Sydney - Sydney on Saturday will become just one of 26
cities around the world urging householders and businesses to turn
off their lights for an hour to raise awareness that generating
electricity is a big contributor to the greenhouse gases that are
causing climate change.
Australia's largest city was first with the idea of an Earth Hour,
its organizers claiming that last year 2 million residents took part
in a symbolic gesture that saw the lights dim on the famous Harbour
Bridge and the neighbouring Opera House.
Cities outside Australia expected to take part this year include
Christchurch, Bangkok, Seoul, Dubai, Toronto, Manila, Copenhagen,
Rome, Dublin, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco and Mexico City.
The Sydney office of international conservation organization World
Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) came up with the Earth Hour initiative
which chief organizer Andy Ridley says has been taken up in 35
countries and by 30 million people.
'At the very least we have tens of millions of people saying they
understand climate change and they want to do something about it, and
we hope that will help political leaders make some big calls.' Ridley
said.
Organizers claimed that last year's 60-minute fade clipped 10 per
cent off the city centre's electricity consumption for that hour - a
figure that many have disputed.
And this year there is likely to be less of a saving because of
the success of the event.
For example, the Sydney Theatre Company has brought forward the
start of its performance so patrons can be through and ready to party
by the time Earth Hour begins - an arrangement that brings no obvious
saving and is likely to increase electricity consumption.
Restaurants have jumped on the bandwagon too, advertising lavish
Valentine's Day-style Earth Hour dinners that are lit with hundreds
of candles - no overall saving there either.
The success of Earth Hour is such that the Australian government
is this year embracing the initiative and urging departments to turn
off the lights in public buildings.
'The Australian government is leading by example,' Climate Change
Minister Penny Wong said on the very day that Kevin Rudd became the
first Australian prime minister to require two planes to take himself
and his entourage on an overseas trip.
Cameron O'Reilly, a spokesman for electricity generators, said he
didn't want to spoil the party but reminded Sydney residents that
'awareness-raising' was one thing but Earth Hour was decidedly light
on 'preparing the public for the real pain associated with climate
change.'
While some were celebrating Earth Hour by getting married or by
playing golf with luminous golf balls, those incensed by the
gimmickry of the event were promising to keep their lights on, run
all their appliances and metaphorically blow out all those tens of
thousands of candles.
'Is there any greater example of green stupidity than Earth Hour?'
harrumphed journalist and popular blogger Tim Blair.
Along with others, he noted the incongruity of a French champagne
company being an Earth Hour official sponsor when even elementary
environmental awareness suggests it would be greener to drink the
local plonk than sip bubbly carted halfway round the planet.
DebMar 29th, 2008 - 10:51:22
I will gladly give up an hour of lighting and electrical use for this planet. Is it too little too late? I say No.
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