I guess if Earth Hour is good enough for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Kitsap County commissioners, it’s good enough for me.
I was going to ignore this so-called demonstration, which is supposed to show that all of us can address the problems of climate change and together make a difference. Just a waste a time, I thought.
Then I realized that all important movements start with small actions. I talked to my wife Sue about it, and we decided that it wouldn’t hurt us to turn off our lights for an hour on Saturday night. We would be part of something bigger than ourselves. See the national Web site for Earth Hour.
I found myself agreeing with
statements by the U.N. Secretary-General:
“Earth Hour is a way for the citizens of the world to send a clear message. In New York, we will switch out the lights at U.N. Headquarters. Other U.N. facilities around the world will also take part.
“I urge citizens everywhere to join us. Please send a strong message on climate change. Together we can find a solution to this most serious of global challenges.”
In a unanimous resolution (PDF 76 kb), the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners “encourages the participation of all Kitsap County citizens.”
Other governments, including the city of Seattle, also are participating.
If you’d like to join me and millions of others in this symbolic event, you may register at a Web site called “Washington State Earth Hour.” Click on the map to register and check out who else has placed his or her name on the line.
If it’s good enough for the UN, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners and the City of Seattle…
Ha!
Why just an hour? Stay in the dark forever.
Yea! Another is County has signed up! San Juan County, the Town of Friday Harbor, Skagit County, Thurston County, Snoqualmie and Seattle are all listed on the EarthHourUS map! More are needed to sign up.
…and to add to Blue Light’s comment above – next is to decide what lights don’t need to be turned back on.
Look at what we as a world can do with one simple action!
If anything these days we need more symbolic gestures. People, things, politics, life has become so divisive; it’s getting rarer and rarer to (even partially) engage/focus this generation on some greater good. We’re too busy playing video games or watching 6-7 hours of TV every day to step outside and get involved.
As cliché as it sounds, I hope it brings more awareness to the issue…
I bet there would be a significant drop off in the number of participants (especially in the US) if they were asked to turn off their cell phones for the hour.
Blue Light…You’ve hit it. Turning off the cell phone or computer for an hour is significant and for many, a personal, meaningful awareness to add to the hour light shut down.
I hope law enforcement folks don’t turn off their lights…unless burglars don’t work in the dark nowdays.
Sharon O’Hara
I turned off my lights last night for over 2 hours…while watching a movie! I was going to turn off the heat, but it was just too cold.
However, today looks like a great day to go take the boat out and enjoy our waterways!
Happy Earth Hour!