March 29, 2008 marked a international event: Earth Hour. Earth hour started originally in Sydney Australia in 2007. They thougth it would be a good idea to make the event international because of the success it had. Essentially what happens is that cities, towns, etc will turn off their power for one hour . From this people will realise how much energy they save and how that will save the earth from a downward spiral to hell.
When I first heard this I thought "what a fantastic idea!" Little did I know at the time how ridiculous it really is. I thought this for a few different reasons...
First: some businesses, in Calgary anyway, were using it as a way to make money. Come and rent a room at a hotel for an hour and not use electricity! All for the low price of 169$! Why not just stay home in the dark. Although it is a great way to spend 169$... I cannot think of a better way to spend that money.
Second: one news broadcasting company said "and we're participating by turning off all non essential lights in our stations across Canada"... my first thought was: if they are so non essential why bother having them in the first place?
Third: the city announced they too were turning off non essential lights. My statement above is not needed here. Apparently the non essential lights they turned off were on road ways that were high collision areas. Thanks for saving the earth but not lives!
Four: what is non essential lighting really?? Like I said before, if it is non essential get rid of it altogether. Why do downtown city buildings need all the lights on? I am sure a few would suffice and still provide a nice skyline to look at.
Don't get me wrong, the concept of Earth Hour is great. I like the idea. I think it is important for people to realise what things they do have and what they could possibly lose. After coming back from Nicaragua I have found ways to not use as much water. If it's yellow let it mellow... if it's brown flush it down. Not only does this conserve water it also saves you money. Energy works the same way... unplug things you are not using because they are still using energy and costing you money.
My husband and I participated in Earth Hour as best as we could. We unplugged most things and lit candles. We did, however, have to watch the hockey game. So did thousands of others in Calgary. This would explain why Calgary did not decrease their use of energy but in fact went up by 10%. Which 'they' blame on colder temperatures.
Granted Canada apparently had the highest participation rate... Oh canada!
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sigh
I went to Nicaragua recently. I do not wish to talk about the events of the trip in this blog necessarily but rather what I learned and hope to continue to take with me through out my life.
First, we in the first world countries have it made. We have the luxury of knowing that when we turn on our tap water will come out every time. Most have the luxury of knowing that when we turn on a switch light illuminates that space. I went to Nicaragua last year and came home thinking and hoping that I would be more conservative with the water I used. This time I come back thinking the same thing hoping that it actually sticks.
I sit here and I think of the poverty that I have witnessed in Nicaragua. In Granada, barefoot children wearing dirty torn clothing would come up to us wanting money and probably food. Their barefoot mother was not far behind carrying a baby on her hip. I then think of the children in the countryside who had absolutely no access to clean water, their houses were made of sheet metal roofs and wood that barely made their walls. Their wells were often dried up and the women have to hike a long way to get water. The water was never clean and safe for us to drink therefore making it unhealthy for them to drink. These children who we think are impoverished and somehow without are the happiest children. We were not there to pull them out of their poverty and somehow make them rich. We were merely there to improve their physical health. I do not shed tears just for the children who were begging from us but also the handicapped boy who laughed and smiled with us as we walked through their community in the country. I cry about their happiness and their humility. I cry because I have so much to learn.
First, we in the first world countries have it made. We have the luxury of knowing that when we turn on our tap water will come out every time. Most have the luxury of knowing that when we turn on a switch light illuminates that space. I went to Nicaragua last year and came home thinking and hoping that I would be more conservative with the water I used. This time I come back thinking the same thing hoping that it actually sticks.
I sit here and I think of the poverty that I have witnessed in Nicaragua. In Granada, barefoot children wearing dirty torn clothing would come up to us wanting money and probably food. Their barefoot mother was not far behind carrying a baby on her hip. I then think of the children in the countryside who had absolutely no access to clean water, their houses were made of sheet metal roofs and wood that barely made their walls. Their wells were often dried up and the women have to hike a long way to get water. The water was never clean and safe for us to drink therefore making it unhealthy for them to drink. These children who we think are impoverished and somehow without are the happiest children. We were not there to pull them out of their poverty and somehow make them rich. We were merely there to improve their physical health. I do not shed tears just for the children who were begging from us but also the handicapped boy who laughed and smiled with us as we walked through their community in the country. I cry about their happiness and their humility. I cry because I have so much to learn.
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