Letters - 22 November 2013
From carbon to animal rights
Carbon footprint
I am a Quaker and an energy consultant. I would like to help fellow Quakers to understand their carbon footprint quantitatively (qualitatively, we know what contributes to global warming). Here are a couple of ready reckoners about flying. First, the carbon footprint of flying is roughly (and on average) the same as the carbon footprint of driving the same distance in a car – one plane passenger per car. Second, a return flight from London to the east coast of America contributes about two tonnes of CO2 equivalent per passenger, a return flight to Australia about six tonnes. Putting that in context, the average annual per capita emissions of a person living in Britain, covering all activities (eating, heating, transport, shopping, lighting and appliances, and so on) is about nine tonnes. For a person living in India, the figure is about one tonne (UN statistics). Sceptical readers may wish to note that kerosene use is easily measured, as is its carbon coefficient. The only significant unknown is the degree of radiative forcing (carbon emissions are thought to be worse at high altitude: the government uses a factor of 1.9 times).
The government publishes helpful transport factors: http://bit.ly/15OAFxK
Andrew Hughes Nind
Bible study
I have just completed facilitating a series of six Friendly Bible Study sessions, which used Nietzsche’s The Antichrist as the starting point for looking at the possible Bible passages that may have inspired that extraordinary tract. We found some interesting parallels between Nietzsche’s view of Jesus and those expressed by some Quakers.
This is the fourth series of Bible study sessions I have facilitated for the ecumenical community in Norwich, based on our Quaker approach. I am a firm believer in the Friendly Bible Study method, as enabling people to grow spiritually and to inspire them to social action. I would be very interested to hear from other Friends who engage in regular group study of the Bible within their Area Meetings.
John Myhill
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