Tips for pilgrims to make World Youth Day environmentally friendly

Special to The Criterion

For the youths and young adults headed to World Youth Day in Portugal from Aug. 1-6, the Laudato Si’ Action Program offers 10 tips for making the pilgrimage environmentally friendly. Many of the tips are also helpful in everyday life for people wanting to do their part for the environment.

Bring a reusable water bottle. Throughout the day, try to fill it with potable water. Say no to disposable bottled water.

For coffee or tea lovers, bring a reusable mug. It facilitates carrying hot beverages and avoids the use of paper cups.

Carry two small reusable containers for snacks of dried fruit and nuts, cookies, etc., bought in bulk beforehand. It’s cheaper and can be shared. Avoid individually packaged cookies, cakes and energy bars.

Have a complete meal kit with reusable cutlery and, preferably, a container with a lid. This way, you can save any leftover food for later or else purchase unpackaged food items. Prepare a small bottle of detergent to wash the dishes at the end of the day.

Be responsible in water usage. Reduce the time spent in showers and washes to the bare essential. Use a water spray to cool down or a small damp cloth.

Have a reusable cloth bag on hand as an addition to the backpack space. Refuse plastic bags or even paper bags.

Carry a box with soap for personal hygiene and blue laundry soap for washing small pieces of clothing.

Look for recycling bins for paper, glass and plastic packaging. Avoid throwing everything in mixed waste bins. If there isn’t one nearby, keep it in a backpack to dispose of later in a recycling bin.

Prioritize personal conversations within your group and with other pilgrims. Limit the use of mobile phones to strictly necessary situations. Avoid continuous sharing of photos and videos to make the battery last all day and relieve the burdened servers of the planet.

Stuff a small diary and a pencil into your backpack. Let’s use moments of silence, waiting and meditation to connect with our thoughts and with nature. Writing allows our spirit to breathe. Rereading what we have written gives us a deeper insight into our thoughts, feelings, behavior and beliefs. †

Related story: In joy and thanksgiving, young people head to World Youth Day in Portugal