I added a link on the side board. I want to encourage myself and you to get back to the one ton challenge. The government may have scraped the idea but it seems we still need it. When the challenge came out last year it did change the way we did a lot of things, I started to hang dry clothes, we bought energy efficient lights, we composted, we recycled more, I rode my bike to work almost all winter. This year I have totally bombed. So I think I need a kick in the pants. I took this test and it shows we almost need three earths to sustain my standard of living. take the test and see where you are at. Who is with me?
For starters I am going to turn off the lights during the day.
If you want to have some ideas of how to reduce check the one ton link.
8 comments:
Its interesting to note that even if every citizen and business in Canada were to stop every form of emission and pollution today, it would have no effect whatsoever on the trends, patterns, and effects of global warming. Our output is so minute on a global scale that zero emissions from this great land of ours would not even cause a fractional change in the statistics.
having some self control over our emissions is important. turning the lights off during the day, driving the car slightly less, or generally controlling our pollution habits are good things after all. but why not do these things for other purposes - say, donating the money saved on electricity and gas to a needy child or family?
as a canadian and christian who's "global" impact is un-noticable, i think helping to change the life of others through food, clean water, and peace are much more important goals to reach.
-altona alumni
HA! If everyone lived like me, we'd need 4.9 planets! And I even recycle now (wasn't a Q on the test)! Good news that the things in this world are not forever and we are here only temporarily, eh?
Trisha
Interesting comments. Altona alumni I am wondering if you could give us a link to where you are getting your information.
I believe that the enviroment is a serious Christians issue. First of all our destruction of the enviroment effects (and destroys) other people's lives. Second, God created this world and charged mankind to care for it. As Christians we want to live as God designed us to live. And this would include taking care of the world that he has made.
Ben,
By no means am i suggesting that the environment should not be a top priority for christians. i can agree with you 100% that we must take care and preserve what god has given us.
but i have an even stronger belief that we must take care of the people god has given us. taking care of the environment is one way of taking care of the people, but there is so much more too, as you know very well.
it seems to me that here in the Western world we have this idea that we're trying to eliminate global warming for ourselves - so that we have less storms so our houses will be damaged less, so that we have proper rainfall so that we can grow more crops and suffer less debt. if we could eradicate global warming completely, it would still mean millions upon millions of people dying daily of preventable causes - hunger and thirst, for example. driving my car less won't prevent hunger and thirst, turning the heat down in my house won't prevent hunger and thirst, not flying in an airplane won't prevent hunger and thirst.
global warming is important, there is no doubt. but my point is that there are things of much greater importance.
altona alumni
ps - the link you requested:
http://www.cbc.ca/national/rex/rex_070201.html
Altona alunmi I totally apperciate your passion and comments (it is great to talk to someone about this even - especially - if they disagree with me. I have a lot to learn). For most part I totally agree with you. People are the most important (I have heard it stated that the simple solution to the enviorment is to get rid of a bunch of people - yikes). The differences that we have are that I believe that we can make difference in the enviroment and that the enviorment and care for people are closely linked together.
Also thanks for the link. That is an interesting article.
Yeah!!!-conversation on my blog. LOL - simple thrills.
I got an idea - Let's do both because we can.
Well, I came out at 9 earths. But I have a few questions.
1) I have compact florescents everywhere at home - but how much extra energy/resources does it take to MAKE one of these bulbs with all the toxic stuff in it than a regular old fashioned bulb?
2) If you leave the lights on in your house, what is really happening? You're getting light - but the "wasted" energy is all being created in the form of heat. Don't you heat your house in the winter anyways? Aren't light bulbs 100% efficient heaters, while your furnace is in the 75%-80% range with the rest going up the chimney?
I'm all for being responsible with God's stuff - don't get me wrong - but the pendulum can't swing too far to either end.
Cam good thoughts.
I don't think the enregy efficient lights give off heat and in Manitoba at -35 I can't think the regular ones are make'n much of a difference on how much the furnace runs. Living in Canada means you need to heat and that's just the energy we need to exist.
I am not about to do research to find out the details I will just have to take someone else's word for it on what i should do to be responsible with the environment.
Altona Alumni you have passion for people around the world that is great- keep at it.
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