By Reverend Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain

As we continue the Lenten journey, we commit ourselves each day to living intentionally through the choices that we make. We pay attention to our relationship with God, with each other and with ourselves and reflect on where the choices we are making are enhancing or diminishing our relationships.

This week I read two great articles about Lent. The first was published in The Guardian, Leaning into Lent: whether believer or agnostic, there are lessons for us all by Justine Toh, senior research fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity.

The second was sent to me by our Sustainability Captains, Tiffany Chue and Pip Humphries. I commend their comprehensive and yet achievable ideas about sustainable choices.

Tiffany writes, “Most people know Lent as a time of fasting and abstinence from something we love best - the popular choices are chocolates, meat and social media. For many, Lent is also a time for turning away from all that is counter to God’s purposes for this world and all who live in it. This Lenten season, why not challenge yourselves to take a step towards a more sustainable world, and commit to the lifestyle change of your Carbon Fast. With minor adjustments to your routine or shopping, you can make a huge difference!”

Here are suggestions from Tiffany and Pip to make your 2024 more sustainable.

Cycle or walk instead

• Petrol and diesel cars are the biggest contributors to ongoing greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT. By making small routine adjustments, we can each be part of the move forward!
• Cycling and walking are hugely beneficial – both to your health, and to the planet. To meet the recommended 30 mins of exercise each day, why not ride or walk?
• Radford's bike racks are getting a lot of use, but there's always room for one more. For parents and caregivers: have you looked at the bike rack options your workplace offers?
• E-bikes are another very valid mode of transport.

Use public transport

• Canberra has an awesome bus and tram system. For the next month, why not skip the drive, support our public transport system, and take the bus instead?
• Taking the bus is a great way to cut down on emissions, and it gives you time to read a book, listen to a podcast, or get that daily Duolingo done!
• For more info, see: https://www.climatechoices.act.gov.au/transport-and-travel

Aim for zero food waste

Look at your food this week – what's going to waste? Identifying areas for improvement is a good first step. From there, think about:

• Limiting the packing your food comes in and bringing a lunchbox instead.
• If food is left uneaten regularly, bring less. Make sure you're only bringing what you'll eat.
• Keep in mind what your family eats when you're shopping. If you're not eating it, save yourself money by only getting what you need.
• Look into getting chickens or setting up your own compost system. Alternatively, Radford has a new worm farm which can handle your excess food.

Reduce your plastic consumption

Begin your plastic-free journey today! What can you reduce? Some first steps can be:

• Look at what comes home from the shops – do you need to buy packaged fruit, or can you bring your own bags?
• Is a mini packet or 'snack-sized' pack the best option, or can you get a bigger packet and take smaller containers of your food instead?
• Move away from kitchen waste like clingwrap and single-use foil. Beeswax wraps, containers, or other reusable kitchen supplies are great for storing food.

Turn off the taps

• Do you leave the tap running in the school kitchen or bathroom? You’ll be surprised at the savings we can make to our water bills in the long run.

Make sure organic waste (and only organic waste!) ends up in the green bins!

• Worm farms help reduce Radford’s carbon footprint. Please use these bins properly.
• Keep contaminants out and inquire about how to best protect our new worm friends from pollution.

Save electricity

• Switch off the lights and appliances at the source when not in use.
• The ACT Government is working towards 100% renewable energy by 2045, and you can follow this link for more information on how to make your next choice more sustainable in the long run.

More everyday climate choice information can be found on the ACT government's website. Their pages are full of helpful information, available in different languages, and are super accessible to help you make your first few climate-friendly choices.

Remember, small actions can lead to big success, so let’s all work together to achieve a better tomorrow.