Reflections and actions during COP26 and going on
4th October 2022
Today is the feast of St Francis, patron saint of ecology. Like the writers of the Old Testament and Jesus, Francis understood the innate connectedness that humanity shares with the rest of creation. It is a connectedness created by God. When we live in harmony we worship God; when we live in disharmony we grieve God.
3rd October 2022
“Help create the People’s Plan for Nature by sharing your thoughts about the future of nature in the UK. What do you love about nature in the UK? What would you miss if it disappeared?”
Join the conversation and share your views as part of a nationwide initiative organised by WWF, the National Trust and the RSPB. Use the link below.
Our insights will help resource the planned People’s Assembly which is to tasked with producing the People’s Plan for Nature by the spring of 2023.
2nd October 2022
As creation-tide comes to an end, let’s make sure that praying for the well being of creation in all its variations remains an ongoing habit. You might like to follow Green Christian’s prayer diary – https://greenchristian.org.uk/resources/prayer-guide/
1st October 2022
According to the Woodlands Trust there are more than half a million miles of
hedgerow in the UK. Hedgerows are important for biodiversity providing a habitat for various wild plants, birds, small mammals, insects and beetles. Hedges in towns are as those in rural areas. Down the road one house has a thick privet hedge which is always full of the chirping of sparrows. If you haven’t got room for a hedge you might consider creating a dead hedge which will provide shelter for various wild creatures.
30th September 2022
Autumn is a good time to plant trees. If you have space why not choose one for
your garden – not all tree are big and fruit trees produce an edible reward too!
Brogdale in Kent holds the National Fruit Collection and has over 4000 varieties of fruit trees including apples, pears, quinces, plums , cherries and cobnuts – including many heritage varieties.
29th September 2022
In a follow up to Loss and Damage Action day last week, there is a petition you can sign asking your MP to sign an early day motion on this matter and urging positive action in the run up to COP27, which is now only 6 weeks away.
28th September 2022
The Climate Coalition is running a project called Letters to Tomorrow:-
“Write a letter to a loved one in the future to call for political action on climate change now.
Because the future of our planet isn’t written yet. The climate crisis is affecting our lives already, and it’s only going to get worse for the next generation unless we take action now to get it under control – because the years will tick away before we know it.”
Here’s the link https://www.letterstotomorrow.com/
And here’s my letter
27th September 2022
Whilst governments push (or not) for a Loss and Damage fund, we as individuals can help the more uk era leaders to adapt to climate change through our support of charities. Practical Action has been doing this in Zimbabwe. There an extended drought was this spring followed by torrential rains such that this year’s maize harvest is 45% smaller than last year’s. Practical Action has been promoting a small scale method of farming – ‘pfumyudza’ – that enables a family to grow enough maize for a year from a 16th of a hectare. One mother of three reports: “Before the training [in conservation agriculture], I could barely feed my family but now I am harvesting an average of three tonnes of maize on a smaller piece of land than I used to grow.” “From my first year of using Pfumvudza as a way of farming, and demonstrating it to others in the village, my crops never failed. The rainfall was erratic as usual but we got a good harvest.” (https://www.greenfriends.org.uk/pfumvudza-transforming-zimbabwe/
25th September 2022
In the garden it feels like a second spring as plants that have struggled during the heat, spring back with new green leaves and fresh flowers. While it is still warm, this is a good time to plant new plants or to divide up old ones. There is time for them to root in before the winter and to get them selfs well established before next summer’s heat wave.
24th September 2022
Manure and urine from farm animals is a major source of ammonia: in the UK 87% of ammonia released into the air comes from agriculture. Here ammonia reacts with other compounds in the air to form particulate matter that pollutes the air, irritating lungs and affect people’s breathing. Ammonia also leads to the creation of smog, and the acidification of water and soil. It is harmful to plants and wildlife as well as humans.
A particular concern at the moment is the health of the River Wye in Herefordshire. A large number of intensive chicken farms have been established in the Wye valley and the affluent from millions of chickens has created an algal bloom that is destroying the biodiversity of the river.
This is another good reason for reducing our meat consumption.
The Green Tau 