: "Thou shall not harm the environment" could well be the new-age commandment for members of the Mar Thoma Church. In a novel message, Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan, the senior most bishop of Mar Thoma Church, has urged the members of the community to observe 'carbon fasting' during this Lent period and urged them to do as much as they can to protect the environment and reduce global warming.The Metropolitan in his letter to the church members has listed what to do on each day of the 50- day Lent that began on Feruary 22 and cut down on carbon besides meat, fish, egg and chocolates this year "The current climate change estimates predict increase in temperatures of 1.4 C to 5.8 C by 2100. This will affect species in several ways such as changes in distribution; increased extinction rates; changes in reproduction timings and changes in length of growing seasons for plants," he says. The 50-day plan prepared by the bishop lists simple energy-saving actions that can lead to a lighter carbon footprint. The plan includes snubbing plastic bags, giving the dishwasher a day off, recycling and even avoiding travel by vehicles. Participants are asked to begin the carbon fast by removing one light bulb from a prominent place in their houses and live without it for 50 days as a constant visual reminder during Lent for the need to cut energy.On the final day of the fast, people are encouraged to replace the missing bulb with an energy-saving bulb..
The New Indian Express, 25th February 2009
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