View Full Version : Earth Hour is our chance to shine...
I live in a tiny village near Toronto, and tonight (Great White North time;) )
I'm taking my M6 and my Canon G9 out to shoot Earth Hour. It is something that will, for one hour, unite the world in a common cause. I left my big DSLR and lenses at work; I want to take minimal gear and bring back my own shots of this wonderful event.
Tell us where you're from and maybe we can start a thread tomorrow with everyone's favorite Earth Hour shot!
Mary
doitashimash1te
03-29-2008, 04:41
Earth Hour...
Honestly, I never heard of that before - until I read your post. So I checked Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Hour) and I must say it is a great idea! So I will switch off all lights and non-essential electrical appliances in my house between 8 and 9 PM today.
hunghang
03-29-2008, 05:50
How about shooting digital rather than film - thus saving in chemical processing? Seriously, the intent is good, but I'd rather a more effective implementation.
I am not an anti-green person, just practical. The amount of advertising and (especially) pamphlets that have been distributed seems to have negated the real effects of this campaign already.
Al Patterson
03-29-2008, 06:19
While I understand the concept of raising awareness, wouldn't doing this every day actually work towards solving the problem of energy use? Cutting energy use one hour a day 365 days a year times a few hundred million people would be a good start. One night is just a publicity stunt.
That's what can be done for 1 hour if you need the light - treadle
xayraa33
03-29-2008, 07:40
we will get to enjoy a bit of that Northeast blackout of November 9 1965 and August 14 2003 in a short controlled fashion.
I can see how it seems a bit like a stunt. However, it never hurts to remind ourselves of all we consume daily without much thought. It has made me think about ways I consume some resources and that perhaps I can do a better job in my day-to-day activities. Side note: I love the look of the Google homepage today.
I hate to tell you, but this is not just a stunt, but a daft one. I have spent the past 20 years supplying consultancy to the Energy and Utilities industry. Once electricity is generated it has to go somewhere. Unlike gas, you can't just compress it in the pipes for a while. Energy management is a highly sophisticated process. You can't just turn down the wick in a power station just because there is a minor blip in demand for an hour. And guess what? It takes POWER and TIME to turn generators on and off. Worst of the lot? Nuclear. Once fired up, they ALWAYS generate.
If you are in the UK, do you remember storage radiators? Economy 7? That was a smart move to enable power stations to go on generating during the night when demand was low. The electricity generated was then stored in our homes as heat, to be released during the day.
I won't be participating in this stunt.
Regards,
Bill
digitalintrigue
03-29-2008, 08:21
On the other hand, I will be turning on every light and appliance. :)
How about shooting digital rather than film - thus saving in chemical processing? Seriously, the intent is good, but I'd rather a more effective implementation.
I am not an anti-green person, just practical. The amount of advertising and (especially) pamphlets that have been distributed seems to have negated the real effects of this campaign already.
This is crazy. What about the electricity it will take to recharge those batteries. duh! Sorry but I will be watching the Tar Heels on TV playing in the NCAA finals.
From the wiki entry: 8 pm local time until 9 pm
Now, 8pm here in Holland is a different time than 8pm in NYC, or Tokyo. How is this going to bind "the world"?
Anywho, I don't need an arbitrary moment in time to think how I spend the resources I'm using. I haven't heated my house in over 2 years. Double glazing, a large window on the South, and neighbours all around took care of the warmth in my house. I use water savers in nearly every tap, especially the shower, thus cutting water usage by 50% in one fell swoop. Every lamp in my house is a low-energy light bulb. I use public transport for all my transportation needs. I try to buy only the food we'll actually, so I don't need to throw away anything. Garbage here is separated at home already, so recycling is made easy.
What else do I need to do?! Being energy conscious is not being part of some half-backed "international" event; it's saving energy and preventing waste every single day.
Sorry if I sound preaching.
While I completely understand the attempt to garner further global awareness of the problem of energy consumption, global warming/climate change, and just general human wastefulness, I do have a bit of a concern with "events" such as this.
It can lead to a sense of false success.
Similar to the red "Aids Ribbon" that became so popular, people partake in these events/causes or wear such things as the red Aids ribbon or the yellow Lance Armstrong bracelet and they suddenly feel like they've accomplished something and thereby diminishes or "waters down" the actual importance of the exact same thing they are trying to draw attention to.
