Hey all,
The other day my lecturer show us this interesting article..do you know our local electric power company want to sue WWF for 'Earth Hour' ?
Here is something that i would want you to think about..most of us..no doubt support Earth Hour..BUT..try reading this...then tell me what you think..
It all started when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour as an act against climate change. Little did they know it had become a global phenomenal that all stood in darkness, as ‘Earth Hour’ becomes a symbol of hope for a cause that grows more vital by the hour
Earth Hour, the world’s largest global climate change movement urges every individual, every business and every community throughout the world to take a stand, take responsibility and to get involved in order lead the way towards a sustainable future. Earth hour has done a lot to raise awareness of climate change issues to the world. It is about being the voice on the future of our planet as people from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together to create a sustainable low carbon future through the one thing we all have in common-our planet.
Time is not on our side as the new economic modelling indicates that our planet has just five years to initiate low carbon industrial revolution BEFORE climate change becomes inevitable.
However, watching lights wink off major metropolitan areas no doubt looks impressive, but what is worth more asking is what is the point? the energy saved by it “won’t make much difference” some may say. So, if it does not cut down carbon emission, why then bother with this “Earth Hour” gimmicks? According to critics, ‘Earth Hour’, like any other well-meaning green initiative is not likely to make a lasting effects as these ideas needs to be convenient for consumers or they simply won’t make an impact. It is noted that people go green to make ‘a statement’. How many of us have jumped on the bandwagon of ‘going green is the new pink’? Researchers suggests people buy luxury item for their comfort, but when someone is watching, they might choose green products to ‘appear’ that they care about the environment.
In addition, there is a hiccup to ‘Earth Hour’. To my understanding, some power plants have to be constantly running at full capacity. Won’t the surplus energy generated be wasted and won’t the wasted amount of surplus energy contribute to more energy wastage than we intend to save through earth hour at the first place?
Earth hour act as a platform to educate world of the important role they play in saving the earth and to take personal accountability for climate change by taking the first step as easy as turning off their lights. It is meant to tell others that saving earth is a collective responsibility that requires constant commitments. The environmental movement now is reaching its delicate moment. We have surpass the point of doing our little bit to save the world is significant yet we have become inert of the existence of global warming; solutions have been given, yet we still fall short of the scale of the problem. We risk green fatigue because after all, what can we do about it? This is the moment where we need to keep on pushing in every way possible; a breakthrough. The technology is developing, but still lacks of a catalyst and this will only happen if we keep climate change near the top of our political agenda.
Can the tide of climate change be turned? The campaign can only take us this far, question is how far are we willing to go to save the earth? The Ghandian ideal said;
“Be the change you wish to see in the world”
As for now, whatever is convenient, whatever is affordable and fashionable rules the day.
