Today, at 8:30PM I am turning of the light and will enjoy the darkness, or I guess, semidarkness, for 60 minutes. This in order to join the Earth Hour movement. One billion people, 3000 cities, 84 countries are joining in one of the biggest global campaigns ever. In only 3 years, it has grown to unite the world and has managed effectively to raise the consciousness of ordinary people, concerning our environment. A small way to contribute, yet so very profound and effective. Here in Denmark in this short period of time “Earth Hour” has become one of the most publicized events on this day in March. Restaurants, bars, hotels and numerous companies and firms are all taking part in this universal movement that stretches from London to Beijing, from New York to Cape Town. Like a chain reaction, starting in Australia, it spreads all over the world, from the east across to the west.
I love the sentiment behind this more than I can ever adequately describe in words. I like the feeling of being part of something this immense and extraordinary, where participation is so simple and effortless, yet so very poignant. To turn of the artificial light for 60 minutes, while lighting the candles and enjoying an hour of solitude and reflection appeals to me in more ways than one.
13 comments:
I knew that if anyone would post about Earth Hour, it would be you. Here's how the conversation went around here yesterday.
H: It's Earth Hour tomorrow.. we need to turn the lights off for an hour at 8:30
F: Oh.
H: Yup.
F: But that means you're supposed to turn of the television too.
H: That's right.
F: But. But. But that's when the game is on.
H: There's ALWAYS a game on. You'll survive. We're doing it.
F: We'll see.
H: No, we won't. It'll be dark.
We are SO participating. ;)
This is the first year I can remember any public attention to Earth Hour(Denmark way ahead of us in this)and I only heard of it last year.
I think the state and cities around here will be complying by turning off most building's indoor and outdoor lights.
I *hope* I can remember to participate...it'll be around the time we are getting ready to go out and driving(wonder if it'll be noticably darker with fewer lights on)
Thanks for the reminder! I turned off my lights. As I lit my candles, I thought of you. :-) I posted some pics on my blog.
Z - My son reminded me of this, and we followed it - He asked that I switched my laptop to battery, but I plugged it in again when he left the room - But we had nothing else on in the house - So I hope that had some effect... It was very easy to do, was it not - We ought to do more of it - There was a fellow feeling somehow, I felt it... It is a small sacrifice. And yet, still industry continues to use energy, sometimes wastefully, so I feel there ought to be more done to encourage changes in that field - But thankyou, my friend in charming Denmark, for recalling us to what is important, as you always do! x
hi. thank you for the lovely comment. Hope to see you there again on my site.
we can only do so much right. we have a tv but i dont use it. I just read a lot, Most of the time i stay on our veranda. Free wind and great way to stay quiet for hours.
i love candles. Btw it's romantic. hihi.
=Hilary,
LOL! That was very entertaining comment.;)) Made my Sunday morning, and made me laugh despite loosing an hour, as we went to daylight savings time last night.;))
I hope F is still speaking to you after you turned his TV off in prime time.;)) Hope you are having a great Sunday.;))
=Tina,
I became aware of this last year only really and this year it has been all over the news.;))
I hope you had a nice Saturday evening.;))
=Keera,
that was a really wonderful comment; I am off to your pace to see the pictures. What a nice sentiment, thank you.;))
=Fhina,
you are always so genuinely kind, I really agree with you. It doesn't take much to just dedicate one hour to a good cause and it really is an easy contribution. I know what you mean about the feeling you get from being part pf this.;))
=Denise,
thank you so much for stopping by, you have a lovely place.
Yes, candles are very romantic, I could not agree more.;)))
Yup, he's still talking to me. We ended up spending most of the evening at my neighbour's back yard, where we had a fire place blasting heat to keep us warm on the outside and something to drink which kept us warm on the inside. He only had to wait an hour to check the score... and survived. :)
I was in a movie theatre at 8:30... but all the lights were off at home... so that still counts, right? Man, I hope it does. I don't need anything else to feel guilty about :)
=Hilary,
it sounds like you had an absolutely perfect Saturday evening; just my kind of a Saturday.;))) Wonderful!;))
=Diane,
it counts plenty.;)) I hope your weekend was great dear friend.;))
We only turn off some lights because we have patients in our hospital. But we closed all the lights in our house. hehe :)
This kind of event thrills me, knowing that everybody in the world is participating and I am one of them. :)
=Noelle,
do you work in a hospital? How extraordinary.
I agree, there is a sense of some kind of satisfaction and excitement to be part of a global event, such as this.;))
It's our family business in the province. Yes, I sometimes work/help at our hospital. I give administrative assistance there since I'm in Business Management. :)
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