We come together as a
global community when we remember Jesus through communion. Prayer and almsgiving
are ways of connecting with our world-wide community. Reflect on what
other ways you might live out our covenant with others and with all of God's
creation. Consider volunteering for groups which work for eco-justice.
Day 41 - End
junk mail that wastes resources.
End junk mail that wastes
resources. Stop unwanted catalogs (CatalogChoice.org), credit card offers (1-888-5-OPTOUT), and
other junk mail (DMAchoice.org). You can even hire someone to do this
for you (and buy a carbon offset in the process) at 41pounds.org.
Day 42 -Only use your washing
machine when you have a full load.
Run it on cold whenever possible. Run at maximum spin to
reduce drying time and avoid using a tumble drier. A typical washing machine
uses 90% of its energy to heat the water. Generally, cold water gets your
clothes just as clean and saves about 2 pounds of CO2 per load.
Day 43 - Make the switch to a green plan today.
Ask your electricity and gas suppliers if they have a green or
renewable energy plan such as that offered by NSTAR Green. Bonus: Switch to an energy company that supplies 100 percent renewables such as
Good Energy.
Day 44 -Give away unwanted
and unused possessions.
Donate
them to a local
second hand store or organization. This is a great way to reuse things and stop them from
going into a landfill. Bonus: Organize a recycling event for your religious group, workplace or local
community to exchange possessions that are no longer needed.
Day 45 -Replace the light
bulb you removed at the start of the Carbon Fast.
Consider whether you really need it. If you do, replace it
with a compact
fluorescent lamp (CFL), which can save 150 lbs. of carbon dioxide a year. And
since the book of Romans tells us that "Love does no harm to its
neighbor", why not help someone else cut their emissions by giving
them a CFL as a gift as well?
Day 46 -Review the actions
you've taken during this carbon fast.
Make a list of those you
plan to keep doing. Reflect on what else you can do on an ongoing
basis. Give thanks to God for your carbon fasting experience and pray
that God may sustain you in your continuing effort to be a steward of God's
creation and future generations.
