#fast4earth

ECO-HEROES ASSEMBLE – WHAT KIND OF ECO-HERO ARE YOU?

Fast for the Earth 2025 / /

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9  We need to keep fighting for climate justice, even when it’s hard! God is calling you to be an eco-hero in the area where you are – your classroom, your school, your church.  We would like to share a story of an eco – hero today! Meet one of our eco -heroes, Mrs. Kim Melanie Williams, from the Church of The Good Shepherd, Grassy Park, in the Diocese of False Bay, South Africa. She is the Director of Visions of Change SA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental awareness through community mobilization and beach clean-ups. On June 15, 2024, Kim secured second place in the Sport, Culture, and Environment category at the prestigious DearSA Future Leaders Awards held at Montecasino, Johannesburg. This recognition highlights her commitment to educating youth about environmental stewardship and driving meaningful change. Growing up, Kim witnessed issues like illegal dumping and plastic pollution, alongside a widespread belief that the environment would always recover. This inspired her to take action, using practical initiatives and educational programs to raise awareness. Another key milestone in her journey was when  Visions of Change SA ( an organization she’s part of) was recognized at the 2023 Mail & Guardian Greening the Future Awards, further cementing their impact in environmental advocacy. Kim’s leadership continues to inspire young people to take responsibility for their surroundings, fostering a new generation of environmental champions dedicated to protecting our planet. Kim’s message to all young eco-champs is that “It’s never too late to start. Stewardship is for all and by all. And just as we extend kindness to people, we extend kindness to the environment!”.  You can be an eco-hero too , start small – in your servers group or organisation at church, or at school or at work -you can make a difference!

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Make the Pledge

Fast for the Earth 2025 / /

“4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it” – Ecclesiastes 5:4-5  Your Actions Matter for the Planet  Today we would  to invite you to  make a pledge and share it with others to inspire and encourage them –  if you feel comfortable. This is a pledge for what you will do during Lent – make it achievable and remember that you will also be inspiring others! For example-  I won’t buy junk food during Lent                           I will eat vegetarian food every Monday                          I will take my own bag when shopping You might think, “I’m just one person—how can I make a difference?” But small actions add up! When you choose to recycle, walk instead of drive, or use less plastic, you reduce pollution and inspire others to do the same. If millions of people make eco-friendly choices, the impact is huge! Big changes start with individuals. Companies and governments respond to what people demand. By making greener choices and speaking up for the planet, you help create a cleaner, healthier future. Every action counts—because when we all do a little, together we achieve a lot! Please join us by writing your pledge on a piece of paper and sharing it on social media!

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Ash Wednesday 2025 – Sustainable Shift

Fast for the Earth 2025 / /

“Turn away from sin and believe the good news” These are the words that are said as the priest marks you with the cross of ashes.  Turn away from sin Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This reminds us that no one is perfect—we all make mistakes. That includes how we care for the environment. Maybe we’ve littered, wasted food, or ignored the impact of our choices. But God calls us to be stewards of His creation (Genesis 2:15). Even though we’ve fallen short, we have the chance to change. Small actions—like reducing plastic waste, conserving water, or planting trees—reflect a heart that values what God has given us. Our mistakes don’t define us; our willingness to do better does. You have the power to influence the future. Will you help heal what’s broken? Let’s take responsibility, not just for ourselves but for the world around us. When we care for creation, we honor the Creator. It’s never too late to start making a difference. Believe the good news For years, we’ve been fed this idea that humans are the problem, that just by existing, we’re harming the planet. Everywhere we turn, we’re told to do less, take less, be less. And sure, being mindful matters, but what if our real power isn’t in pulling back, but in stepping up? What if we’re not here to shrink our existence, but to find our light and let it shine—brightly, boldly, and unapologetically? Maybe it’s time to rethink what it means to leave a footprint. It’s time to rewrite the story. Maximizing our footprint isn’t about being reckless or consuming endlessly. It’s about showing up with intention. It’s about recognizing that we do have power—and using that power to create more good in the world. Let’s start with the 40 days of Lent! Share a photo of yourself with the Ash Cross!

