Lent is just around the corner. People who follow
the spiritual discipline of fasting on something for Lent might consider a
carbon fast this year.
A Lenten carbon fast encourages us to reduce our
carbon footprints and walk more lightly on God’s earth. When we reduce our own
carbon footprints, we give up some small degree of comfort or convenience to
benefit the people who generally suffer first and worst from environmental
degradation: the poorest people in the world, who often rely on subsistence
agriculture or fishing, or who live in places especially vulnerable to pollution
and extreme weather events. Along with doing something for others, we benefit
from living more simply, opening up space for God in our lives.
A carbon fast can take the form of giving up or
taking on one habit that results in using less electricity or other fuel, or of
following a calendar that suggests a different activity for each day during
Lent.
For those wanting a different activity each day, the
Ecumenical Lenten Carbon Fast from the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC will send daily e-mail messages
with an activity for each day. Earth Ministry
offers an online Lenten calendar with activities for each day.
Here are five examples of single habits to
consider changing for the season:
1. Turn down thermostats 2 degrees from usual
settings.
2. Turn off lights and screens when no one is in a
room.
3. Turn off computers, printers, and their
powerstrips at night.
4. If you usually drive to work, school, or to do
errands that are within a safe and reasonable walking distance, walk instead of
driving.
5. Unplug chargers for phones and other electronic
devices when they aren’t in use.
