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God is Green, 12 Feb 8pm

This coming Monday is another interesting looking documentary from channel 4 called God is Green looking at the religious response to climate change. Presented by Mark Dowd, who is interviewed about the programme here. This is the programme description:

Many climate change scientists claim that we may have as little as 15 years in which to clean up our act: or face the prospect of total chaos. God Is Green follows documentary-maker and devout Catholic Mark Dowd on a personal journey to find out why the world's major faiths are saying so little on this important issue.

Towards a Greener Church

A group from Bunyan met together on recently to discuss ways in which we can help the church take more responsibility for the ways in which we use energy and dispose of waste. After some good conversation where we each learnt of some new things we can do, we came up with 10 initial proposals for the church:

1. The church to work towards becoming an eco-congregation

2. The church to explore spray-on double glazing for windows of church buildings as a form of insulation. I didn't know about this, but apparently its fairly cheap and sounds useful for churches where its difficult to double-glaze.

3. The church to organise a list of those people within the congregation who grow their food. The idea here is can find ways of encouraging more people to grow food in their gardens and share it among the congregation.

4. The church to ensure that all light bulbs where possible are low-energy.

5. The church to recycle all paper it produces and has recycling bins in the church office and the main church building. This to include plastic bottles (i.e. milk bottles) and any cardboard packaging.

6. The church to encourage small groups to be collection points for those who are unable to recycle their waste – cardboard packaging, paper, plastic bottles, glass, tins/cans, etc.

7. The church to produce meeting agendas on A5 paper where possible. Often there is no need to waste a whole A4 page.

8.  The church to encourage Twinklers (church toddler group) to only use bio-degradable emergency nappies.

9. The church to have a ‘Green’ tip of the week in the weekly notices.

10. The church to only use recycled toilet roll and environmentally friendly cleaning products (e.g. the Ecover range).

The Incovenient Truth

This is a must-see and unsettling film. If there is one film you see this year, see this one. If you don't know what global warming is or why it is important, go and see this film. As Al Gore says, global warming is a moral issue. It is a Christian issue. The truth of global warming might be incovenient, but it is still the truth. This is a well-presented and well-argued case for changing the way we live, for cutting down on the energy we use. Get your home, your church, your workplace, your school making changes. Visit the website. Take action.

It's a sin to fly!

The Bishop of London, Richard Chartes is reported as saying its a sin to fly because it contributes to climate change and is a selfish act. He says "Sin is not just a restricted list of moral mistakes. It is living a life turned in on itself where people ignore the consequences of their actions.” I agree. I don't think the word sin is too strong here. I think the type of flying he is attacking is the cheap short break to Europe type of flying whihc has become common for people to take several times a year. When it comes to the environment the church has a responsbility to be distinctively different, to think through their actions. Theologically the church must rediscover a doctrine of creation that sees humanity as stewards of creation and God's image-bearers within it.

Ten ways to help save the planet

1. turn off the tap - especially when brushing teeth, try and flush less | how about using bath or shower water to water your plants?
2. recycle - paper, cardboard, class, plastic bottles, clothes
3. turn off the standby button (tv, video, dvd, stereo, cooker, mircowave) or simply cut down on how much you watch ...
4. get a compost
5. clean green - use ecological products like the Ecover range
6. walk, cycle or take public transport more | avoid using your car! - probably the hardest!
7. buy a 'bag for life' and avoid using free plastic bags  (although these can be recycled at supermarkets)
8. buy fairtrade | grow your own food
9. check out oxfam and other charity shops for clothes and other items
10. buy from local producers and not the giant supermarkets (or at least avoid Tesco and Asda - Waitrose are the best - it's worth spending that few extra pounds)