As editor of A group called the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is suggesting that families make a sacrifice for Lent this year that will help make the world more sustainable.
The plastics-related suggestion caught my eye -- to give up disposable plastic or paper bags and replace them with reusable cloth bags.
But according to this story from the Catholic News Service, plastics aren't being singled out. The target is consumption and lifestyle, with a goal to focus on "Christian simplicity." And the coalition also has some suggestions that specifically mention paper, too:
- Use cloth shopping bags instead of paper or plastic to reduce the estimated 380 billion plastic bags distributed in the United States each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. The U.S. Department of Energy says that if each U.S. household replaced just one bulb, it would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
- Give up disposable paper products such as napkins and paper towels.
- Use a refillable mug instead of disposable cups. One coffee drinker using disposable cups can generate 22 pounds of waste in a year.
Comments (2)
Of course I'm sure everyone will dispose of the compact fluorescent bulbs in the prescribed manner according to EPA rules; seal in two plastic bags and place them in the outside trash. If one breaks in your home there is a whole other set of rules such as opening windows, leaving the room, shutting off central heating and air conditioning, etc. as the bulbs contain some mercury. What's worse, greenhouse gas emission or mercury? Oh wait, with no plastic bags to properly dispose of them... Thanks, I'll stick with the incandescent.
Posted by Darla | March 4, 2011 2:50 PM
Posted on March 4, 2011 14:50
Ironically, the Luddites are not those who use plastic bags and the incandescent bulbs...for it is the "progressive" environmentalists create the paradoxical dilemmas of "no plastic bags" while championing a bulb that must be placed in double plastic bags.
I’d flush all these pseudo-environmental-justice advancements away, but alas - the modern toilets prescribed through legislative malfeasance are entirely insufficient.
It would be far better for our nation to give up deficit spending for lent.
Posted by Ron Kirscht | March 6, 2011 11:07 AM
Posted on March 6, 2011 11:07