So, it's pancake Day today - or to give it it's proper name Shrove Tuesday. Making pancakes actually came about by emptying your cupboard of all 'fancy' items (milk, eggs, flour, butter) so that your meals for the next 40 days (the Lent period) were simple and plain. Nowerdays people 'give up' more extravegant things such as chocolate, alcohol and cigarettes. Some of the top religious figures are asking that instead of giving up these items you give up something that will reduce your carbon emmisions - don't use your dishwasher, your tumble dryer or car. Make sure your chargers are switched off when not in use, that sort of thing.
But that isn't all you can do. You can also change something as well: choose fair trade goods such as chocolate, bananas, sugar, jam etc; buy recycled goods; buy something eco-friendly to clean your house with; avoid those 'luxury' goods that do more harm than good (pate fois gras for example).
Whether you are Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, athiest, agnostic, Bhuddist, Jain, Sikh or Pagan (I hope I haven't missed anyone out), we can all do our bit, for forty days, forty weeks, forty months. Do one thing and see how good it is for your soul as well as everyone's wellbeing.
PS, I'm giving up chocolate which will be a real struggle with the stress of looking after two young children!
2008-02-05 @ 22:38