Lent and Climate Change….I believe….As Easter heralds new life...

Made Easter eggs at home, pass down the tradition...

Lent and Climate Change….I believe we have a lesson here….As Easter heralds new life, reflect on the carbon footprints we are leaving behind rather than focusing totally on simply fasting .Sacrifice and save electricity, curb food wastage, use less water, less paper, plant more trees… even beyond the 40 days this season..

Mom donating food...

 

Its Easter this Sunday, I have already made my first batch of Easter Eggs for my children at home. As an adult Christian I willingly, on my own did give up some meals during the 40 days of fasting called Lent to eat at night mostly. But year after year as I grow older, I feel there is a deeper meaning to Easter as I age as a an older Mom now. Of course the children have watched me make the eggs at home year after year setting a tradition, am hoping that they will carry this on with fervor instead of buying the best brands available outdoors.But more than the curries, bunnies and Easter lilies blooming,which ofcourse is the essence of the festive celebrations alright, I would like to believe thats it is a time to reflect on our food habits during lent. It is a time to curb, restrain and develop self control, attributes which will go a long way in making us strong personalities later on in life. In a quick fix world and instant coffee age we can lead by example alone. We can not preach.

 

These 40 days of lent which get over this weekend, hopefully we have lost a few kilos but we can learn to curb ‘food wastage”. Most of us are incredibly fortunate to have access to such bountiful food and I feel the greatest way to show thanks and appreciation for it is to honour it by eating appropriately sized portions and tasting every bite. I believe,again its a personal choice,Fasting alone is not Lent—we must reflect about how much food goes into the garbage and landfills, so much methane gas is produced when it rotts, so much water and money goes into making that food, we can not control wastage in restaurants and parties but we can control wastage at home, to start with. Food wastage and climate change go hand in hand. The bigger the garbage bag ,the more carbon goes into the atmosphere. With people still dying in the recent flash floods when its not even monsoons here in India, what more proof does one need that climate change is for real.This is what lent is about, for me atleast so as you celebrate Easter again this year think if you have added to the global crisis of food waste or not.

Use your left over food wisely, recreate them into new dishes and dont be ashamed to serve small portions and take refills again, hand down the habit of food waste management this Easter and celebrate the spring festival with gratitude that we eat 4 meals a day when it is not Lent, Easter refreshes us and renews us, So think hard again, that we can not leave behind our ‘food wasted footprints’ for the next generation to ape. Or have we sacrificed enough for Mother Earth our only Planet? Take a look around you and see,it is true that we can 'change Climate Change',through our Lenten habits! Happy Easter!!