Tag: Sustainability

Counting on … Lent 18

28th  March 2025 

Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarrelling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarrelling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” Exodus 13: 5-9

When too many people – or rather if the activities of the people are consuming too many resources – it is good to come to an amicable arrangement whereby the available resources can be shared. In the natural world some plants build this in to their growth patterns. Apple trees through their root systems and their  mycorrhizal fungi prevent new apple seedlings from growing too close less they both compete over the same nutrients. Other trees benefit from the work of magpies and squirrels which plant seeds at a fair distance away from the parent tree.

Counting on … Lent 16

26th  March 2025

Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it? For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: “Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.”’ The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. And Moses said to them, ‘Let no one leave any of it over until morning.’ But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul. And Moses was angry with them.

Exodus 16: 4, 14-20

Taking only what is sufficient for our needs is the best way of ensuring we don’t damage the future supply of food and resources necessary for daily life. Most of the world’s problems are a result of our over consumption and over polluting of the environment.

Counting on … Lent 6

12th March 2025

“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that Adam should be alone; I will make them a helper as their partner.’ So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what they would call them; and whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” Genesis 2: 18,19

Soil degradation is a global problem, resulting largely from intensive farming practices whereby the soil is denuded of essential organic matter. Degraded soils do not support healthy plants – be that wild plants or crops. They does not absorb water leading both to floods and droughts. Humans have caused this degradation of the soil in part because they have not cared for those helpers that live in the soil – such as earthworms. The use of pesticides and herbicides as well as excessive tillage of the soil depleted worm and other soil tending populations. 

We sons and daughters of Adam need a greater understanding of our fellow God-given helpers and a better commitment to care for them.

https://www.soilassociation.org/causes-campaigns/save-our-soil/meet-the-unsung-heroes-looking-after-our-soil/why-are-worms-important/
Worming our way towards healthier soils

Counting on … day 44

3rd March 2025

Most new technology seeks to reduce the effort needed to complete a task. This can mean automation or semi automation, and often leads to a reduction in job opportunities. Sometimes we might as a society wish to reflect on this: would it be better to have more manual jobs and less unemployment?  Would it be better to have hand made bread rather than factory made bread? And if so would we be prepared to pay more for our bread? (Interestingly we have in recent years been willing to pay more for hand-made cups of coffee.)

Would it be better to sweep roads with brooms rather than with motorised road sweeping vehicles? Might this be cheaper as it would not require electricity to recharge the vehicle? 

Would it be cheaper than the contribution made through taxes for unemployment benefit?

(Returning to coffee – are taxes being used to pay benefits to those on low pay eg baristas)

Counting on … day 43

28th February 2025

Many products that are made and sold are designed to replace manual power with electrical power, whilst at the same time health advice is that we should increase our physical activity to maintain our health. From experience I know that using a washing machine is very much easier and less time consuming that washing by hand – and ensures a quicker drying time – so I would always prefer to have washing machine. But are there some activities that we could as easily and as beneficially perform manually? A broom to sweep the path? A dustpan and brush to sweep the stairs? Secateurs to clip the bush? A ballon whisk for batters?

Hand power is satisfying and gives me a greater sense of independence and control.

Counting on … day 39

25th February 2025

Improving technology can make things we use more efficient. However this doesn’t always lead to a reduction in our use of energy and resources. Flatscreen TVs are more energy efficient than the bulky cathode ray TVs, but rather than taking advantage of the energy/ resource saving offering by flatscreen TVs we now buy bigger and bigger TVs so loosing the benefit of what we could have saved! 

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/technology/shopping-guide/televisions

Counting on … day 38

24th February 2025

Recently I read an article promoting Low Tech as a better means to achieving a sustainable global economy. The logic would be that whilst electric cars are a better alternative to petrol cars because they produce less greenhouse gas emissions, bicycles for short journeys and trains for longer journeys would be more sustainable in terms of resources used and pollution created. And as a plus, encouraging active travel would benefit people’s health and reduce medical costs.

https://theconversation.com/low-technology-why-sustainability-doesnt-have-to-depend-on-high-tech-solutions-176611?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=bylinecopy_url_button

Counting on … day 31

13th February 2025

Waterfalls are dramatic natural features because of their power and beauty. The power of falling water is utilised by water wheels and hydro power plants. Its power is replicated by power showers and power hoses – but in those situations we may want to think whether the amount of energy and water used is reasonable in a world where we are already overusing limited resources.

That said, another way of saving water and energy is to shower less often. Most of us don’t need to shower every day – we can wash bits of ourselves as necessary in a basin and still smell clean and fresh. 

How Much Energy Does a Shower Use?

Counting on … day 30

12th February 2025

Some 30 years ago we lived for a year in Zimbabwe, during a drought. Households were rationed to initially 50 litres of water a day (between five of us). We were able to send our washing to the laundry but for all other needs had to plan how we used our water. Apart from what we drank, every drop was reused – cooking and washing up water flushed the toilet, baths (we used a baby bath) were shared etc. We weren’t allowed to water the garden as all waste water was need to keep the sewers flowing. 

That was an extreme situation, but thinking about how we use every drop of water is relevant at any time.

Counting on … day 25

5th February 2025

Fairtrade helps ensure fair working conditions  for workers which for many consumers is an issue of social justice that means they are willing to pay a higher price for the product. Ensuring workers have a fair wage and good living conditions is also about the sustainable use of resources. People are resources that we need to value and to treat with respect. 

Food systems here in the UK and in Europe, are highly dependant on the use of part time cheap labour. In these situations workers are not paid fair wages nor are they provided with continuous year round work, holiday and sick pay etc. 

This article from the Guardian describes the case of Julia Quecaño Casimiro, from Chile, who came  to pick cherries in Herefordshire. When she left the farm a month later, she was homeless with little more than £100 in her pocket. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/nov/22/seasonal-cherrypicker-from-chile-files-unfair-dismissal-claim-against-uk-farm?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other