In Japan, there is a movement to encourage citizens to return to the frugal practice of bringing reusable chopsticks when eating out. This is part of the general idea of “mottainai,” or “don’t waste,” and is beautifully highlighted in the book Replenishing the Earth, by Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner lauded for her work in the Green Belt Movement in Kenya. As Maathai writes, “this spirit has the potential to inspire others to practice their own form of mottainai in their daily lives. In its small way, such a shift in thinking shows that it’s possible to raise the consciousness of people to understand that we all live on the same planet.”
In the spirit of mottainai, the Green Team invites congregation members to bring reusable coffee mugs to fellowship time and bring them home. Or, if you forget your mug, take one from the basket of “borrow-a-mug, return-a-mug” that will be available once mug-dishwashing service ends for the season (the first Sunday in June). Bring your dirty mug home to wash and return it when you remember. We hope that throw-away cups will be your last option.
We plan on bringing back the mug-dishwashing service next fall, when the weather is
cooler and running the dishwasher is a good energy choice for a building that needs heating instead of cooling. In the meantime, please join us in a bit of mug “mottainai.”
Mary Memmott for the Green Team