Earth Hour is this Saturday, March 27 beginning at 8:30pm. At that time, participants will turn off all their lights to show their shared concern over climate change, and their shared hope for a better world. This is an international event, and last year more than a billion people participated. A billion people from all over the world, on every continent, took part. I took part. We did it because we believe in something.
It is really easy to become cynical, and overwhelmed. Global climate change is an epic problem, and change is slow in coming. In fact it’s more than slow, it’s not even universally accepted as a reality. Big companies continue to spew out pollution. Our breast milk contains carcinogens. Our society is geared towards consuming things and throwing them away. If I think about it too much, I become incredibly discouraged.
The reality is that almost everything we do has some impact. Even turning our lights off for an hour has an environmental impact. Burning candles emits carbon, especially if those candles are standard paraffin derived from petroleum. Earth Hour itself might reduce electricity consumption while it lasts, and it might feel really good to be part of it, but on the whole its actual impact is likely small. It’s more effective as a PR campaign than a tool for change.
Given all of that, why am I participating? Like last year, I am participating because I believe in the message of Earth Hour. The message shared in this video:
The message is that if we work together and raise awareness and make change we can make a difference. All by myself, my impact is small. But if more than 1 billion of my friends and I get together, we can accomplish great things. And if we are all getting together and making changes, then the people who really make a difference will listen. People like policy makers and politicians and businesses. We are not disconnected from the world around us. If all of us brought re-usable bags to the grocery store, there would be no need for plastic. If we refused to buy toxic cleaning products, they wouldn’t make them anymore. We are the ones who hold the balance of power, when we work together.
Tomorrow night I will turn off my lights and my computers for an hour. I will unplug and step back for a moment from my life. And I will not be alone. That fills me with hope, and makes me think that perhaps, somehow, we can change. Whether turning off the lights for one hour really makes a difference or not on its own, I think that the collective action does.
What about you? Do you participate in Earth Hour? Why or why not?
Brilliant. Thank you for the reminder. I will be partcipating and striving to do more. It matters.
.-= Pam´s last post ..Wordless Wednesday – Signs of Spring =-.
Last year, we forgot about it completely. We had gotten home late from groceries, we were tired, and we needed to eat. We were just cooking the pasta when the lights on all our neighbours houses went out. I looked at my husband and said “what’s going on?” he shrugged, and we continued on our daily routine. Only after, on the evening news, did we see the blip about Earth Hour and do a *facepalm*.
I am going to try and remember to participate this year. The coffee shop near our work is putting Earth Hour stickers on their (compostable!) coffee cups, and they are re-usable, so I put one on our Family Calendar at home.
We participate! This will be our third year. We usually go out for a walk around the neighborhood to keep the kiddo’s occupied (and away from the candles) for the hour. This year we’ll be out of town at a hotel so I’ve packed candles so we can participate. The restaurants in the area will be serving customers by candle light and the hotel will shut off all exterior lighting also. It’s eye opening how many items you need to shut off and unplug to be off the grid for an hour!
.-= Tanya´s last post .. =-.
I don’t participate in Earth Hour. I do my best to limit my energy usage on a regular basis, but I honestly just can’t be bothered to go around the house and unplug all the nightlights….and then plug them back in again an hour later.
The “problem” is that electricity and energy is priced too cheap. If people had to pay a higher fee for it, they would conserve it because the cost impacts their lifestyle.
We <3 earth hour! We've been doing it for a couple of years- our first one is on youtube (under kitchenwitchwoman) my kids look forward to it eac year. We sit together and talk by candlelight and play games and have a yummy snack and talk about why it is important to take care of our Mother Earth.
.-= Joni Rae´s last post ..Foodie Friday: Blueberry Pancakes =-.
i participate for the same reasons you do. i know it doesn’t have a huge impact that one hour, but it’s the idea of making people,know that as 1 billion people, we can make a huge impact. it’s a pr event, yes, but it can also be a catalyst to get people to remember what conservation is all about.
.-= smothermother´s last post ..Comfort Food =-.
It’s interesting how many people become involved in Earth Hour. I honestly have never participated but I do consciously make an effort to keep all lights off when we’re not in the room.
.-= Sara´s last post ..No poo – Week 2 =-.
I think it would be fun to participate. Except…I’d have to reset all those stupid clocks on all the appliances. I just got them changed for Daylight Saving.
Maybe I can manage turning out my lights at least. Is it OK to do a lazy version?
.-= Lauren @ Hobo Mama´s last post ..Wordless Wednesday: Toddler collage =-.
Last year we did participate but I think that it had more to do with the fact that my sister was living with us and she goaded us into it. I haven’t thought about this year to be honest. We really should.
.-= Marilyn @ A Lot of Loves´s last post ..Royale Reno-Cation: Win a Cruise and a Home Renovation and More!! =-.
I’m participating too.
.-= *pol´s last post ..Why I’m Participating in Earth Hour =-.
I’m not. I’m just not willing to go buy candles specifically for this and try to chase a crawling baby around in the dark. Pretty much all day everyday until about 6ish I just leave the curtains open and all the lights off. Baby and I just play in the natural light that streams in. Why don’t they do Earth Hour in the middle of the day when people really should be outside playing instead of inside? If they did it 1-2pm I bet lots more people would do it.
I’d like to say I’m participating for similar noble reasons, but really it’s because my daughter gives me no choice. She said we have to do like last year, turn out the lights, sit in the family room and tell gopher stories. I don’t remember any stories with gophers, but I assume she’ll direct us accordingly.
.-= allison´s last post ..****************The first thing you need to know is that everything turned out fine. =-.
Last year, we participated by accident. So darn tired that the whole household passed out at 8pm. This year, we might have to put a little more effort and turn the lights out . . . instead of having them out already!
.-= Lady M´s last post ..Double Indy =-.
I wasn’t aware of this at all. But I totally agree with everything you wrote. Also, as parents, we have a responsibility to teach our children to be proactive, and not just to sit and ponder and talk about things.
.-= Francesca´s last post ..Lovely junk =-.
Hi Amber, Since awareness, rather than a meaningful reduction in energy consumption, is the primary purpose of the event, the organizers can consider themselves successful. I haven’t participated in Earth Hour in past years, and I probably won’t be unplugging tonight either. While I grasp the symbolic importance of Earth Hour, I think that the goal should be to make a year-round effort to curtail waste and use energy wisely. Ray
We have always done Earth Hour and been very proud to participate in it and share it with our children. I’m a little worried about tonight b/c I am having 4 boys over for my 6 y/o’s birthday sleepover. It will be tricky but I think we can pull it off! However, if anyone is scared I will definitely have to put a light on as they are only 6 and 7 years old. I’ll have to plan more wisely next year!
.-= A Crafty Mom´s last post ..Cleared the First Hurdle =-.
I will participate. I live in Calgary, where last year energy consumption embarrassingly went up during Earth Hour. Still, here in a city that still maintains a Wild West philosophy, I will do my part. I will also fondly remember the many power outages of my childhood on my family’s Manitoba farm – playing Rummoli around a kitchen table dotted with candles.