Shrinking the Footprint - Loaves and Fishes

Loaves and Fishes

Most of us in the UK live "energy obese" lifestyles, consuming many times more than our fair share of the world’s resources. As with any diet, even to make small reductions can appear difficult; sustaining them over a long period harder still. And we will need to sustain our energy diet for not weeks or years, but decades. Is it worth it, when as individuals we can make such a small difference? Is it even possible to save the energy required? And what will it cost?

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes - a short environmental interpretation

In Matthew’s Gospel (Matt 15: 32-39), Jesus was faced with the substantial challenge of feeding a crowd of 4,000, which had followed him into the desert and had not eaten for three days. Rather than send them away hungry and in danger of fainting, He sat the crowd down, collected the last of the disciples’ food - seven loaves and a few small fish - blessed it and distributed it. All were fed and there was substantial food left over.

Feeding the 4,000 started with a request for action born out of concern for the welfare of others, and at what might happen if nothing was done. At Jesus’ request, the disciples gave up what little they had (which was still more than the rest) for an apparently impossible task. In the end it was more than enough. Preventing climate change can start with creating "The 40% Church"; creating "The 40% Church" can start with putting a low energy light bulb in the vestry or switching off the parish photocopier at night. If we each take responsibility for these little things today, the larger ones will become much easier tomorrow; but unless we take up responsibility ourselves, we cannot expect others to do the same.

With forward planning, creating the "The 40% Church" can be a reality and, as these three graphs for an office, parsonage (or private house) or church show, is not too difficult to foresee (though we believe the place to start is with behaviour changes). Neither need it cost too much - here is just one example of how changing by degrees can be achieved for no more than £10.

So, please, set out on the Shrinking the Footprint path and join the Measuring our Footprint energy audit. However small your energy use, it is always possible to take a proportion off. More Shrinking the Footprint initiatives will follow to help us all reach the 40% goal, but begin with the small steps, the loaves and fishes.

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Loaves and Fishes Most of us in the UK live "energy obese" lifestyles, consuming many times more than our fair share of the world’s resources. As with any diet, even to make small reductions can appear difficult; sustaining them over a long period harder still. And we will need to sustain our energy diet for not weeks or years, but decades. Is it worth it, when as individuals we can make such a small difference? Is it even possible to save the energy required? And what will it cost? The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes - a short environmental interpretation In Matthew’s Gospel (Matt 15: 32-39), Jesus was faced with the substantial challenge of feeding a crowd of 4,000, which had followed him into the desert and had not eaten for three days. Rather than send them away hungry and in danger of fainting, He sat the crowd down, collected the last of the disciples’ food - seven loaves and a few small fish - blessed it and distributed it. All were fed and there was substantial food left over. Feeding the 4,000 started with a request for action born out of concern for the welfare of others, and at what might happen if nothing was done. At Jesus’ request, the disciples gave up what little they had (which was still more than the rest) for an apparently impossible task. In the end it was more than enough. Preventing climate change can start with creating "The 40% Church"; creating "The 40% Church" can start with putting a low energy light bulb in the vestry or switching off the parish photocopier at night. If we each take responsibility for these little things today, the larger ones will become much easier tomorrow; but unless we take up responsibility ourselves, we cannot expect others to do the same. With forward planning, creating the "The 40% Church" can be a reality and, as these three graphs for an office, parsonage (or private house) or church show, is not too difficult to foresee (though we believe the place to start is with behaviour changes). Neither need it cost too much - here is just one example of how changing by degrees can be achieved for no more than £10. So, please, set out on the Shrinking the Footprint path and join the Measuring our Footprint energy audit. However small your energy use, it is always possible to take a proportion off. More Shrinking the Footprint initiatives will follow to help us all reach the 40% goal, but begin with the small steps, the loaves and fishes.