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St Bride's Choir posing at their Plastic Less Lent campaign launch

Plastic Less Lent: A new St Bride’s Choir adventure

Concerned about the amount of plastic in your life? Would you like to find ways to use less? Then join St Bride's Choir and many others this year in the challenge of a Plastic-less Lent ( #PlasticLessLent). 

Plastic has become so large a part of our everyday lives that giving it up completely is almost impossible – but using less isn't.

Lent is a period of discipline when we reflect on what is wrong in our lives and try to change that. The damage our plastic usage is inflicting on the planet is a clear wrong. Together, we can find alternatives, share experiences and make a difference.

St Bride's Choir has been inspiried by theologian and environmentalist Ruth Valerio ( read her introduction).

Ruth suggests various ways to tackle the problem. During Lent, we will follow her idea of using less of or finding an alternative for a particular plastic item each week. Details, advice and reviews will be in the Order of Service and on the website, with regular updates on the St Bride's Choir Facebook and Twitter accounts.

So think, read, be inspired by the Choir's lead and let's start to right a wrong. Simple actions can make a difference if we have faith in them so live your Lent well in the spirit of positive Christian fellowship ( #LiveLent – the Church of England's Lent 2018 programme).   As Ruth Valerio says: "It'll be a Lent adventure, and together we can take many little steps in the right direction."

A message from David Attenborough on the permanence of oceanic plastic

Some Background Reading About the Issue

For an overview of the problem about disposable plastic:

https://www.fauna-flora.org/news/plastic-pollution-disposable-life

A report about how plastic has reached one of the most isolated places on the planet, the Mariana Trench:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/sea-creatures-manmade-fibres-sea-pollution-deep-ocean-scientists-mariana-trench-newcastle-university-a8058106.html

And Some Insights & Possible Solutions

Environment Secretary, Michael Gove and many other politicians were shocked by the plastic pollution depicted by Blue Planet II. This will hopefully translate into policy in the near future:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/19/michael-gove-haunted-by-plastic-pollution-seen-in-blue-planet-ii

A non-profit organisation dedicated to plastic pollution solutions:

https://www.plasticoceans.org/

Here is a blog written by Californian Beth Terry who has been living plastic-free since 2007:

https://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/

How the arts may be able to help with the problem of plastic pollution:

https://theconversation.com/five-ways-the-arts-could-help-solve-the-plastics-crisis

Major supermarket retailer Iceland pledges to go plastic-free on all own-brand items. Could other supermarkets follow suit?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/16/iceland-pledges-go-plastic-free/

Practical Help On Reducing Your Plastic

A comprehensive list of retailers that currently offer refillable produce:

https://thezerowaster.com/zero-waste-near-you/

Written by Nina Bennet, St Bride’s Choir

Posted On: Friday 9th February, 2018

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