PUT AWAY thy iPod, banish thy Blackberry and return to silence for the period of Lent, say leading British churchmen and a charity, who have urged the public to cut out power-hungry gadgets.
The Lenten sacrifice run by the charity Tearfund has attracted thousands of members in its four years of life, leading to an approximately 25 per cent cut in the carbon emissions of each household that takes part, it claimed yesterday.
“It’s difficult to see how our energy-hungry lifestyles cause suffering for people around the world we may never meet, but the Lord invites us to walk humbly,” says Tearfund, which recommends one action for each day of Lent.
A personal computer left on 24 hours a day can create 716kg of CO2 emissions a year, while televisions on standby mode consume three to seven watts per hour – compared to 130 watts when they are on.
Each iPod recharging consumes six watts of electricity, while a DAB digital radio uses 10 watts an hour when it is on, but, even worse, it uses eight watts an hour when it is just sitting there on standby.
In the past, the fund has been supported by leading politicians, such as climate change secretary Ed Miliband and clergy of all faiths, though this year no senior Catholic clergyman has come on board.
Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, Right Rev John James, said more and more people are joining the carbon fast this year.
“There is no climate justice for the poor. This Lent, fast for justice. helps us understand how we can change the way we live.”
His Oxford counterpart, Rt Rev John Pritchard, said he joined up “because I’m painfully aware that we need to make radical changes to our privileged western lifestyles for the sake of the rest of the world”.
In the beginning, people are being asked to put away their much-loved gadgets for one day a month, while adding other actions, such as being more careful about flushing toilets and eating more vegetarian meals over time.