What Environmentalists Can Learn from Easter
Lent is a time to focus on faith, self-control and love, before celebrating Easter and the representation of new life it brings. Whilst not a practising Christian, I believe that all religions offer us valuable insight into life – and I think Lent and Easter can teach environmentalists some very important lessons.
Firstly, the practice of Lent. To me, the idea of giving up small pleasures in the name of faith and love is a beautiful image; much more is gained than sacrificed. Fighting for the planet also means giving up certain aspects of our life: waste, fast fashion, plastic, pesticides, fossil-fuelled energy – all for our greater love and faith in the Earth and humanity.
Lent is also a time of reflection; another important aspect of the environmental revolution. Reflecting on our own actions - what we do well, what we could do better, learning to be kind to ourselves – are crucial for any individual undertaking the monumental task of ‘sustainability’. Reflecting on why I’m on this journey and my vision for the future reinvigorates me; it fuels the fire that – let’s be honest – sometimes dwindles in the face of blind-eyed politicians and exploiting corporations.
I find Easter’s symbol of new life particularly fitting this year. As we inch ourselves out of a three-month lockdown and enjoy some glorious spring days, it does feel like a new dawn is upon us. Hope seems to have permeated our communities as we look forward to a family and friend-filled summer (fingers crossed).
More increasingly, I sense this hope emanating from environmental organisations and climate activists. The fight for environmental justice no longer feel like a helpless, individualist struggle against an unknown force. Instead we are a science-backed revolution bringing together everyone from lawyers and politicians to retired grandparents and primary students.
In 2020, Earth Overshoot Day moved back by 3 weeks since 2019 – the first time since the 1970s that it has not moved forward. This was an indirect result of the pandemic. Whilst the last year has been anything but easy, it seems as though it has at least given some parts of the Earth time to heal and regenerate; and grant new life.
As we face the end of the pandemic we have two options; take this new life by its eco-friendly horns and keep up the momentum, or back track into old – and dangerous – ways. To do so we need to learn from the love, faith and hope that Christian traditions uphold – and apply them to the planet and those around us.