Earth Hour passed without anybody commenting on the irony of turning the lights out on Planet Earth to draw attention to the fact that we have already done that.
But didn’t it feel real? Wasn’t it great to hear the radio pundits extolling the virtues of a family in China and a single mother in Germany and a couple in America all doing the same thing for the planet at the same time, give or take a timezone.
And wouldn’t it have also been the perfect time for the Easter Bunny to sneak in under cover of darkness and lay all those chocolate eggs, like only a bunny can. Maybe the Planetary Feel Good Committee and the Easter Planners can get it together next year.
That would be fabulous. Then all the future generations who are going to inherit a completely whaled malaria-infested earthquake ravaged ball of dust and swamp where an ice cube costs $17.00 could stop tweeting for long enough to go find chocolate rabbit eggs in false darkness in tribute to the walking dead son of a ghost who so loved the world that he tricked a virgin into getting pregnant on their first date. Sounds likely.
Speaking of which, it’s been almost two decades since global warming went mainstream, and you know we’re taking it seriously because every year the crisis now gets an hour of its very own – like Hey Hey It’s Saturday and about as visionary.
Of course, that is as long as you own a light bulb to turn off. By the logic of Earth Hour, we should really blame the homeless for climate change because they didn’t do anything to cut their emissions… for a whole hour.
But don’t just blame the homeless – blame the politicians who don’t do anything because we let them continue to not do anything, apart from Tony Abbott. Even though his government spent ten years helping America prevent global action, he rides a bike. And Kevin Rudd, because even though he more or less works for the benefit of massive coalmining companies he doesn’t actually own one. Or Peter Garrett, because They made sure that portfolio was well-insulated from him.
Which may in fact mean……
Earlier, BookMark told Tasmanian Times:
• The conflict between development and conservation was starkly evident Saturday night.
As Earth Hour was celebrated, and lights and resource use used to light, were turned off … there was a counter movement:
Human Achievement Hour
The Conservative Leadership Foundation has launched a campaign to recognise and celebrate “Human Achievement Hour”.
During Human Achievement Hour, people around the world will be recognising the incredible accomplishments of the human race.
Originally conceived by the Competitive Enterprise Institute in 2009, Human Achievement Hour coincides with the earth hour campaign but salutes those who keep the lights on and produce the energy that makes human achievement possible.
Millions of people around the world will be showing their support for human achievement by simply going about their daily lives. While earth hour activists will be left in the dark, Human Achievement Hour participants will be going to the cinema, enjoying a hot meal, driving their car or watching television.
There is really no limit to how you can support Human Achievement Hour just like there is no limit to what mankind can achieve.
Human Achievement Hour 2010 will be between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday 27 March.
Behind Human Achievement Hour: The Conservative Leadership Foundation, HERE
