Mar 28, 2009
Posted in Science at 6:26 pm by David Bradley
Is Earth Hour a great way to raise global awareness of how much energy we are wasting and the possible consequences or our actions? Or, is it simply a cop out so that we can all feel we did "our bit" for the environment without expending any real effort?
With just hours to go for us Brits before we have to switch off the lights, I conducted an ad hoc strawpoll on twitter, here are a few of the early responses.
4KM (Re: more than turning off lights). We’re turning down heat, 100-mile diet today, not driving, planting radishes in organic
wburris Earth Hour is so everyone can pretend they are doing something to save the planet
VeronicaMcG Yes Earth Hour could be/do more, but this step to coordinate Int’l grassroots action, awareness & cooperation is worthwhile.
tpolytmus I hope people are walking to these EarthHour meetups. (seen on #flickr)
sanmccarron Yes we should, but makes a statement to all. Bringing in one at a time.
ianwalker@sciencebase Earth Hour just sounds like another event to make people feel they’re doing something without having to change their lifestyles
TheTDog@sciencebase i think the idea is raise awareness about saving energy
Seema84@sciencebase I agree. If people put their TV’s on and other stuff it doesn’t make any sense
dnotice@sciencebase You could switch the colours in your internet browser: I’ve now got black backgrounds & white text…
Well, for me it’s a stupid idea, Chemgeek. I know that this little act to conserve energy can make a big difference to all of us. And we should put up more programs like Earth Hour to raise global awareness.
Earth Hour gives us the feeling that we aren’t alone by trying to live sustainable and aware of our energy use. It’s at least more than nothing.
Sure, it’s not the end all, be all, but it is a step in the right direction and a way to raise some awareness. We have a seriously uphill battle to fight on this issue that every positive tactic that reaches someone is valid in my opinion. I have family members who will only turn of the electricity tonight for one hour, but I have others who have made significant lifestyle changes because of a number of events, including Earth Hour 2008. If just 5% of the people who turn of their lights tonight change their energy footprint significantly then I would say it was a success. Heck if 1Billion do participate (always skeptical abut numbers like that) then even a 1% longterm change makes it all worth it.
But then I guess I misunderstood the whole thing, since I read it as a way of a) Showing concern about Earth(surface reason) and b)the sneak attack – showing how painless it is to turn off un-needed appliances, etc and to spend an evening by candlelight, or to let twilight linger before turning a single lamp, let alone a phalanx of them.
I think Earth “Hour” is a stupid idea. I really do think it is a cop out.
I’m by no means an environmental activist. I’d like to think I’m a bit more pragmatic in my take, but take a look around your city sometime. You can’t tell me we need all of these lights. Street lights, building lights, flashy signs etc… Maybe Earth “Hour” is a start, but we really need to turn off a lot of lights permanently or at least more frequently.
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