Climate Change Deniers Band Together For Earth Hour
Vow to pollute and spend as much money as possible to teach them poor Gaia loving hippies a lesson they’ll never forget.
While potentially hundreds of thousands (possibly millions) of Canadians will turn off their lights and unnecessary appliances for an hour tonight at 8:00PM a small but dedicated band of fundamentalist Canadian Conservative (and conservative) climate change deniers will be out doing far more than just ignoring a phenomena they do not agree with. This group of committed individuals has dedicated itself to the process of wasting as much gas as they can, creating as much pollution as they can, and running their personal hydro bills up as high as they possibly can, in order to show people how completely unreasonable and deluded those participating in Earth Hour are.
Kate is, of course, way out in front of this and is encouraging people to increase their impact on our earth’s resources – she’s gonna fire up the bike
And her dedicated followers have taken up the challenge
I am going to turn on a whole bunch of heavy-drain electrical appliances and watch the little wheel behind the glass on the power meter. I expect to see it spin so fast that it breaks free and takes off into orbit. That is to do my part to offset the measurable consumption of electricity. I also plan to fire up my older camper van with a four barrel carburetor.
– and one of this small but dedicated is even putting his very life on the line for a cause he believes so deeply in.
I’m eating lots of home made beans and pork. This is great for making green house gases. I best keep away from open fires.
One particularly dedicated fundamentalist climate change denier is going to go at it for three solid hours, you don’t often see dedication like that do you?
I plan on turning on every appliance and lighting fixture in my place: the first hour will be to rebuke some poor soul who thinks that sitting in the dark singing koombiya will somehow prevent polar bears from sailing on ice floats; the second hour will be for the power I’d normally use during the two hours anyway; the third hour is to use more electricity than would’ve been used if the self-righteous ecowarriors didn’t bemoan their poor Gaia’s condition to the rest of us to begin with.
Celestial Junk is calling on their readers to get behind Kate because of what they see as the danger of the whole world }}}}}shudder{{{{{ being turned into North Korea if this thing goes too far.
After reading such dispassionate and reasoned arguments that have been put forward by such reasonable people it’s almost enough to make ya doubt your participation in tonights activities isn’t it.
PS: The bunker will be dark from 8:00PM until 9:00PM tonight.
Update: Making Sense With Nicholls
Anyway, I plan to have every incandescent light bulb in my house lit tonight, so that when aliens peer down on the planet tonight between 8 and 9 PM, they will know at least one human didn’t succumb to group think.
– and his adherent Bubba
i’m gonna have all the lights on and I will start my two vehicles and let them idle
Bubba
Update: Fuschi’s Canadian Forum
I will posit that if any real effort is made to be part of this farce, the lost opportunity value of all the things that did not occur while we were standing in the dark, will far outweigh the elusive results of the effort.
As Ottawa flickers off, Harper’s lights stay on
OTTAWA–Thanks to its place of prominence in the capital, 24 Sussex Dr., the prime minister’s residence, is always easy to spot. As Ottawa went dark Saturday night for Earth Hour, it was even easier.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s lights stayed on.
The ever-illuminated Peace Tower on Parliament Hill went black at the stroke of 8 p.m., as did the lighted “Canada” signs that adorn federal buildings in the capital and across the country.
Stornoway, the official residence of Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, was almost impossible to find among the mansions in Ottawa’s upscale Rockliffe neighbourhood. Dion, a former environment minister, even delivered a speech by candlelight in Toronto to a gala dinner recognizing Greek independence.
Rideau Hall, home to Governor General Michaelle Jean, was dark and federal Environment Minister John Baird was at his suburban Nepean home “with the lights off, of course,” said spokesperson Eric Richer.
But two ground-floor rooms in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s house stayed on when a Star reporter passed by shortly after 8 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. Inquiries to a PMO spokesperson were not returned.
The third-floor offices on Parliament Hill that house the Prime Minister’s Office were also among the few lights that stayed on in the Centre Block
He was probably working or something, at home and at his office, he’s a very busy man don’t ‘cha know.
[ratings]
It’s good to see them reveal themselves for precisely what they are, though. Their weakness has always been that they forget there’s a large audience of reasonable folks out there, watching this nonsense and thinking “What the fuck…?”