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LET’S WORK TOGETHER

Fast for the Earth 2024 / /

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God” Leviticus 19:9-10 The Bible has the principle of gleaning- which is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers fields. It became legally enforced as an entitlement for the poor in some Christian kingdoms Modern day “dumpster diving” is a similar idea – where those who are on the margins need to be able to make a living. Around the world informal groups of people called ‘waste pickers’ go through our waste and ‘glean’ a living Millions of people worldwide make a living collecting, sorting, recycling, and selling materials that someone else has thrown away. In some countries, waste pickers provide the only form of solid waste collection, providing widespread public benefits and achieving high recycling rates. Waste pickers contribute to local economies, to public health and safety, and to environmental sustainability. While recognition for their contributions is growing in some places, they often face low social status, deplorable living and working conditions, and get little support from local governments. So how can we help? Firstly waste pickers need to have dignity. So it is important that you rinse your recyclables and do not mix food waste with recyclable goods (would you like to earn your living working with plastic bottles covered in maggots?) Treat them with respect when you meet them in the street and find out their names. Secondly they need to be safe: Also if there are any broken pieces of glass, make sure they are wrapped safely so they don’t cut their hands.  If you have left over food that is still edible, make sure that it is separated – some people hang it on their gate in a bag to keep it separated Thirdly: stand up for their rights – you may find that in your community (or neighbourhood whatsapp group) derogatory things are said about waste pickers – you be the one to stand up for them and for their rights to gleaning

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GOING FULL CIRCLE

Fast for the Earth 2024 / /

 “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 What does the “Circular economy” mean?A good definition is this:It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. is a resilient system that is good for business, people, and the environment. (Ellen Macarthur Foundation) In our current economy, we take materials from the Earth, make products from them, and eventually throw them away as waste – the process is linear. In a circular economy, by contrast, we stop waste being produced in the first place. Here is quite a helpful video explaining what the circular economy means: https://youtu.be/NBEvJwTxs4w Eliminate waste and pollution For many products on the market, there is no onward path after they are used. Take a crisp packet, for example. These multi-material flexible plastic packages cannot be reused, recycled or composted, so end up as waste. For products like these, waste is built in. They are designed to be disposable. Although it sometimes seems like waste is inevitable in certain situations, waste is actually the result of design choices. There is no waste in nature, it is a concept we have introduced. From tiny, short-lived products, like crisp packets, all the way up to seemingly permanent structures like buildings and roads, the economy is filled with things that have been designed without asking: What happens to this at the end of its life? By shifting our mindset, we can treat waste as a design flaw. In a circular economy, a specification for any design is that the materials re-enter the economy at the end of their use. By doing this, we take the linear take-make-waste system and make it circular. Many products could be circulated by being maintained, shared, reused, repaired, refurbished, remanufactured, and, as a last resort, recycled. Food and other biological materials that are safe to return to nature can regenerate the land, fuelling the production of new food and materials. With a focus on design, we can eliminate the concept of waste. Circulate products at their highest value There are a number of ways products and materials can be kept in circulation and it is helpful to think about two fundamental cycles – the technical cycle and the biological cycle. In the technical cycle, products are reused, repaired, remanufactured, and recycled- for example a battery. In the biological cycle, biodegradable materials are returned to the earth through processes like composting – for example a banana skin. By moving from a take-make-waste linear economy to a circular economy, we support natural processes and leave more room for nature to thrive. From extraction to regeneration By shifting our economy from linear to circular, we shift the focus from extraction to regeneration. Instead of continuously degrading nature, we can employ farming practises that allow nature to rebuild soils and increase biodiversity, and return biological materials to the earth. If we move to a regenerative model, we begin to emulate natural systems. There is no waste in nature. When a leaf falls from a tree it feeds the forest. For billions of years, natural systems have regenerated themselves. Waste is a human invention. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview

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