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Global
Warming: what next?
Part 10 in the series by Janet
Fulljames of St. Andrew's Church Taunton 9 December 2007
What
can I do now?
Many of
us are already trying to be more careful about the use of energy, we
recycle what we can, but want to know more about what else can be done
to reduce carbon footprints. Here are some ideas.
-
Recognise that you personally can make a difference. You may not be
able to prevent global warming on your own, you can be part of a
movement that changes attitudes and behaviour around the world.
-
Talk
with family and friends, try to influence and change their behaviour.
-
Talk
to the vicar and members of the PCC, help the church to become more
eco-friendly.
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Realize that taking one step at a time is commendable and realistic.
For example decide this year to turn the central heating down by one
degree, next year to improve the insulation in the loft or buy a
water butt for the garden. Within the church congregation we can
start in little ways, for example turning off the lights more often.
Next year perhaps we can consider how to help people to realize that
acting in environmentally friendly ways is a Christian
responsibility.
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Don’t be discouraged! I had an E
Mail recently from someone who said even after a series of talks
about how to be a green Christian people were asking “Why are we
looking at this at church?” For many people becoming a greener
Christian may not be a Damascus Road type conversion, but a gradual
realization that taking action is a central part of our Christian
discipleship.
The
scientists are not agreed are they?
-
The
TV programme on Channel 4 “The Great Global Warming Swindle”,
broadcast in March this year was grossly misleading and gave the
impression that scientists were divided, that there is no consensus.
This is not the case. Two scientists have complained that their
viewpoints were misrepresented and many others have protested that
the programme was biased. It may have encouraged some of us to
decide to “wait and see” since we can then convince ourselves we
need do nothing at present!
-
There is a consensus that the atmosphere is warming and that this
will have a huge impact on the planet in the next hundred years. It
is true that there is a debate about the extent to which human
beings are responsible for global warming. During November 2007 the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change produced its latest
report. It was drawn up by 2,500 of the world’s leading scientists.
The report is clear that human activity is responsible for global
warming, and the situation is even more serious than previously
predicted, many living creatures and much plant life will become
extinct. Some parts of the world will become uninhabitable for human
beings.
-
The
lifestyles most of us enjoy allow us to have many choices in our
daily lives. We may be trying to convince ourselves that we are not
yet convinced about global warming! So we feel justified in carrying
on as we do at present, using the earth’s resources exactly as suits
us.
How
can I go on learning more?
This is
the last of the series of articles I have written during 2007. New
resources are becoming available all the time. 2 booklets that present
the issues clearly and simply with further information:
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“For
Tomorrow Too” Tearfund
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“How
many lightbulbs does it take to change a Christian?” Church House
Publishing. Both these books can be borrowed from the church
library.
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Try
a book for a local study group. “Sharing God’s Planet” Church House
Publishing.
Here are
a few web sites that you may find helpful.
Janet
Fulljames.
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Global warming:
should Christians care?
To read the first piece
in this series please
click here. |
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Global warming: is
there anything we can do?
To read the
second piece
in this series please
click here.
|
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Global warming:
what is the church doing?
To read the
third piece
in this series please
click here. |
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Global warming:
what can we as a congregation do?
To read the
fourth piece
in this series please
click here. |
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Global warming:
what is my carbon footprint?
To read the
fifth piece
in this series please
click here. |
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Global warming:
what can I do to save energy in the home?
To read the
sixth piece
in this series please
click here. |
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Global warming:
what can I do about shopping?
To read the
seventh piece
in this series please
click here. |
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Global warming:
what can I do to reduce emissions from transport?
To read the
eight part in this series please
click here. |
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Global warming:
"reduce, repair, recycle and reuse!"
To read the
ninth part in this series please
click here |
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Global warming:
what next?
To read the tenth
part in this series please
click here |
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