I've Got Even More Mail!

I don't think these posters are the offending Anonymous but they were good enough to leave their thoughts which I will gladly share unedited.

The first:

It appears that you are unfortunately out of touch with the popularity
and reasons for Earth Hour, and quite arrogant to boot. It is not designed to
prevent pollution, as if one hour a year could possibly make a difference. It is
simply a unified global statement for people to come together in proof that they
care about the environment. If you read up on any of it, you'd know this.In the
same way thousands of people march every year for Breast Cancer - we understand
that the concept of walking will not cure the disease. It is not a trend, but a
genuine collaborative effort to bring awareness, respect and results. Something
you obviously know little about. What a shame that you think you are so
enlightened and witty.

I know why Earth Hour is popular. Enviro-celebrities like Al Gore (whose 9,000 square foot home is hardly the beacon of simplicity and ecological good sense) tell people that this hour is a way to help the environment by reducing energy and (I suppose to make it more plausible) to bring awareness of environmental problems. This one hour is meant to mollify masses whose daily practices are less than "green" and this will make them feel good about themselves. Once a year, they can do something which they have been made to believe is environmentally sound and they then cannot care for the rest of the year. That's not raising awareness; that putting a pacifier in a baby's mouth.

Turning off the lights for one hour and then turning them back on really is childish. The typical incandescent light bulb (the newer, "greener" light bulbs contain mercury which is dangerous to you) is a 60 watt bulb. It takes a 300 watt surge to turn on the light for just a 60 watt bulb. Leaving that one light on would allow the energy intake to go to 60 watts, instead of a whopping 300 watts. Turning the lights on and off repeatedly also diminishes the life of the bulb, making it less effective and eventually causing it to burn out. People should be measuring the lumens (light output) that a light bulb gives. Fluorescent light bulbs light up due to the phosphorus in the lining of the bulb. It takes a while to heat up to a desired light output. The phosphorus eventually diminishes over time, making it less fluorescent. In short, the act of repeatedly turning on a light bulb is more energy-consuming than leaving it on for however long you need it.

As you say, Anonymous #1, "as if one hour can possibly make a difference". You're right. As I said before, people will be lulled into a false sense of altruism, an altruism that is not founded in fact. Wouldn't it be better to calmly explain to people how to not waste their resources than to tell them this one hour of sitting in the darkness is empowering (not the energy kind, mind you)? The North Koreans sit in darkness all the time. No one looks to them as an example of fine ecological behaviour. Furthermore, if you want global action against pollution and so forth, stop buying Chinese goods and put sanctions against Russia (i.e.- Chyornobyl, Gazprom, Magnitogorsk). In Canada, we have serious pollution concerns but they are not scratch on what China and Russia have done to the planet.

Breast cancer and other ailments under the ribbon rainbow are also a trend. Yes, I'm aware cancer exists and that it's terrible. Do we need to wear ribbons? What thinking, feeling person doesn't know about cancer and how horrible it is? Are we that bereft of common sense that we need some coloured piece of fabric on our lapels to remind us what a monster this disease is? You will never, ever get an argument out of me how this disease so horrible but if you think wearing a pink ribbon (made in China) will translate into a cure then forget it. All cancer sucks. Let me know when there is a cure.

Anonymous #1, you are trying to tell me that merely going through the motions somehow translates into action. It doesn't. Dare I paraphrase Saint Paul, works without love are going through the motions. If the environment is so important then every day should be "Earth Hour".

My mum thinks I'm enlightened and witty. I suppose that's all that matters as nine times out of ten I don't have to eat Christmas dinner with anyone else.

The second:

I think the only sucker here is my vacuum cleaner. It about creating
awareness and an excellent reminder that we should be turning lights out when we
leave the room, or when they are not in use. I think the fact that you've
blogged about it proves my point : creation of awareness. I know many people who
are now more conscious regarding their energy use (or abuse) since this
"Stunt".

Anonymous #2, the creation of awareness in this case is a waste of energy itself. We beaten about the heads with "green power" but rarely are we informed how serious things are in North Korea. Not to detract from the issue at hand but I don't need celebrities who use more energy than the average person to tell me to be "green". You're right, though. We should turn off lights when we are not using them for long periods- all the time. Turning your lights and appliances off for one hour and then turning them right back on again points to just one aspect of silliness in this farce known as Earth Hour.

Apparently Earth Hour didn't take in the western provinces of Canada. Calgary barely noticed Earth Hour and Manitoba Hydro reported an eight percent spike in energy consumption. Some people are buried under snow and are worried about floods so I doubt Earth Hour made much of a difference to people who might lose their homes.

Just saying.