Posted on 03/22/2012 6:30:23 AM PDT by pabianice
Join WWF for Earth Hour 2012, the world's largest single campaign for a better future for the planet. Pledge to switch off your lights and take a stand for the planet on Saturday, March 31, at 8:30 pm.
Then, get more involved:
Post your participation on Facebook and encourage others to join you.
Boast of your commitment to go Beyond the Hour on Twitter (#EarthHour).
Toast your friends and neighbors at an Earth Hour event. Earth Hour demonstrates the power of individuals, communities, businesses and governments to create change. Think what can be achieved when we all come together for a common cause.
***
"Will you be turning out the lights for an hour as part of Earth Hour?"
Nope.
In addition to your lights, did you also turn off your computer, microwave, telephone, cell phone (which you will have to recharge)? How about your refrigerator or freezer? How about your TV, cable and DVD/DVR (I'm sure Howard stopped watching the exciting NCAA basketball game to observe this "important" event)?
These appliances all consume more energry than simple lights.
Did you use candles to see in the dark?
Oops, you just emitted more CO2 than if you'd just simply left your lights on.
During the first few years of this "feel good" event organizers tried to say how much energy was saved. But then, someone with a brain ran the numbers and figured out that the net effect was, at best, negligible. So now the organizers have toned their message down to "it's aymbolic effort."
But it's more than symbolism. Depending upon how many were duped into participating in any one locality - the impact of turning out your lights may actually INCREASE energy usage at your local power plant or transformer station as the power grid compensates for this flux.
I was half-tempted to protest this protest by turning on every water faucet, light and appliance in my house and then going outside to run my snowblower AND lawnmower while burning trash and leaves under a bank of floodlights with my water hose running (safety first with fires) to SUPER-SIZE my carbon footprint.
But then I decided that my meaningless act of anti-protest wouldn't really negatively impact the environment any more than your meaningless act of protest would positively impact the environment.
So instead I just had another beer and watched my ball game.
But thanks for thinking of me. Maybe we can celebrate Earth Day together and discuss why the luddite environmental Nazis switched from decrying "global warming" to "climate change" (hint - it had something to do with all of their projections being wrong and the Earth actually cooling the last 10 years).
***
"Will you be turning out the lights for an hour as part of Earth Hour?"
Nope.
In addition to your lights, did you also turn off your computer, microwave, telephone, cell phone (which you will have to recharge)? How about your refrigerator or freezer? How about your TV, cable and DVD/DVR (I'm sure Howard stopped watching the exciting NCAA basketball game to observe this "important" event)?
These appliances all consume more energry than simple lights.
Did you use candles to see in the dark?
Oops, you just emitted more CO2 than if you'd just simply left your lights on.
During the first few years of this "feel good" event organizers tried to say how much energy was saved. But then, someone with a brain ran the numbers and figured out that the net effect was, at best, negligible. So now the organizers have toned their message down to "it's aymbolic effort."
But it's more than symbolism. Depending upon how many were duped into participating in any one locality - the impact of turning out your lights may actually INCREASE energy usage at your local power plant or transformer station as the power grid compensates for this flux.
I was half-tempted to protest this protest by turning on every water faucet, light and appliance in my house and then going outside to run my snowblower AND lawnmower while burning trash and leaves under a bank of floodlights with my water hose running (safety first with fires) to SUPER-SIZE my carbon footprint.
But then I decided that my meaningless act of anti-protest wouldn't really negatively impact the environment any more than your meaningless act of protest would positively impact the environment.
So instead I just had another beer and watched my ball game.
But thanks for thinking of me. Maybe we can celebrate Earth Day together and discuss why the luddite environmental Nazis switched from decrying "global warming" to "climate change" (hint - it had something to do with all of their projections being wrong and the Earth actually cooling the last 10 years).
Normally I would agree with dousing unnecessary lights, but on the 31st I’ll make an exception. I’ll turn on everything in and out of the house at 8:30.
Hmm time to turn on all the lights in my house!
About as dumb as the people who say if an elevator goes into free fall, just before it hits bottom "Jump Up" and you will be ok!
I apologize. I was hot under the collar this morning and mistook you for an infiltrator.
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