And that’s good. The more arrogance, the more contempt, the better.
Their weakness has always been that they forget there’s a large audience of reasonable folks out there, watching this nonsense and thinking “What the fuck…?”
It’s not that they’ve forgotten this. They actually believe they are the reasonable folks and the majority out there think the same way they do.
“While potentially hundreds of thousands (possibly millions)”
“a small but dedicated band of fundamentalist Canadian Conservative ”
If you take a look at all of the polls done on this , you will indeed see that the numbers are more like “millions (possibly billions) will be ignoring this pointless exercise in futility.
Oh, definitely billions, Platty. I doubt that many folks in China, South America or Africa will be participating.
But it’s not a “pointless exercise in futility” (a lot of redundancy in that phrase, by the way – tighten it up).
Among its accomplishments, two stand out – it’s a well conceived, high priority focus for media coverage (which is the real point), and it’s assertion of a community.
From the update: “I will posit that if any real effort is made to be part of this farce, the lost opportunity value of all the things that did not occur while we were standing in the dark, will far outweigh the elusive results of the effort.”
WTF? Sorry, but what exactly would the “opportunity value of all things that did not occur” be for 8:00 pm on a Saturday night? All stockmarkets around the world are closed at that time, as are (federal/provincial/municipal) offices, as are most private industry offices, in fact, by that time, the only thing open for business would be bars, restaurants and the entertainment industry. So the opportunity value would be what? $0.50?
Anyway, I plan to have every incandescent light bulb in my house lit tonight, so that when aliens peer down on the planet tonight between 8 and 9 PM, they will know at least one human didn’t succumb to group think.
I’m sorry – who’s pushing the concept of “group think”? Reality, Gerry. Gerry, reality. I’m not sure the two of you have met …
It doesn’t have to be realistic Candace, all it has to do is sound possible… the “oh the humanity, won’t anyone think of the all things that won’t get done at 8:00PM on Sat. night!!” translation that emerges when people think about what is being said doesn’t sound quite so reasonable.
I’m going to unplug my digital clock, microwave, stove, computer UPS, and live off of an LED hand crank flashlight for an hour. I’ll juggle rocks for an hour for entertainment. Is that what those wonks at SDA were talking about in going back to the stone age?
Candace is so dense, she actually thinks this idea was presented to really stop global warming. It’s a symbolic gesture dimwit, nobody thinks it makes a concrete difference.
The good news, not only are they exposing themselves online as morons, but their neighbors will see where they stand too.
There were some pretty dark areas in the neighbourhood tonight, one apartment building up the street went all but dark – my building didn’t fare too badly, but for some reason the west side of the building was a lot darker than the east side…. go figure ‘eh?
A friend of mine stopped by just before 8:00PM and we spent most of the time out on the balcony, drinking the thermos full of coffee I’d got ready for the hour, discussing what we had to do to get the bikes ready to go for the season, and planning a few summer rides for after he gets back from the states in a few weeks.
I made a point of being out on the balcony just before 9:00PM and saw quite a few lights appear out of the darkness as the hour ended so there was decent participation in the area. I did note that there were no exceedingly bright lights to be seen, no tire fires, no bonfires, no xmas lights, and I didn’t hear the muted sounds of truck engines idling, 2 stroke dirt bikes, or even lawn mowers, so I guess the “we’re gonna waste gas, pollute as much as possible, and see how high we can send out hydro bills, to show everyone how unreasonable those Gaia loving hippies are” crowd didn’t gain much traction here.
… I hope they don’t feel too bad about that, I guess folks ’round here just ain’t quite as reasonable as they are.
What kind of bike do you have, Stage?
We refuse to be part of a Socialist/Fascist mentality that Leftists represent. We’re not part of your blind herd
I confess to having two of them parked in the underground garage — but in my defence I only use them one at a time.