I would hope that there isn't, but I bet you there will be, some folks out there that think they've "done their part" just by turning off their lights for an hour .. and that.. is what perturbs me the most about such events/causes.
Dave
Dave, I completely agree......
Mark
digitalintrigue
03-29-2008, 09:04
Without getting into a discussion about the hoax of global warming, among other things, the Google hypocrisy is palpable. While they symbolically blacken their home page, they are building data centers in places like Shanghai, where there are little to no emissions controls, simply to get cheap power.
Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to go back to the days of candles, pre-electricity. Anyone else that wants to, feel free. :)
somecanuckchick
03-29-2008, 09:07
...I bet you there will be, some folks out there that think they've "done their part" just by turning off their lights for an hour .. and that.. is what perturbs me the most about such events/causes.
Dave
Agreed. Completely. More than a little perturbed. Really. Totally.
:) SCC
M. Valdemar
03-29-2008, 09:18
What we need to do is radically decrease the surplus population.
Let's say we get rid of all the low IQ people, the fatties, the uglies, and the oldies.
If we eliminate them immediately, that would free up a LOT of "energy".
I'd also appoint myself the Minister of Public Good, and just get rid of anyone who annoys me in general. And take away electricity for the lumpen. They've got no brains anyhow. And ban any "music" created after 1970 or so.
somecanuckchick
03-29-2008, 09:23
What we need to do is radically decrease the surplus population... and ban any "music" created after 1970 or so.
RE: Population
One would think with the number of people - women - putting various forms of birth control into the water system via urination or flushing expired forms down the toilet... that eventually no one would be procreating. :D
RE: Music, after 1970
After 1979 - and I am totally on board. :D
digitalintrigue
03-29-2008, 09:24
That would be a big help, after all, all those people expel greenhouses gas 'pollutants' (CO2) constantly.
digitalintrigue
03-29-2008, 09:31
And here is the analysis of how much energy is saved by Google's black home page:
http://techlogg.com/content/view/360/31/
Bottom line: energy use is actually HIGHER with most LCD screens. But that doesn't matter, it's all symbolism to Google, isn't it?
The main idea behind this move is to create awareness and encourage young people to become aware, that's one of the reasons they have a concert in Toronto today with Nelly Furtado (?) and other celebrities.
The older generation will never get it and they have already pretty much screwd the envorinment so now its upto the young people to bring about a chage.
The main idea behind this move is to create awareness and encourage young people to become aware, that's one of the reasons they have a concert in Toronto today with Nelly Furtado (?) and other celebrities.
The older generation will never get it and they have already pretty much screwd the envorinment so now its upto the young people to bring about a chage.
It's not about "getting it". This is a nonsense. The power will still be generated. Not one jot or iota of difference will be made. This is the sort of feelgood claptrap that makes people think they have made a difference - and feel all shiny and sanctimonious about it - when in actual fact they are totally deluding themselves.
Regards,
Bill
digitalintrigue
03-29-2008, 09:39
Feel free to go back to the 1800s, my friend. Nothing is stopping you from saving the planet in this manner. ;)
It's not about "getting it". This is a nonsense. The power will still be generated. Not one jot or iota of difference will be made. This is the sort of feelgood claptrap that makes people think they have made a difference - and feel all shiny and sanctimonious about it - when in actual fact they are totally deluding themselves.
Regards,
Bill
Turning the lights for one hour is symbolic and attention grabbing. Combine that with concerts and events, you get a lot of young people involved and there you inform them and also imply that saving energy is 'cool'.
That's all really.
In that one hour nuclear, gas, and coal powered turbines are not going to stop, but that's not the point. the point is creating awareness and changing peoples' minds, especially the younger ones so they grow up being energy conscious.
Turning the lights for one hour is symbolic and attention grabbing. Combine that with concerts and events, you get a lot of young people involved and there you inform them and also imply that saving energy is 'cool'.
That's all really.
In that one hour nuclear, gas, and coal powered turbines are not going to stop, but that's not the point. the point is creating awareness and changing peoples' minds, especially the younger ones so they grow up being energy conscious.
One, poorly publicised hour, will not change people's minds.
Regards,
Bill
One, poorly publicised hour, will not change people's minds.
Regards,
Bill
In the end we're all dead but that does not mean we stop living. I'm not being overly optimistic but life is about trying otherwise whats the point...
Turn off your lights between 8-9pm and just relax for one hour.
