us!”

Diana Melo, Portugal “Climate change is increasing the periods of drought and heat waves. The increase in average air temperature and the heat waves are increasing the rate of diseases carried by mosquitoes, which has led tos dengue fever in the Island of Madeira. When the rains do come they are very intense and violent, increasing the risk of flooding. Many of the people I know are suffering.” Adjust your thermostat. Air conditioning and heating are both very energy-intensive. Adjust by as much as possible in solidarity with your brothers and sisters around the world. BLOG Heating and cooling our buildings is incredibly energy-intensive. Changing your thermostat by just a few degrees is one of the most impactful things you can do to protect our common home and the people who share it. A programmable thermostat allows the user to enter settings for time periods throughout the week, with different temperatures when the building’s occupants are at home, away, or sleeping. This device, which is affordable and easy to install and program, ensures your home uses only as much heating and cooling as necessary. If buying a programmable thermostat isn’t the right option for you, you may wish to simply turn down heating and cooling before you leave the house or go to sleep. Simple changes in the way your home is used can help make up the difference at the thermostat. Closing the curtains during the day in summer and opening them during the day in winter can help a lot. Laying rugs during the winter and rolling them up during the summer can also help. Finally, using room-specific appliances, such as fans and radiator-style space heaters, can replace whole-house measures. Reducing your dependence on home heating and cooling will protect vulnerable people around the world. As you discuss these changes with the people who share your home, the light of our faith can help guide the conversation. Read a reflection like this: “The world is not something indifferent, raw material to be utilized simply as we see fit. Rather, it is part of God’s good plan . . . The justified concern about threats to the environment present in so many parts of the world is reinforced by Christian hope, which commits us to working responsibly for the protection of creation.”