Reducing our carbon output

While our summer has not been as sunny and warm as we might have wished – and hoped for after a very difficult year previously – we, in comparison to many parts of our world, have been fortunate indeed.

When we see news items on our screens and in the media regarding forest fires, floods, drought, earthquakes, typhoons and the like which cause havoc to so many people our hearts go out to them.

Our reaction may be to send a donation to help relieve some of their burden; we may offer prayers in the hope that their plight may soon be improved.

While such responses are good and a natural human response, do we ask ourselves why these things happen with increased regularity?

Yes, many are as a result of natural occurrence in what is a fractured environment, however many more are as a result of the activities of human misuse brought about by the belief that the world and its resources are available to be ‘pillaged’ with little or no thought to future consequences.

Yes, more and more of us are becoming aware of climate change and the damage being done to the environment which is given to us as a gift from the Creator, God Himself, (Genesis 1: 2830), a gift to be shared among all for the good of all.

The question I hope we are all beginning to ask ourselves is: what am I doing to reduce my carbon footprint on this planet – our common home?

DEACON TOM MURRAY St.John the Evangelist Catholic

Church, Horsham