Eco matters

OUR WORLD - how we can CARE

It now seems some time since One World Week when some of us joined the Methodists for a service led by Revd Rob Hilton from Ilkley. I think all who were there were shocked by what he told us about the people of Tuvalu who are going to lose their island due to rising sea levels and asking who in the world would give them a home. Tuvalu is an island in the Pacific and is a member of the Commonwealth. If things had been different, you or I could have been living there. How would we feel about abandoning our homes in Menston to the sea and finding somewhere to go?

It raises so many issues and yet it is no good ignoring it because it is so big. We need to look at our lifestyles and reflect that we in the West are greedy users of the world's resources and need to change our ways. That may sound harsh but these people are our neighbours and what is happening to them affects us and needs to move us to act. Just because we will be the last to be badly affected is no excuse for doing nothing. What will our children and grandchildren say to us if we do nothing?

So does cutting back on our use of resources mean doom and gloom or could it release us from the captivity of consumerism and make us happier? Research shows that once people have necessities and maybe a bit more, they do not get happier by having more stuff or more money to spend. (Bankers please check this out!). Happiness is about relationships - how we behave and how we behave with others.

What makes you feel happy? Have a think - maybe shared endeavours and laughter about the ups and downs; giving a smile to the person in the street; noticing the spider's web in the autumn mist; freedom to walk in the hills and enjoy the sun and wind on your face. Small things on which we can reflect and be thankful for, that damage no one and are the essence of our humanity.

Rob Hilton asked us to check out the One World Week resources and make pledges such as:-

• Turn off the tap when you clean your teeth because many people don't have access to fresh water.
• Eat less meat. Why? Because if we eat less meat we could afford free range meat which enables livestock to live in a more natural environment and would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Write to your MP because if more people speak up about environmental and sustainability issues, change will really happen. TELL YOUR MP YOU CARE.

How about sharing how you get on in the next magazine or email me and we could start an online pledges group!

With very best wishes for a ‘green’ New Year.

Marilyn Banister