Trocaire recommends ways at home to help protect the environment:

Published on September 24, 2019

1. Use Freecycle, FreeTrade Ireland,
2. Stop junk mail.
3. Make your own gifts e.g. jam, clothes, arts and crafts etc.
4. Grow your own fruit, vegetables, herbs
5. Stop using disposable plastic water bottles
5. Stop using disposable plastic water bottles
6. Use a slow cooker- more energy efficient than an oven
7. Avoid take out cups
8. Use an electric shaver rather than disposable blades to reduce waste
9. Use the stairs rather than a lift
10. Enjoy more time in nature
11. Wash laundry at 30°C when possible
12. Campaign with Trócaire for Climate Justice
13. Buy ethical clothing
14. Check up on your own carbon footprint and see where you can make
changes
15. Dry your washing outside
16. Walk, cycle, take the bus, tram or train
17. Reduce driving speeds to use less fuel
18. Don’t leave electrical appliances on stand-by
19. Use up leftover food
20. Discuss and promote environmental issues with friends and family
21. Buy locally sourced food
22. Reduce overall meat intake and have a weekly meat-free day
23. Volunteer with Trócaire
24. Help FoodCloud (ROI) distribute surplus food from local businesses to
people in need
25. Avoid Clingfilm- use a plate to cover bowls of food or a tea towel
26. Boil only the amount of water you need in the kettle.

Reflection

‘Let us now try to put ourselves in the place of that boy. The disciples ask him to share everything he has to eat. It seems to be an unreasonable proposal. … In human terms, it is illogical. But not for God. On the contrary, thanks to that small freely given and therefore heroic gift, Jesus can feed everyone. This is a great lesson for us. It tells us that the Lord can do a lot with the little that we put at His disposal.
Even today, the multiplication of goods cannot solve problems without fair sharing. The tragedy of hunger comes to mind, which affects the little ones in particular. It has been calculated officially that every day in the world around seven thousand children under the age of five die due to malnutrition, because they do not have what they need to live.
Faced with scandals such as these, Jesus also addresses an invitation to us, an invitation like the one probably received by the boy in the Gospel, who has no name and in whom we can all see ourselves: “Be brave, give what little you have, your talents, your possessions, make them available to Jesus and to your brothers and sisters. Do not be afraid, nothing will be lost, because if you share, God will multiply. Banish the false modesty of feeling inadequate, trust yourself. Believe in love, believe in the power of service, believe in the strength of gratuitousness”.
Pope Francis