Fasting for an Environmentally Friendly World

On February 17, that time of year comes round again: the beginning of the Lenten season. During this 40-day period before Easter, believers are supposed to abstain from things that are pleasant and dear to them, such as chocolate, alcohol and cigarettes, as an outward sign of penance and reflection. In past times, fasting was about nothing less than salvation of the soul. Now, however, it is probably more a matter of well-intentioned resolutions at the beginning of a new year.

Yet regardless of whether it is abstinence or resolution, the goal is to put the endeavor into practice with motivation, under the motto less is more. At any rate, a Forsa survey conducted last year indicated that Germans have clear ideas about what they want to reduce: beer, wine or candy. So this means that the fasting period has nowadays become more of a fitness period. It should not really be a huge sacrifice to give up things that harm your body and mind in the long run. It is instead dictated by common sense. In any case, this awareness of the problem would also be desirable on the other 325 days of the year.

How about Climate Fasting?

But even if you are unconnected to the church or low-carb nutrition, Lent can be used wisely. So why not tackle the things that are really difficult, such as climate fasting? So this time, everyone could try to live on a more sustainable basis, consume less and reduce their ecological footprint accordingly.

A few weeks after the now long-forgotten New Year resolutions, Lent finally offers a good incentive to think again about what really makes you happy and what people actually need in their lives. And it is worth thinking about it, because if abstinence is bearable, has a purpose and is even a little bit of fun, it will also work in the long range. This newly acquired attitude can also help us to be much more aware of spring, the Easter celebration, and the reawakening of nature. We can also develop gratitude for how good we actually have it and how much of it we take for granted.

Bye-Bye Plastic, Hello Nature!

One sustainability-related idea, for example, would be to do without plastic completely for 40 days. Logically, a short fasting period does not really help with this global problem. Quite apart from the fact that it is really quite sad to need a special cause for taking environmentally friendly action. Nevertheless, it would be a start – and who knows, maybe this lifestyle would even find enthusiastic imitators among friends and acquaintances!

Going plastic-free undoubtedly requires creativity and brains. But it can be done. Solid shampoo, solid soap, natural cosmetics, and bamboo toothbrushes will reign supreme in the bathroom. The kitchen will not have any cling film or aluminum foil for a while, but instead all the more fresh vegetarian food without additives from the weekly market. And when shopping at the local fair-trade store, a cloth bag will be used instead of a plastic bag. Vegetables and fruit will be put in the shopping-cart loose during Lent, and as an alternative to drinks in PET bottles, there is water from a glass bottle or even the tap.

Restrictions on using electronic devices would be just as easy to put into practice. Instead of hours of Netflix or PlayStation orgies on the sofa, just go for a good long walk and seek contact with nature or get the tried-and-tested board games out of the drawer with your partner. This not only saves electricity, but also strengthens the emotional bond.

Simple and Doable

You do not have to be limited just to plastic: the list of abstinence options is immense. Other ideas include lowering the room temperature by one degree, showering for no longer than 90 seconds to save water or, if you cannot do without the car altogether, voluntarily keeping the speed down to 80 miles per hour on highways. Even shopping does not have to be on hold during the weeks of austerity. Various seals and labels in fair-trade boutiques provide information about whether selected items of clothing have been produced using sustainable methods.

The churches have already been calling for climate fasting throughout Germany since 2015. Each of the seven weeks between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday has a different motto. Whether you are a believer or not does not matter in the slightest. After all, it is no longer just about consumption, calories and convenience. It is about enhancing quality of life. So, the fasting period is a fitting opportunity to reflect on one’s own life and make it more climate friendly. In the best-case scenario, everyone will be inspired to transfer the newly learned behavioral patterns into everyday life even after Easter. Because climate fasting can not only change the world but can also show how simple and feasible environmental protection really is.