Earth Hour offers a chance to pause and think
March 24th, 2011 by cdunaganHere’s a quick reminder that Earth Hour is Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. I’ve found it to be an enjoyable hour of sitting in the dark and talking to my family about what we can do as individuals, joining with others, to make this a better world. It also saves some electricity.
As I explained when I decided to join this demonstration two years ago, all important movements start with small actions. By taking part in Earth Hour, one is joining something both big and small. It’s big because it is taking place throughout the world. It’s small because it is such a simple thing. Review Water Ways from March 25, 2009.
For this year, some people may choose to take a few moments to
think about, or pray for, the people of Japan who are engaged in
one of the most challenging times in their country’s history.
The Earth Hour Blog includes a lot of information about how people around the world are “going beyond Earth Hour” to take positive actions that will help the planet.
Other interesting things on the Earth Hour home page include a Twitter application that will switch off the lights on your profile picture during Earth Hour, showing your support for the movement.
For those of you who think Earth Hour is nonsense, there is a kind of counter-movement to the event. Sponsored by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, it is called “Human Achievement Hour.” The idea, as I understand it, is to make sure you keep your lights on.
As described on the non-event’s web page, “To celebrate Human Achievement Hour, participants need only to spend the hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on March 26 enjoying the benefits of capitalism and human innovation: Gather with friends in the warmth of a heated home, watch television, take a hot shower, drink a beer, call a loved one on the phone, or listen to music.”
I’d like to know what readers of Water Ways think about Earth Hour and Human Achievement Hour. Alternatively, how many people are so overwhelmed with their daily lives that they have no time to ponder such esoteric things?
Tags: Climate change, Earth Hour
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
March 24th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
Chris, once again you’ve found an interesting, relevant topic and rotated it so that readers can see the facets all around it. I especially liked your last sentence/question — it’s actually a very important question. Hats off to the unsung heros like you who try to help the very busy people in our world gain a better understanding of what’s going on and why, and how they can participate.