Earth Hour - Good or Bad Idea?

Where will you be when the lights go out?Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday, March 26 at 8:30 pm local time. Even though it will spark a tirade of controversy just asking folks to turn off their lights for one hour, let's see who would rather fight than turn off a switch. In 2009 and 2010, hundreds of millions of people around the world showed their support and Earth Hour 2011 will continue to be a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community. A call to stand up, to show leadership and be responsible for our future.

Then let's rock the house…

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. A year later Earth Hour had become such a global force that more than 50 million people in 35 countries showed their support by switch off for a simple 60 minutes. Icons stood in dark silence as Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all did their part as symbols of hope for the future.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

On Saturday 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Before you say "Why bother?" or "My contribution won't make a difference.", then think on this… Earth Hour has truly managed to raise our awareness of climate change issues. But there’s more to it than switching off your lights for one hour once a year. It’s all about giving people a voice on the future of our planet and working together. Even if you'd rather fight than flick the switch… you are participating. Whether you are an individual, a business, a school or a city, you can show your support for Earth Hour by turning off your lights at 8.30 pm on March 26 wherever you are on the planet. No one is saying you cannot use your computer or watch television. Bake a pizza and eat it by candlelight with your family! All it takes is the guts to show you understand and care enough to take action.

(Switching off the lights is a symbolic act to show that we care for the environment. Image source: http://www.greenroofs.com/)

Meantime, http://www.sindark.com/2008/03/29/earth-hour-and-why-it-is-a-bad-idea/ reported this:-

Telling people to turn out the lights for one hour one day has a trivial impact. Furthermore, it has nothing to do with approaches that actually would. Shutting down the lights in a brief symbolic gesture does nothing to change the energy basis of our society. Replacing one ordinary light bulb with a compact fluorescent one would have a bigger impact in the long term, and would at least suggest an understanding that brief voluntary abstinence from energy use is no solution whatsoever. Earth Hour is akin to choosing to fast for one hour and hoping that it will send a strong message to the factory farming industry.


Climate change will only be dealt with when the energy basis of society has changed enough that the most greedy and selfish people are nonetheless leading low-carbon lives. That requires massive infrastructure change over the course of decades – the progressive replacement of high carbon options with low carbon and finally zero carbon ones.

However, we still can take others simple action to show our gratitude to the environment. For example, if you are going to take a symbolic stand during the Earth Hour, do not drive to the blackout party. Walk or take the bus. One less day of driving a week would cut the same amount of carbon dioxide as unplugging their homes for two months. Or if you are going to a candlelit restaurant, dine on lentils and local vegetables. Meat production is a big source of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

Collectively, we can make change. Just not by turning out the lights. So, friends...what do you think about this event – Earth Hour??Is it a good or bad idea??

http://www.earthhour.org/.