Dan Proft: Don't Kid Yourself- 1 Hour Won't Save World

The Red Eye ^ | March 27, 2008 | Dan Proft

[JulianaJohnson]

Earth Day. Live Earth. And, now, Earth Hour.

The latest bright idea from the country that gave us "Crocodile Dundee" is to have everyone across the globe turn off their lights for an hour at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Apparently, a bunch of neo-Luddites in Sydney did this last year and it made them feel good about themselves, so they've decided to give the rest of the world a chance to achieve a similar sense of self-worth.

Because, if we are being honest, Earth Hour, like its forefathers, is not about environmental policy--it is about social networking and self-importance.

Earth Hour is for those consumed with monitoring their carbon footprint and confused about why they do it.

The desire to be relevant and to have a positive impact on the world is a good instinct. But it's lost in the self-involved nature of exercises like Earth Hour.

The Gandhian ideal "to be the change you wish to see in the world" requires thoughtful, measured action toward an end bigger than one's self.

Earth Hour, by contrast, smacks of desperation for self-actualization.

Rather than creating a platform for compelling, fact-intensive arguments about eco-threats or creative ideas for green energy, Earth Hour is another in an endless series of symbolic events that define intergalactic participation in "something" as an end in itself.

I understand that there are those who believe that rapture is upon us because, over the past 100 years, the temperature on Earth has gone up a little less than 1 degree Fahrenheit.

That, some may argue, is the higher calling to which Earth Hour is responding.

But, even accepting the premise, is the Earth Hour response on point?

(Please go to http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/red-032708-proft,0,6335659.story to read the rest of the article)

[Sir_Ed]

I think everyone in America should hold ther breath for one minute!

That way, the carbon dioxide that won’t be exhaled will save the Greenland Ice Sheet!!

Ed

[Avoiding_Sulla]

I hate being wasteful. But one hour won’t kill me. I hate these these self-righteous watermelons far far more. I hope I personally cause a brown-out.

Every window shade in the house is going up, and every light is going on. And flood lamps I haven’t used in years are going ON for one hour.

[Avoiding_Sulla]

Most all of your points are worthy. However, I am taking exception with your opening opinion. This particular idea is ALL bad.

These are communists in conservationist garb: watermelons. That means they are power hungerers and freedom haters to start, and they hate humanity at heart. They seek every opportunity to increase state power at the expense of individuals.

They NEED large participation in symbolic acts like this so that weak politicians will feel there is a much larger body of people who don't mind being told what to do.

Here's another opinion from Canada's National Post. It reveals a well-financed event. This event is aimed at luring fools to reign down upon themselves more restrictions. Here's their counter-measure solution:

I would suggest that the biggest current threat to our planet is not either climate change or the financial "crisis," but the mindless conformist tendency to support ideas such as Earth Hour, which are aimed at the levers of both electrical and political power.

If you love civilization, freedom and the use of reason, keep on all the lights you need on Saturday. Take Back the Night.

I surely hope I don't blow my circuit breakers. I intend on raising ever shade in my house and lighting every bulb. I am turning on every flood light. I even dug out my old movie light bar; it attaches to a tripod. Four more flood lamps aimed at the sky are going on for one hour tomorrow night.

I'll send the world a message tomorrow night alright! Join me.

[headsonpikes]

Thank you for thinking of me when you saw this fatuous scheme!

As you are well aware(haha!)I would no more act in solidarity with these consciously ‘progressive’ creatures of the state than I would with any other pack of red fascist motherless b*stards!

Oh well, we get the intellectual underclass we deserve, I suppose. ;^)

[Avoiding_Sulla]

Yes, of course. I know your common sense. Also, at times like this, I cannot help but recall the vision your screen name projects. :)

Here's the opening lines from another effort by the morons at one of your country's propaganda outlets, The Canadian Press

Millions of people across Canada and around the globe are expected to turn out their lights Saturday evening to raise awareness about pollution and global warming in an initiative known as Earth Hour. The World Wildlife Fund effort that began in Sydney, Australia last March 29 now appears to have caught the imagination of people in dozens of countries, nowhere more so than in this country. "This has really just blown up across Canada,'' said Tara Wood, spokeswoman for the fund in Canada. "Canada is really going to be the shining star in this global effort.''

This article excerpt is the starter for another thread here at FR, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993072/posts

[Dave Elias]

“How many new pregnancies showed up in Sydney after this stupid liberal stunt?”

None. They’re all gay in Sydney.

[Dave Elias]

“Good stewardship is a good idea. Yes, don’t waste.

Thing is, most of these self-described “environmentalists” are among the most earth-harming, as their genuflections are only possible because they live at the top of the most luxurious and wasteful culture (don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying my part therein) ergo something as petty as turning off the lights for an hour on one day strikes them as sacrifice.

Want to make a difference? turn the lights _on_ for only an hour a day - every day.”

Brilliant post.