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Tracey Bianchi is married, mother of three young children, living in Chicago. She was inspired to write by her concern for the environment of both her family and future generations Green Mama: A Guilt Free Guide to Help You and Your Children Save the Planet.
Bianchi has a master’s degree in theology and is a frequent speaker and writer on Christian topics. Regardless of your religious beliefs or beliefs and whether you have children, Green Mama it will enlighten you to the dwindling natural resources of the earth; and how you can make a positive impact. Topics about greening travel and worship as well as promoting tree planting are discussed here.
Ecological journey
Before your trip, ask yourself if you really need to get there. Trip monitoring can reduce fuel consumption, carbon footprint and consumerism. The people of the United States are responsible for about 25% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, even though we only have 5% of the population.
Before you jump in your car, ask these potentially life-changing questions:
- Have I chosen a green place to live? The answers vary depending on the circumstances. For you, that could mean acres of rural areas or easy access to public transport.
- Do I live close enough to the amenities I need or to places that I visit frequently? The next time you move, consider more than housing costs and the quality of the school district. Also, think about the commute times for routine travels, including the grocery store, church, and library.
- Do I really have to do it today or can I do it another time for a different assignment?
- Can I walk or bike there instead?
- Who else can I take with me (e.g. a neighbor who has to go grocery shopping at the same time)?
- Can I combine the trip with another assignment?
- Do I shop locally? Are all my affairs as close to home as possible?
Air travel
The World Wide Institute reports that one plane crossing the Atlantic Ocean uses 16,000 gallons of fuel. This is enough to drive one car for fifty years.
Before flying, consider whether you can travel by car or train. Use public transport to and from the airport whenever possible. Bring your own snacks and discard the drinks, napkins and plastic cups offered on the plane.
Realize that you may be skiing in a resort that does not monitor carbon emissions. In the long run, the very commodity they sell (snowfall) may decline with climate change. Eating at some seafood restaurants, while enjoyable, may involve buying food from overfished waters. “Be an educated traveler and change the world whenever you can,” says Bianchi.
Ecological stays in hotels and resorts.
Bring home half-used bottles of shampoo and lotion. Use them up and recycle the bins. Look for water saving tips at your hotel. Many of them now offer water conservation programs that require the next day’s reuse of towels and sheets.
A vacation with a purpose.
“A deliberate vacation takes into account the social stigma of your vacation as well as the ecological practices of the places you visit,” says Bianchi.
Think about an eco vacation, mission project, or conservation trip.
Your local church or park district may offer trips and ecotourism vacations to places where you and your family can stay together. Clearing trails, helping create habitats for endangered wildlife, and serving families in need around the world are just some of the many leisure options.
Buy a hybrid car; They make a difference.
The smaller and slower the car, the better the fuel consumption.
Greening Your Cult
Your place of worship (or any other community you experience, including work) may ignore promoting an environmentally friendly atmosphere. “It turns out that the same buildings that were designed to proclaim the wonders of the God of the universe are some of the least green places in the country,” says Bianchi.
Styrofoam cups, personalized cream and sugar packages, mixing sticks, multi-page newsletters and corporate newsletters printed with petroleum-based ink (instead of eco-conscious soy-based inks) are among the eco-conscious critics.
“Greening the church is not a fashion or a hippie luxury; it’s good management and this is our future, ”he says. Bianchi suggests two levels to start greening your worship:
1. Begin with your pastor, pastor, rabbi, etc. A simple meeting with him can initiate a dialogue. Further discussions may be held with committees, elders, trustees, and other leaders. Leverage your congregation’s professional talents, including architects, engineers, and HVAC experts.
Discuss who will lead the greening activities. It may or may not be you. The green team will need to explore recycling options, reasonable lighting and energy fixes, and other common sense, environmentally friendly adaptations.
2. Take personal, covert greening efforts if you meet community resistance. This includes turning off lights in classrooms and collecting and recycling church bulletins and newsletters yourself.
A common response from churches, nonprofits, and other organizations that oppose going green is cost. Many plants are currently operating with limited funds.
Greening a place can seem expensive. Waste shippers may charge additional fees for the collection of recyclable materials. Recycling containers can be expensive and buying fair trade coffee and tea can sell for more, but when you do, they often result in long-term savings.
Some in the church will question whether a greener life is theologically supported. Ecology will have its opponents in all surroundings.
Planting a tree
None of us can save the world on their own, but each of us can make a difference. Bianchi mentions Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. Maathai says that one of the things we can do to combat environmental injustice is to plant a tree. It’s something we can all deal with. Plant something green, whether you live on a high hill, on a farm, or anywhere else. Put your hands in the mud and give it life.
Greening travel and worship offers many ways to reduce the Earth’s carbon footprint. Consider planting a tree to promote eternal life among nature.
Green Mama offers tons of websites to help you live more consciously and reduce consumerism. One of the best is the New American Sleep Center. Visit them here: http://www.newdream.org/.
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Source by Timothy Zaun