The Pope Going Green

This kind of support means a broader base for the green movement. It also indicates the imperative nature of our ecological issues. When was the last time you heard a pope talk about the environment?

According to Reuters:

Pope Benedict used his traditional New Year address on Friday to call on people to change their lifestyles to save the planet, saying environmental responsibility was essential for global peace.

Recalling that world leaders had gathered in Copenhagen last month for the U.N. climate conference, the pope said action at a personal and community level was just as important to safeguard the environment.

“Nevertheless, in this moment, I would like to underline the importance of the choices of individuals, families and local administrations in preserving the environment,” the Pope told the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

“An objective shared by all, an indispensable condition for peace, is that of overseeing the earth’s natural resources with justice and wisdom.”

Remember, those choices are made by people like you and I, every day. One of the BIGGEST things you can do, obviously, is lessen the use of your vehicle. Or make sure its as fuel efficient as possible.

Of course, it only starts there. In the next FIVE minutes, there are choices you make that affect the environment - a light that could be turned off, your refrigerator running at high speed, the water leaking in the bathroom, the use of paper products (stop using so many paper towels! They do grow on trees!) If you can’t ride your bike to work, what is the next step?

Make it something. The Pope just decreed it!

(FYI - The NRDC estimates that if every household in the United States used one less roll of paper towels, we could save 544,000 trees.)