In the past two weeks, we have examined two farming methods that could help restore the land. However, the nature is not always men’s ally. When abnormal weather happens, what could impoverished farmers do to help themselves?
Drought is a frequent occurrence in central India where climate changes have caused great damages to the local farmers due to scarcity of rains. Climate change is one of the factors that drives farmers into a corner. In 2015 alone, there were over 12,000 farmer suicide cases due to severe financial difficulties in India [1]. Our partner in India, EFICOR, said countless farmers and their families suffered from hunger, and were forced to sell their livestock, or leave their hometowns in the hope of finding a job in the cities. This showed men had completely lost their hope for the land.
Living in a metropolitan, we seldom pay attention on agricultural development. In fact, our lives are dependent on hard working farmers. Could you imagine what would happen if farmers all over the world take a one-week holiday?
Affected by chronic internal armed conflict, northern, southern and southeastern parts of Myanmar faced harmful consequences leading to destruction of community livelihood and land. Family can hardly stabilise their income, whereas many children were malnourished.
CEDAR’s partner, Myanmar Family Development Company Limited (MFDC), has been teaching community representatives from these areas organic farming methods that would restore soil quality and improve crop yield at their training centre near Yangon. In recent years, the training center began to apply teachings of the Bible to teach community representatives from these areas to practise crop rotation, in order to preserve Sabbath for land, recovery of soil quality and yield improvement.
Lent refers to the 40 days period (excluding Sundays) preceding Easter, during which Christians would involve in practical exercises such as praying, fasting, penance, abstinence, almsgiving, and practising self-denial to reflect and adapt a sacrificial, minimalistic, and caring lifestyle.
In the past few years, CEDAR has promoted the same idea of simplistic-living through different events and articles, encouraging brothers and sisters to live our lives on the foundation of Christ’s salvation and rebuild our relationships with God, with ourselves, with each other, and with the environment.
We will continue the practice this year and focus on the mission to reconcile with the land. We are going to reflect on our commitment in “liberating the creation from its bondage to decay and bringing it into the freedom and glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21) through a 6-week ePrayer series, featuring CEDAR and its partners’ work examples.
Lent is the 40 days of reflection and meditation before Easter to prepare ourselves for Resurrection Sunday. Modeling after Jesus’ experience during 40 days of fasting, praying and being tempted in the desert, Christians also engage in reflecting within our inner souls, crying out for God’s mercy and dwelling on the love of God through praying, fasting, self denial, repenting, self-control, etc., as well as experience the hardship of the poor in order to learn to deny one’s desires and live a life of simplicity and love.
Meditating throughout Lent encompasses our relationship with God, with others and with the God-created land we live on. In repentance, we await restoration through the power of Jesus’ resurrection, reconciling us with others and with the rest of creation.
Why Take Part?> Human activity is the main root cause of environmental damage and global warming. Climate change causes drought and famine in Africa and floods in Asia for many years running, driving the poor whose lives depend on natural resources into deeper poverty. Our day to day lives may not be impacted severely by the changing climate yet, but what about people who struggle to feed their families or find a home that will not get washed away or cannot work because the fields have been destroyed by droughts and storms? It’s our job to bring hope. Join us in Carbon Fast this Lent to respond to this challenge, remembering how God has called us to respect and look after his good creation and to protect poor people whom we know are suffering the most.
Your Response> Join CEDAR’s Carbon Fast during Lent (from 13 February to 30 March 2013) to meditate on the Word of God, appreciate God’s creation, reflect on our relationship with the environment, understand the circumstances of those most affected by climate change, and take part in Carbon Fast to change our inherent life style and to care for the land and the poor.
