livesimply

A good starting point for this series would be for us to consider the ‘livesimply’ challenge promoted by CAFOD.  The idea for livesimply comes from a prophetic document, written by Pope Paul VI.  ‘On the Development of Peoples’ (Populorum Progressio, 1967) explains what the Church has to say about the growing poverty and injustice of the developing world.

Livesimply looks at our personal responsibility for creating transformation and change, both in ourselves and in the world. We are asked to reflect on our lifestyles and to choose to live in simple, sustainable ways and in solidarity with the poor, so that we can help create a world in which human dignity is respected and everyone can reach their full potential.

Livesimply says it is our turn to look at ways we can change things in ourselves and in the world. It is not just about money. It is a challenge to think about how our lifestyles can reflect our solidarity with people who are poor. 

If you are wondering how you, as an individual or a family, could make the world a better place for everyone you could start by making a livesimply promise. The point of a livesimply:promise is to do something that either shows your solidarity with people who are poor, or your concern for a sustainable lifestyle, or your desire to live more simply, and then to inspire other people to do the same.

If you have access to the internet, you may like to sign up to a promise online and promote it to others who may like to join you to help create a community action.  In this way not only are you making a change to your lifestyle but also you are encouraging others to do the same.  Also, if you are finding it hard to keep your promise, you will know there are others out there you can turn to for support.

If you do not have access to the internet, you can still make and live out your promise. 

CAFOD have set up a range of promises to help people to begin to make a difference.  Since then others have added to the promises.  Promises so far include things such as a promise to:

• Refuse, re-use or recycle all plastic carrier bags
• Unplug the television when not watching it
• Take the 99% challenge and give a monthly donation to CAFOD
• Give old and unwanted clothes to charity, instead of throwing them away
• Choose fair-trade goods over other goods when they are available
• To pray every morning before turning on the computer
• Save electricity

During Lent, CAFOD focussed on livesimply and there will be other initiatives throughout the year. For more information, visit the following web-sites:

http://www.cafod.org.uk/get_involved/livesimply/what_is_livesimply

www.livesimply.org.uk

On the days when you doubt that the contribution that you are making can really make any difference to our world and its people, remember this quote from Margaret Mead: