Have you heard about Earth Hour?
Well, if you haven't, you have now. And it's tonight, from 8:00pm to 9:00pm
The idea behind Earth Hour is that, by turning off all the electricity in our homes for one hour this evening, we will be joining millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change.
From the Earth Hour website:
"Earth Hour was created by the World Wildlife Fund in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. "
We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.
Join people all around the world in showing that you care about our planet and want to play a part in helping to fight climate change. Don’t forget to sign up and let us know you want to join Earth Hour.
One hour, America. Earth Hour. Turn out for Earth Hour! "
Check out the Earth Hour website if you get a chance, it's pretty cool.
If you bring up Google, they've turned their normally bright,white screen dark for the day.
What will YOU be doing at 8:00pm tonight? :-)
(...my chicks are going to FREAK!)
To be honest, I can't see this having any long term effect. People will turn the lights off once because it's the "in thing", but I don't think they'll do it every week, or whatever. And it's the continuation of light's being turned off that is going to actually make the difference.
ReplyDeleteThere was a protest in the UK a few years ago about the price of fuel. Nobody filled up their cars one Monday. It made no difference, because people just filled up on the previous Sunday or the Tuesday after. The fuel companies didn't lose a single penny.
Hi solomon, my thought is that efforts like these create awareness. They give people small steps to start thinking in new ways. This one activity isn't meant to 'change the world', but, to me, it can be one of many things that build on one another to create a wave of change. Simple things like swapping your current lightbulbs with energy efficient ones reduce annual emissions. It's the small steps really - we don't have to stop driving our cars or cease filling our tanks (yet), but the mindful awareness of how much we drive and whether certain trips are needed is important to adopt.
ReplyDeleteBottom line - don't you think it's really up to us - and our attitudes toward change as to whether or not something works? If we ALL were to believe that nothing we do will make a difference, then NOTHING will. (hmmmm...stepping off my soapbox now.) :-)
Lights are out everynight at 9 PM in this house...yeah we have real exciting lives!!! I figure we've doing our part for some time now! :-)
ReplyDeleteI dont buy into man-made global warming but don't have any problems going green.
Hope the girlies and Roxy aren't scared!!!
It's always dark in the barn anyway. We've learned to do 'Hay by Braille'. It actually works quite well.
ReplyDeleteMan we forgot. I sure wish Mom would have read your blog yesterday.. We are very proud of you though...
ReplyDeleteBig Sloppy Kisses
Gus and Louie
This iniative sparked a huge debate on our campus: the sustainability director was really opposed to it, but the students insisted. I love that kind of dialogue. And when Google gets behind something, you know it's significant. That's got to be one of the most interesting things about our digital world: information gets to so many people so quickly (though, of course, it takes electricity, and DSL, and other first-world contrivances. . .)
ReplyDeleteDanni????? Are you still there??? Maybe the lights never came back on!!!! Well, I'm sure you're busy with the girls house etc...but we sure do miss you! AND I just was hoping you would check out my weather pixi today....not that I want to rub it in but WOW my girls in a short sleeve shirt!! Hey if you feel like it send me an email from my blog...I'd love to send you a picture of Daisy Lu in her best mud suit. If you don't want to do that it's ok too.
ReplyDeleteHope you're having fun!