Dear all,
This is kind of like a post-script, not sure if anyone will read it though!
I was just flipping thru my SOT file, and pondered on Dave Bookless tireless sacrifices. Made me realise something...
Modern civilised living by itself is a threat to the  environment! Whatever is called
a convenience or appliance or life-aid, is somehow involved in using energy and expanding entropy. Hhhmmmm!
I think God is calling us to be frugal in our use of the natural resources and energies, and the word "frugal" seems so, so miserly! How to be energy efficient then?
1. Eating less? No one promulgates this unless you are on a diet! But when you think about it, eating in excess is not only harmful to one's health, but wasteful (?). But does this mean that it is the end of one of the greatest pleasures of life - eating? Guess not, when taken in the right proportions, occasions, and in moderation and care.
2. Holidaying less? Travelling was once a luxury even for families in the UK (was this in the 60s?). Today, one is considered narrow-minded, bordering of idiocy, not to have taken advantage of the crazy low airfares in Europe. So, can we savour places nearer to home, and still have super quality memories of them?
3. Home-sharing? I think there have been papers looking into how apartment/home sharing brings down the energy usage per person. What is at stake here? Our privacy, which is something that can be invaluable for many of us.
4. Simpler life? Fresher foods and salads, less processed foods with hidden energy costs. Fewer kitchen appliances? Guess that is already what is like in most of our kitchens, unless we are chefs ourselves. Switching off TVs, radios and PCs when not in use rather than allowing them to do into stand-by modes.
5. Better insulation and less heating? Not sure how to change that  unless a major renovation 
id done first!
6. Energy-efficient lighting? I know those bulbs use much less energy, but they never seem to last as long as they claim they would! Should we have all the street lights off from 2 am till 5.30 am? Canary Wharf often looks like a  lantern even at 10 pm; they
must be working very hard!

I think the list could go on. Shucks! Saving energy and being GREEN is NO FUN. It is a damper on everything we savour about life. I guess most of us Christians will be waiting for someone else to do any of it. Leave me out of this madness and reclusive living. After all, life is so good to us! OR Isn't life hard enough without being a worry-monger? Let someone else do the worrying!

AC