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March 11 – Bring Your Own Bag

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“You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.”  ~ Haggai 1 : 6 Buy reusable shopping for yourself and for a buddy When one goes to the grocery store and gets ready to leave, a commonly asked question is; plastic or paper bag? Whatever your response may be, there is a batter way to carry your groceries.  The movement of using reusable shopping bags is becoming more popular and everyone needs to part take in it. The world seems to be suffocating under endless piles of plastic bags and we need to act as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the environment and ourselves. While reusable shopping bags cost a little more up front, there are many benefits of reusable bags, particularly when it comes to easing plastic bag pollution and the effects of plastic on the environment. Benefits if using reusable shopping bags: Using reusable bags over plastic bags can save money. Many stores impose an extra charge for plastic bags. By bringing your own reusable bag, you will be saving money each time you go to the grocery store, buy a new outfit, or run errands. Save Resources. Plastic bags are non-biodegradable, use crude oil and natural gas to manufacture, and require even more fossil fuels to ship. Protect wildlife. More than 100,000 marine animal deaths are caused each year when marine animals mistake plastic shopping bags in the ocean for food, according to SPREP.org. Plastic bags also get snagged in trees, and small animals can become trapped in them, leaving to even more wildlife deaths in the environment. By using a reusable bag, you are not only reducing the amount of non-renewable resources necessary to produce plastic bags, but you will also be reducing the amount of money your community spends on waste clean up costs each year. Decrease pollution. The effects of plastic on the environment can be devastating. Plastic products such as plastic bags can take between 15 to 1,000 years to break down, and that’s assuming they make it into a landfill instead of winding up in water such as streams, rivers or the ocean or floating around the neighbourhood. Of the 100 billion plastic shopping bags Americans use each year, only about 1 percent are recycled, and therefore a lot of plastic bag pollution is generated annually. Reusable bags are durable and reliable. Unlike plastic bags, reusable bags can carry more items at a time, it will not break and will result in less amount of shopping bags to carry. Their durability prevents them from tearing and because they are reliable, you can use them for multiple purposes and multiple times. Make a positive environment impact by buying a reusable bags or better yet buy a bag for you and a loved one. The next time you are asked; plastic or paper bag? Ask to purchase a reusable bag, or better yet take out your own reusable bag https://plastic.education/benefits-of-using-reusable-shopping-bags/ https://totebagfactory.com/blogs/news/8-reasons-you-should-use-reusable-grocery-bags Photo by bach hanzo from Pexels

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March 10 – Say NO to Styrofoam

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‘I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.” ~ Jeremiah 2 :7 Styrofoam is one of the most used packaging methods in the food industry. It is convenient, cheap, and provides excellent conditions for storage of food and beverages. Styrofoam is a disposable product made of polystyrene, which is a petroleum-based plastic. Styrofoam has more harmful effects as compared to its convenience. There is a need to inform people about the environmental and health impacts it poses on people and the planet. The harms from plastic Styrofoam mainly are: Environmental Impacts Polystyrene is non-biodegradable. A Styrofoam cup can take as long as 500 years to decompose completely. Recycling Styrofoam is very expensive, it is usually disposed of, taking up a lot of space in landfills, even more than paper, and may eventually re-enter the environment when landfills are breached. Styrofoam is harmful for the environment because it is made with petroleum, a non-renewable resource which contributes to air pollution and climate change. When not disposed in a proper manner, Styrofoam can contribute to flooding by clogging drains. When Styrofoam enters our waterways, it can be ingested by aquatic animals, thus harming or killing them. Health Impacts Polystyrene, the main material in Styrofoam, contains the substances Styrene and Benzene, which are both considered carcinogens (cancer causing) and neurotoxins that are extremely hazardous to human health. Hot foods or liquids, alcohols, oils and acidic foods start a partial breakdown of Styrofoam, causing some toxins to be released into our foods, which, when eaten, are absorbed into our bloodstream. According to studies, women exposed to styrene vapours have demonstrated menstrual disorders, and suffered from metabolic disturbances occurring during pregnancy. Other health impacts include: Irritation of the skin; irritation of the eyes; irritation of the upper respiratory tract; Gastrointestinal problems; and affects kidney function

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March 9 – Spring Cleaning your Cupboards

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John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” ~ Luke 3:11 Spring cleaning is meant to declutter, organize, and sanitize your homes. Spring cleaning is always a great way to clear out all the cluster in your home and you can do it in an eco-friendly way and be green. So this lent take the initiative to clear out your closet and do it in a eco-friendly way. Most times people create a lot of waste when they spring clean. Here are ways which you can spring clean the green way: Reduce: The first step to fighting messes and keeping your home clean is getting rid of all that stuff you never use Go room-by-room, drawer-by-drawer, closet-by-closet and group the items that you haven’t used in a while. If you cannot remember that last time you used it, or you forgot that you had it, it is a good sign that it is time to let it go. Reuse: Once you have separated the items from your closet, avoid the “throw it away” mentality and think about how the item can get re-used. Donate: Once you have noted down what you can use, separate out items that someone else might need. There are probably plenty of items that you don’t need or want anymore, but someone else would appreciate. Garage sale: If you do not want to donate your clothes, you can host a garage sale in your community Photo by mentatdgt from Pexels

