Still Wondering What to Give Up for Lent? Bishops Suggest Carbon.

Ronald Bailey | February 15, 2008

I know it's late. Lent began more than a week ago, but perhaps some of you have been tardy in deciding what sacrifice to make. Well, a couple of Church of England bishops have an idea for you: How about a "Carbon Fast"? To wit:

"There’s a moral imperative on those of us who emit more than our fair share of carbon to rein in our consumption," [suggests James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool].

The Carbon Fast is a 40 day journey through Lent, towards a lighter carbon footprint, with a simple energy saving action per day. Actions include:

• snubbing plastic bags
• giving the dishwasher a day off
• insulating the hot water tank
• checking the house for drafts with a ribbon and buying draught excluders

Participants are asked to begin the Carbon Fast by removing one light bulb from a prominent place in the home and live without it for 40 days - as a constant visual reminder during Lent of the need to cut energy.

On the final day of the Carbon Fast, people are encouraged to replace the missing bulb with an energy-saving bulb.

*

Apparently, the bishops would rather have their parishioners curse the darkness than light one incandescent bulb.

*Different religion, same concept.

Comments

Episiarch|2.15.08 @ 11:01AM|#

If a CoE bishop talks in a church, does anyone hear him since no one is in attendance?

|2.15.08 @ 11:02AM|#

Perhaps as a lenten vow the Bishop(s) could give...talking...! Hey guys there are orders out there that take vows of silence! Maybe you could make it permanent!

Fucking British! Build a fence around England and call it Euro Disneyland! "The Crappiest Place on Earth"!

Bingo|2.15.08 @ 11:04AM|#

On the final day of the Carbon Fast, people are encouraged to replace the missing bulb with an energy-saving bulb.

...


lol

|2.15.08 @ 11:18AM|#

If I weren't a heathen, I would give up smug self-satisfaction for Lent.

smartass sob|2.15.08 @ 11:25AM|#

Participants are asked to begin the Carbon Fast by removing one light bulb from a prominent place in the home and live without it for 40 days - as a constant visual reminder during Lent of the need to cut energy.


I already know what it's like to sit in the dark; I can't remember how many times when I was a child that our electricity was turned off because my folks couldn't pay the bill. I think I'll give up religion for Lent.

some sense|2.15.08 @ 11:26AM|#

Perhaps the good bishops could give up emitting whatever it is they....emit.

|2.15.08 @ 11:50AM|#

giving the dishwasher a day off

That's a terrible idea. Dishwashers use less water and energy than hand-washing in the sink.

A fine sentiment, but you need to go beyond sentimentality if you want to accomplish anything.

Kolohe|2.15.08 @ 12:47PM|#

For both the spiritual and practical purposes behind Lenten fasts, the bishops' overall idea is not a bad one. Some of the details may be off (for instance, the dishwater vs handwashing mentioned above) but the idea of self sacrifice to improve the self and the community is quite sound and an ancient and hallowed christian tradition.

|2.15.08 @ 12:58PM|#

This is brilliant

1 Whan in Februar, withe hise global warmynge

2 Midst unseasonabyl rain and stormynge

3 Gaia in hyr heat encourages

4 Englande folke to goon pilgrimages.

5 Frome everiches farme and shire

6 Frome London Towne and Lancanshire

7 The pilgryms toward Canterbury wended

8 Wyth fyve weke holiday leave extended

9 In hybryd Prius and Subaru

10 Off the Boughton Bypasse, east on M2.

11 Fouer and Twyntie theye came to seke


12 The Arche-Bishop, wyse and meke

13 Labouryte and hippye, Gaye and Greene

14 Anti-warre and libertyne



Read the rest at

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2008/02/heere-bigynneth.html

|2.15.08 @ 4:48PM|#

I gave up religion for Lent.

Kendra|2.15.08 @ 7:08PM|#

I came in here to say what joe already did-

dishwashers are not inherrently less eco-efficient, so long as yours isn't 15 years old and you turn off the heat-dry

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/how_to_green_your_dishwasher.php