Personal Lifestyle Audit
Being a Christian should challenge us to face issues in the world around us and do something about them. These questions provide a measure of checking out your lifestyle and thinking. Your answers and scores should be a stimulus for discussion and action - mark yourself as honestly as you can! Use the definitions at the bottom of the page to clarify the questions. For each question please select the appropriate response.
Definitions
'Fair Trade' is a process which pays producers a good price for their labour, instead of a price which they are forced to accept just to stay in business.
'Environmentally Friendly' means being sensitive to the need to reduce the use of natural resources, considering pollution and the amount of energy used by producing or using a product.
'Free Range' is a term applied to livestock which have continuous day time access to open air. The ground is mainly covered with vegetation, there is a maximum density of livestock per acre, and the feed must be free of animal products. Free range must not be confused with "Farm Fresh" or "Country Fresh" which could still involve factory farming methods.
'Transport Miles' refers to the mileage covered by an item from the producer of the raw ingredients to the shop floor. E.g. a locally grown potato may travel to a washing centre, then to a distribution centre before it reaches your local superstore, however the local market will sell it dirty direct from the farm! More transport is used and therefore more congestion and pollution is produced by shopping at superstores.
'Recycling' is the idea of using materials again. If an item cannot be re-used in its present form, it can be broken down and the materials used again. This process uses far less energy and natural resources than using raw materials each time.
A 'Wormery' is a plastic bin with a sealed lid, a sump and a tap to drain off collected liquid. Tiger worms will eat degradable kitchen waste, turning it into a rich compost. The liquid forms an excellent plant feed - home made Baby Bio!
'Local Exchange Trading Systems' are mechanisms for trading without money. Instead they use currency based on people's time and skills.
'Multinationals' are huge global companies who provide jobs in many nations but which don't necessarily consider the environmental and local economic impact of their business.
'Car Sharing' makes use of spare places in cars when two or more people are travelling to the same destination at the same time. The pollution caused by car fumes damages the ozone layer (which protects us from harmful sun rays) as well as contributing to diseases such as asthma.
'Nestle Boycott Campaign' focuses on Nestle's biggest-selling brand, Nescafe coffee. The boycott is co-ordinated by Baby Milk Action who aim to halt the commercial promotion of bottle feeding and to protect good infant nutrition.
