Well, it's been nearly 2 years since I blogged. So, as today is blog action day, and I'm sitting at home with a nasty cold, I figure I may as well start up again!
So - this year's theme for BAD is climate change. Hmm, like people have never heard me go on about that. It's awful, we need to keep ourselves in check, etc. But instead of my normal eco-ranting, I want to just highlight how climate change and the environment have become part of normal conversation - which is, in my opinion, a step in the right direction...
- When chatting with a colleague the other day, we discussed how multiple-point parishes might be the way of the future; once the oil runs out and people can't drive 50km+ to go to church, having a small local chapel to go to is going to be handy.
- Chatting today with a different colleague, Earth Hour came into conversation - and how for some people it's not a big deal at all, as they already live the eco-friendly lifestyle, and for others, it's a problem - but they feel that by turning out the lights for an hour in March they've done their nature-friendly thing for the year, despite reality that energy production doesn't change at all.
- I was gifted a new book yesterday; it's called "Sacramental Commons" by John Hart - foreward by Leo Boff, afterward by Thomas Berry - some of my favourite authors :) Not only does it acknowledge the sacramental component of nature, but it's primary focus is on water (my personal favourite!) I'm looking forward to this read.
- My next door neighbours on one side don't drive. My neighbour on the other side drives everywhere. I'm somewhere in between - I will use transit or walk if I can - but too often just go for the convenience of the automobile... I walked a lot more (and was in much better shape) when I couldn't afford a car... hmmm..... but the 'walk' rant is for another day.
- I live right beside a bus stop. But the service is lousy, the bus is expensive, and the routes are terrible. I tried to bus to a doctor's appointment recently - it's about a 12-minute drive; the bus route planner indicated the fastest time on transit was over an hour. Maybe Hamilton needs to re-evaluate its bus routes given that the city has changed dramatically over the years?
- I was driving back from a meeting this afternoon in TO; the 401 has carpool lanes now. The left-hand lane is saved for cars with more than one person in them - I'm good with this plan! Yes, it meant that I was sitting in traffic while commuters were zooming past, but if I had to drive that route every day, it would convince me to carpool as much as possible!
- The weather this year has been really odd - and dramatic. Cool summer, then a few stinking hot days, a really wet and rainy fall. Hmmm, think perhaps mother earth is trying to reject the being that's killing her? Go Gaia!