In the end we're all dead but that does not mean we stop living. I'm not being overly optimistic but life is about trying otherwise whats the point...
Turn off your lights between 8-9pm and just relax for one hour.
Strangely enough, they are seldom on. I prefer candlelight when relaxing, and that is what I usually do on a Saturday night if not out chorusing.
I certainly don't need a publicity stunt to encourage me to do so. As I pointed out at the outset, I have worked with the industry for 20 years. Would you like me to bore you on the cost benefit case for smartmetering? Now legislation to introduce that WILL make far more of a difference than some well-intentioned diddling about.
Regards,
Bill
Strangely enough, they are seldom on. I prefer candlelight when relaxing, and that is what I usually do on a Saturday night if not out chorusing.
I certainly don't need a publicity stunt to encourage me to do so. As I pointed out at the outset, I have worked with the industry for 20 years. Would you like me to bore you on the cost benefit case for smartmetering? Now legislation to introduce that WILL make far more of a difference than some well-intentioned diddling about.
Regards,
Bill
Actually there is one major flaw with this "earth hour" idea which no one seems to mention. What if there is a sudden surge in crime in this one hour when the lights are off?
:)
Al Patterson
03-29-2008, 12:12
What we need to do is radically decrease the surplus population.
Let's say we get rid of all the low IQ people, the fatties, the uglies, and the oldies.
If we eliminate them immediately, that would free up a LOT of "energy".
I'd also appoint myself the Minister of Public Good, and just get rid of anyone who annoys me in general. And take away electricity for the lumpen. They've got no brains anyhow. And ban any "music" created after 1970 or so.
Now while I agree with you that there are too many people in the world, why don't you lead by example and off yourself? Probably for the same reason I don't volunteer. And besides, how would we determine who is too stupid, too fat, too ugly or too old?
Better we should replace any newer appliances, lightbulbs, roofs and windows with ones that are more efficient than those we are replacing.
And I do like some music from the 1980's, although banning Disco would be fine with me....
;)
digitalintrigue
03-29-2008, 12:15
You mean, the only major flaw other than the entire concept? :)
Let's face it, if one buys into the belief that energy use (i.e., life) is causing the death of the planet, then not using energy for an hour is only going to help the planet last another...hour.
Real change would require everyone in civilized areas to start living like those in the Third World. Which in reality, is what this political movement (yes, political, not scientific) is all about...hurting the economy of the USA and other industrialized nations.
Al Patterson
03-29-2008, 12:15
Strangely enough, they are seldom on. I prefer candlelight when relaxing, and that is what I usually do on a Saturday night if not out chorusing.
I certainly don't need a publicity stunt to encourage me to do so. As I pointed out at the outset, I have worked with the industry for 20 years. Would you like me to bore you on the cost benefit case for smartmetering? Now legislation to introduce that WILL make far more of a difference than some well-intentioned diddling about.
Regards,
Bill
I wonder how much improvement could be made if we just turn off the television one hour a night and read a book instead.
Real change would require everyone in civilized areas to start living like those in the Third World. Which in reality, is what this political movement (yes, political, not scientific) is all about...hurting the economy of the USA and other industrialized nations.
Real change would mean living and using resources responsibly. Wasting resources costs money. Money that could be spend in better, or at least different, ways. That wouldn't hurt any economy, except perhaps the US economy since it's founded on wasting anyway.
I wonder how much improvement could be made if we just turn off the television one hour a night and read a book instead.
How about turning it on only once a week for a few hours and spend the rest of the evenings reading, studying, talking? I assure you, that does make a difference. At least it does to me, my wife and my kid.
digitalintrigue
03-29-2008, 13:37
Real change would mean living and using resources responsibly. Wasting resources costs money. Money that could be spend in better, or at least different, ways. That wouldn't hurt any economy, except perhaps the US economy since it's founded on wasting anyway.
This movement is not about conservation, however. No one is saying saving money on your electric bill is a bad thing. :) But turning everything off for an hour is only going to save people a few cents! Which is why it's not advertised as such.
Al Patterson
03-29-2008, 13:48
How about turning it on only once a week for a few hours and spend the rest of the evenings reading, studying, talking? I assure you, that does make a difference. At least it does to me, my wife and my kid.
I live alone, so no talking...
But, I'm down to only watching "Lost" and "Battlestar Gallactica" these days as I'm on the road. I find reading 3 or 4 books a week a better use my time anyway.
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