Giving up Carbon for Lent

Not being a Catholic or a member of a Protestant faith that pays much heed to Lent, I've never walked around on Ash Wednesday with a smudge on my forehead or given up some item or food for 40 days as some do. However, for those that do Lent is a big deal and in England some bishops are suggesting that their parishioners consider giving up carbon emissions for their Lenten observance:

Two senior bishops led calls on Tuesday for people to cut back on carbon, rather than the more traditional chocolate and alcohol, for Lent this year.

Bishop of London Richard Chartres and Bishop of Liverpool James Jones have teamed up with aid agency Tearfund to invite the public to take part in a carbon fast for the next forty days.

Those taking part in the drive to reduce their carbon footprint will be able to choose daily energy saving actions from a booklet.

"For example, on the first day, people can take out one of their light bulbs and whenever they go to turn that light on, and it doesn't work, they can remember why they are fasting from carbon -- to help the poor of the world. At the end of the fast they can replace it with an energy-saving light bulb," Jones -- who is vice-president of Tearfund -- explained.

I think I'll save energy by continuing my lifelong non-observance of Lent.