JourneyOnline
I’VE ALWAYS been an armchair greenie.
I have the passion for it, but perhaps lack the conviction to be a model environmental citizen.
But this year all that was going to change.
I bought a bike so I could ride to work rather than drive, but the mountain between home and the office has dissuaded me
somewhat.
Then the dog ate my pedal and the bike is now under the house.
This year I have also committed to only buying seasonal, locally grown and organic food and eating less meat.
But then I go out to dinner and never ask if what I am eating was locally grown.
Now I have decided (after watching the BBC series Blood, Sweat and Luxuries) to only buy things I really need and to make
sure they are made by people who are earning a fair wage.
This has been something I have been passionate about for years, but now is crunch time.
The challenge will be the end of financial year sales.
Bargains are my weakness, particularly when it comes to clothes, but putting a human face on the products I buy helps me make more informed choices.
If the workers are paid well and have ethical working environments being ‘made in China’ is only an issue because of the travel miles the clothes are clocking up.
To help me in this endeavour I have been looking online for ethical fashion.
There is surprisingly little available in Australia but did find the Ethical Clothing Australia website.
But being ‘green’ is more than just about my personal decisions.
This is an issue much bigger than you or I alone.
As the earth’s population edges closer to 9 billion, with most of the growth happening in the developing world, living out the theological call to care for the earth has never been more justified.
Let’s lead by example just as the church has on so many justice issues in the past.
