Ban Ki-moon has issued a call to all the world to kick our carbon habit. In his message for World Environment Day (at the beginning of this month) he said:
"Addiction is a terrible thing. It consumes and controls us, makes us deny important truths and blinds us to the consequences of our actions"
Yet will I heed this call? Seriously? I recently completed one of those carbon footprint exercises - thinking I would come out reasonably OK as I think I live in a planet-friendly way. Yet if everyone on this earth lived like me we would need the resources of three planets to support our lifestyles. From powerhouse I learnt that my footprint is almost twice the national average and FIVE TIMES the world average. This is scary stuff.
I can cut down on vehicle use - and eat less meat. Use a water conserving washing machine - dry clothes on the line - and switch off the lights. The change required is even more radical. A challenge for me is that the response required is collective and not just personal. It cuts across my need to be needed. To provide transport to school and work and church activities. To run around after others. It also cuts across our decision to attend a church in a distant suburb. And that of the Uniting Church to provide clergy with large cars. And large houses.
In responding to this call I feel like the hypothetical disciple portrayed in the sermon this morning. Imagine if Simon and Andrew had made a more reasonable response. Well yes Jesus of course we'd love to follow you. You are a good teacher. We want to be on your team. Not literally of course. Metaphorically. We'll stay here where we know the situation. Of course we'll sign up. It will be good for you to say you have the numbers. Leave us with some of your literature and we'll read it thoroughly. You don't really mean for us to hit the road with you Jesus. Do you?
But for now that feels as if this is where I am. Mitigating rather than changing everything. What does it mean? For me? For us? Here? Now? To cut free from this addiction. The stuff I do seems so like shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic, or fiddling while Rome burns, or whatever.
It's fine to sing Where you lead Lord I will follow
The challenge is to follow into unexplored territory. To keep working on those mitigating actions and whittle away the size of the footprint. To honestly discuss and share with those around me how everything can change. If the price of petrol finally influences church attendance perhaps we can explore how worship times can better match public transport. To seek the healing of blindness, so that I understand the consequences of my actions. To find out and speak the truth. To live in the rhythm of grace and break out of the control of the empire.
This whole post sounds a bit breast-beating and helpless. It's not meant to. The Church has been a powerful force in overcoming destructive forces through history, as have the organised efforts of other religions. At a personal level Hanane and Katie knitting for peace send a powerful message to everyone who meets them. In Amazing Grace those eighteenth century women gave up sugar in their tea as a powerful message against slavery. I hope and pray that people of faith can join together to address the carbon addiction that at the same time sustains and threatens our way of life. It is essential. And we collectively know that there is a better way.
6 comments:
emjaydee,
I am struck by your honest self-evaluation and soul searching in this post. That is such a valuable quality. Our journeys to finding and doing what is right must begin there, eh?
Thanks also for your visit to my blog and your comment there. Much appreciated.
Cheers
Thanks HM. It will take local and global working together to address this challenge.
emjaydee, this is an excellent post. I, too, struggle with being "signed up" but not doing enough. The analogy with the disciples is a really good one.
I think this is my 'issue' at this time and the struggle is vital for my wellbeing. Thanks for sharing it Tess.
I struggle, but worry that I do not do enough. I live in south TX, so I'm always using air conditioners, both in the car and in the house. Otherwise, I could not stand living here. That is not good, but it is the way it is. Thanks for the questions and thoughts to ponder.
Thanks Jan
As with your chemist example - asking the questions is a first step. So much of our lifestyle is determined by the infrastructure. We use cars 'cos not set up for cycling or walking safely. In Queensland it is noticeable that houses built in the 19th and early 20th century were designed to have cooling airflow. But modern houses for airconditioning! Thanks for your visit.
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