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March 8 – Paperless Sunday

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“ And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations”.  ~ Rev 22:2 Trees are mentioned in the Bible more than any living thing other than God and people. There’s a tree on the first page of Genesis, the first Psalm, the first page of the New Testament, and the last page of Revelation. Jesus said he is the true vine and that his Father is the dresser of the garden (John 15:1). The Bible refers to itself as a Tree of Life (Proverbs 3:18). We are told to be like trees planted by streams of water that yield their fruit in season (Psalm 1:3). Trees are the oldest living things on earth. There are trees alive today that were already ancient in the time of Christ. In fact, God gives trees a ring to mark every birthday! But what about Jesus? He grew up in a carpenter’s home. He talked about seeds of faith and said that the kingdom of heaven was like a tree. He called disciples from under trees, and sinners from their branches. His favorite place to pray was an olive grove. Trees give, and they keep giving. They give life and beauty. They give shade and rest. They clean the air. They hold back erosion. They offer shelter, food, and protection. So it is important that we plant trees. But it is also important that we save paper in order to show our care and appreciation of trees. Let us go paperless this Sunday! Send the pew leaflets out on social media or by email (you can maybe have a few copies for those who don’t use those media) Put songs and notices up on the screen If you usually use disposable cups for coffee, ask people to bring mugs to church and wash them up Make this Sunday Tree Appreciation Sunday and go paperless https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/what-is-the-significance-of-trees-in-the-bible-why-did-jesus-die-on-a-tree.html Photo by Alex Litvin on Unsplash

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March 7 – Considering your CATERING PRACTICES at church

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“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31  Consider the catering practices at your church Green catering Catering is a big part in our churches especially for fund raising and during conferences. Catering is one of the things that affect the environment negatively. Going green is not just a trend, it should be a life style. Green/ eco-friendly catering should be the new norm. There are different ways in catering practices where we can make a difference, specifically with catering practices in church. Things to do: Offer more vegetarian/vegan dishes–  vegetable farming is a more sustainable practice than animal farming. Producing meat involves more land and water use than producing vegetables. Additionally animal farming produces large amounts of greenhouse gases. Incorporate a Seasonal Menu– this will encourage cooking the  freshest and tastiest produce available which will in essence cut down negative environment impact. This will also reduce the amount of resources needed to transport food and result in less greenhouse emissions Reduce Food Waste– Reducing food waste is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Here are a few ways to reduce food waste in your catering: Get creative and repurpose ingredients to make new dishes Donate leftovers from your event Take advantage of overripe fruits and vegetables by making sauces, stocks, breads, and desserts Create a compost pile for food that’s past the point of serving Create a Beverage Station– Instead of offering guests individual cans of soda or bottles of water, try setting up a beverage station instead. Take advantage of reusable beverage dispensers to limit your use of disposable plastics. Use reusable serving dishes and cutlery. Ask some of the team to bring plates and cutlery from home. Separate recyclable material from waste created– you can do this by clearly mark your recycling containers and all-purpose trash cans. With big conferences, consider the event as an educational one, so raise the visibility of the re-cycling team, put up posters, flash messages on the screens at lunch breaks. Make sure everybody knows this is a green conference and they will learn some new ideas Photo by Karine Monteiro from Pexels

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March 6 – Say NO to junk food

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“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food”  ~ Isaiah 55:2 Have a junk-food free Lent Junk food is any food that is highly processed, high in calories and low in nutrients. Junk food is also usually high in added sugars, salt and saturated or trans fats. Some research points to junk foods as being as addictive as alcohol and drugs.. Junk food is found just about everywhere. It is sold at supermarkets, workplaces, schools and vending machines. It is easily available which makes it convenient and in essence makes it difficult to limit or avoid. However junk food poses more health risks and more negative impacts as compared to the “delicious benefits” they have. Junk food has harmful after effects- Eating a poor quality diet high in junk food is linked to a higher risk of obesity, depression, digestive issues, heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and early death. Foods you can substitute junk food with: Fruits: apples, bananas, oranges, and berries Vegetables: leafy greens, peppers, broccoli, and cauliflower Whole grains and starches: oats, brown rice, quinoa, and sweet potatoes Seeds and nuts: almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds Legumes: beans, peas, and lentils Healthy protein sources: fish, shellfish, tofu, steak, and poultry Dairy: Greek yogurt, cheese, and fermented dairy products like kefir Healthy fats: olive oil, nut butters, avocados, and coconut Healthy beverages: water, sparkling water, green tea, and herbal teas Junk food also creates mountains of waste, plastic, Styrofoam and plastic coated cardboard. Choose the healthier option for your body, your wallet and the planet. Say NO to junk. #ThrowOutThejunk Image by 41330 from Pixabay

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