A Letter from Lindy May 3
Pilgrims,
Last week I invited us to devote the month of May to thinking, praying, talking, acting...individually and collectively... to heal our planet. Please read this NL article as me trying to start a Pilgrim conversation.
What I am learning through this pandemic is that it has miraculously ushered in the nascent signs of healing. Maybe one of the rare silver linings of our time. Government action amidst, at federal and state levels, however seems intent on rolling back protective legislation and policies, that when enacted, will accelerate creation crisis. We are at a crossroads.
Two readings have held me in prayer this week as I begin thinking about how God is calling Pilgrim forward now. After May 15th. First a quote from Brene Brown who reminded me that "we will not go back to normal. Our pre-corona existence was not normal other than we normalized greed, inequity exhaustion, deletion, extraction, disconnection, confusion rage, hoarding, hate and lack. We should not long to return. We are being given the opportunity to stitch a new garment. One that fits all of humanity and nature." We know this to be true at our very core.
Brown's quote coupled with a piece by Bill McKibben this week whose statistics shook me revealing how, even amidst the devastation of pandemic, climate crisis has been equally so for specific generations. Did you know that seventy-one per cent of millennials and sixty-seven per cent of Generation Z feel that climate change has negatively affected their mental health? How upset are they? Four in five people in the eighteen-to-twenty-three age cohort “aren’t planning—or didn’t want—to have children of their own as a result of climate change.” For a deeper look at the Seventh Generation survey that drew these conclusions, read here. Even if their statics fall outside the margin of error, the numbers are still staggering.
In case you are wondering about which age range falls within which generation, here you go: Generation Z: 18–23, Millennials: 24–39, Generation X: 40–55, Baby boomers: 56+
These two younger generations, not only take the science more seriously than their elders, they are also actively doing something to combat the change. This cohort of young people, to its credit, leads the constructive response to our dilemma: eighty-five per cent of millennials report that they are actively fighting climate change. What I know as a parent of millennials is that their discouragement will grow if their elders continue to oppose serious change.
So how might we use this time between, to stitch a new garment? One that fits all of humanity and nature? We cannot possibly answer that question in this NL, but perhaps we can look at 10 steps we might take (maybe already are taking) while we are still relatively homebound, that will draw us toward even more steps we can take as beloved community--together. There are pretty consistent themes from experts in the US, UK, Canada (and beyond) committed to healing God's creation.....so here is my compilation from various sources:
1. Speak up!
What’s the single biggest way we can make an impact on global climate change? “Talk to your friends and family, and make sure your representatives are making good decisions.” By voicing your concerns—via social media or, better yet, directly to your elected officials—you send a message that you care about the warming world--and your vote counts!
2. Speaking out … vote!
Without elected officials in office who believe in climate change and are willing to take action to fight it, we’re not going to see improvement on the local, regional or national level. Use your voice. Use your Vote. Vote for the people and the policies that will move the needle.
3. Power your home with renewable energy.
Choose a utility company that generates at least half its power from wind or solar and has been certified by Green-e Energy, an organization that vets renewable energy options. If that isn’t possible, take a look at your electric bill; many utilities now list other ways to support renewable sources on their monthly statements and websites.
4. Weatherize, weatherize, weatherize.
“Building heating and cooling are among the biggest uses of energy.” Heating and air-conditioning account for almost half of home energy use. You can make your space more energy efficient by sealing drafts and ensuring it’s adequately insulated.
5. Reduce water waste.
Saving water reduces carbon pollution. That's because it takes a lot of energy to pump, heat, and treat your water. So take shorter showers, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, etc. If possible switch to WaterSense-labeled fixtures and appliances.
6. Eat the food you buy—and make less of it meat.
Approximately 10 percent of U.S. energy use goes into growing, processing, packaging, and shipping food—about 40 percent of which just winds up in the landfill. “If you’re wasting less food, you’re likely cutting down on energy consumption.” . And since livestock products are among the most resource-intensive to produce, eating meat-free meals can make a big difference.
7. Buy better bulbs.
LED lightbulbs use up to 80 percent less energy than conventional incandescents. They’re also cheaper in the long run: A 10-watt LED that replaces your traditional 60-watt bulb will save you $125 over the lightbulb’s life.
8. Pull the plug(s).
Taken together, the outlets in your home are likely powering about 65 different devices—an average load for a home in the U.S. Audio and video devices, cordless vacuums and power tools, and other electronics use energy even when they're not charging. This "idle load" across all U.S. households adds up to the output of 50 large power plants in the U.S. So don't leave fully charged devices plugged into your home's outlets, unplug rarely used devices or plug them into power strips and timers, and adjust your computers and monitors to automatically power down to the lowest power mode when not in use.
9. Maintain your ride.
If all Americans kept their tires properly inflated, we could save 1.2 billion gallons of gas each year. A simple tune-up can boost miles per gallon anywhere from 4 percent to 40 percent, and a new air filter can get you a 10 percent boost.
10. Buy less stuff or say NO to plastic
Buying less cuts down on plastic packaging and reduces your carbon footprint and puts fewer greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere. Polyethylene is harmful, not only for the health of humans but also for the health of the biodiversity.
Considering the abundance of plastic in every nook and corner of our life, the task--harder than you think.. But small steps can considerably decline the amount of plastic pollution from our lives. It might be one of the best things you can do for your footprint.
I hope we continue the conversation...virtually for now, in person some time soon.
Pastor Lindy