Comments on: Reduce Your Energy Consumption http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/50-ways-to-help-save-the-earth-reduce-energy-consumption/ an online magazine for spiritual seekers. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:29:07 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Matthttp://www.bustedhalo.com/features/50-ways-to-help-save-the-earth-reduce-energy-consumption/#comment-4906 Matt Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:55:14 +0000 http://www.bustedhalo.com/?p=9412#comment-4906 Megan, I think you are looking at this article as something it's not. It's not claiming to solve all the problems on the planet; this chapter is doing EXACTLY what it says it would do-reduce energy consumption.Because one person might not be able to affect the change that is needed to solve the earth's greatest problems than they should just ignore basic tips like turning off the light when you aren't using it? C'mon. Megan, I think you are looking at this article as something it’s not. It’s not claiming to solve all the problems on the planet; this chapter is doing EXACTLY what it says it would do-reduce energy consumption.

Because one person might not be able to affect the change that is needed to solve the earth’s greatest problems than they should just ignore basic tips like turning off the light when you aren’t using it? C’mon.

]]> By: Meganhttp://www.bustedhalo.com/features/50-ways-to-help-save-the-earth-reduce-energy-consumption/#comment-4527 Megan Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:51:45 +0000 http://www.bustedhalo.com/?p=9412#comment-4527 I really do appreciate that faith communities are getting on board with environmentalism, honestly I do, but I take serious issue with the statement " it is essential that we learn the most important ways to reduce our personal energy consumption. Small commitments add up." Because the truth is, small commitments on a personal level DON'T add up, at least not to any quantity that is going to be effective at addressing the looming environmental crisis. Living simply is effective as a personal faith commitment; no argument there. But personal consumer choices will not make the difference that is needed. The only way for us to make the kind of difference that our planet requires, at this point in history, is to push for dramatic global changes in the way our industrial, consumer, military institutions operate. Without that kind of change, we are just going to be happily installing efficient lightbulbs while the world burns down around us. There is a timely essay on the subject today which can be read here: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/07/08. It is entitled "Forget Shorter Showers: Why Personal Change does not Equal Political Change." I encourage all faithful people to read it, and allow themselves to be challenged to a more radical discipleship... beyond reducing their dryer usage. I really do appreciate that faith communities are getting on board with environmentalism, honestly I do, but I take serious issue with the statement ” it is essential that we learn the most important ways to reduce our personal energy consumption. Small commitments add up.” Because the truth is, small commitments on a personal level DON’T add up, at least not to any quantity that is going to be effective at addressing the looming environmental crisis. Living simply is effective as a personal faith commitment; no argument there. But personal consumer choices will not make the difference that is needed. The only way for us to make the kind of difference that our planet requires, at this point in history, is to push for dramatic global changes in the way our industrial, consumer, military institutions operate. Without that kind of change, we are just going to be happily installing efficient lightbulbs while the world burns down around us. There is a timely essay on the subject today which can be read here: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/07/08. It is entitled “Forget Shorter Showers: Why Personal Change does not Equal Political Change.” I encourage all faithful people to read it, and allow themselves to be challenged to a more radical discipleship… beyond reducing their dryer usage.

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