1983 Yamaha XJ750 Maxim outfitted for long rides and camping (big ‘ole king/queen seat, padded back rest, luggage rack, leather saddle bags, touring pegs) + 1997 Honda 750VRF sport bike outfitted for… well, it is a sport bike
Nice. My ex has a Ducati Superbike … or what my father calls a crotchrocket. I miss the bike more than him;-)
Steve V: I’m not dense, I was commenting on the highlit remark (which was dense). You may want to work on your reading comprehension skills.
SL, the daughter & I took the dog for a long walk. We had to wait until about 8:30 to really tell if people had their lights off or not (thanks to daylight savings, it wasn’t dark until then). For the most part, it seemed darker than normal, and you could see the lights flick on around 9 (we got home at 8:50 then bumbled around finding candles that we finally got lit aroun 8:57 – however, they’re scented so will remain on for a while anyway).
I’m more of a doubter than a denier. I also believe in energy conservation. But all this exercise does is give the posers an oppourtunity to feel self-rightious for doing the absoulute least thing they can do.
“Oooh look at me, I turned that lamp in the hallway off for an hour. I’m making a difference. I just care so much more than you do.”
And this web-site you go to sign up? All it says is that you plan to participate, there’s no way to measure how many people actually do it. Besides, I’m not going to be home tonight so my lights are off anyway. If I sign up do I count?
You want to cut back, CARBON TAX. Many Albertans fear them I don’t, and I work in the oil industry.
stageleft
1983 Yamaha XJ750 Maxim outfitted for long rides and camping (big ‘ole king/queen seat, padded back rest, luggage rack, leather saddle bags, touring pegs) + 1997 Honda 750VRF sport bike outfitted for… well, it is a sport bike
Those better run on ethanol.
Steve V
Candace is so dense, she actually thinks this idea was presented to really stop global warming. It’s a symbolic gesture dimwit, nobody thinks it makes a concrete difference.
Steve is so dense, he actually thinks that symbolic gestures actually accomplish anything.
“But all this exercise does is give the posers an oppourtunity to feel self-rightious for doing the absoulute least thing they can do.”
I know. Like all those morons with their stupid poppies in November. What a bunch a dummies, eh? Like, mosta the guys they claim to be honouring are frickin’ dead, right?
I’m surprised at the innocence of the folks who think the actual intention of this was to save kilowatt hours. Have you guys really failed to notice the media attention this attracted to the question of energy conservation?
Nastyboy, your smug, dismissive assumption that participants are all doing “the absolute least” during all the other hours of their lives is comforting, I’m sure. But I’d suggest you save your contempt for the assholes deliberately doing much less than absolutely nothing – the gloaters at SDA, among others.
By the way, Nasty, don’t forget that CC has declared May 1st, 8-9 pm, to be “Don’t Run Your Genitals Over A Cheese Grater” hour. We’ll all be participating. I sure hope you show us dummies how pointless THAT one is, too.
Of course you’re not Winston, you’re one of the reasonable folks doing the reasonable thing and seeing how high you can drive your hydro bill by “turning every single light in my house on” – no irrational emotional reaction out of you you by gum, no-sir-re-bob, you got a level head on yer shoulders and yer not gonna do anything silly are you?
Shorter Winston: “As our way of showing that we refuse to follow the herd in mindless lockstep, we’re going to do exactly what Kate McMillan tells us.”
I’m guessing someone didn’t think that argument through very well.
I’m not sure you guys should actually engage “Winston” – someone that catastrophically stupid could be contagious.
Say what? You’ve been sparring with Patrick for months now.
I am certainly a believer that we are causing global warming, but really what does Earth Hour do? Individuals contribute less than 25% of the ghg’s – sure I am all for us doing what we can to reduce our carbon imprint, but unless we get corporations and resource companies to start reducing their imprint, what we are doing is all for naught.
The makers of the film What a Way To Go did some work to find out how much the U.S.’s carbon footprint would be reduced if everyone did what Al Gore said we should do in An Inconvenient Truth. If every American did what he suggests, then the U.S. ghg emissions would be reduced by 20%. Good? Sure, but in a few years that decrease would be wiped out by other sectors and that number only assumes that all Americans would do so which isn’t the case.
The point being that sure, it’s great that we all do these things. I ride a bike. Have CFL’s etc… but until we deal with the real issue, which is the energy and ghg emissions spewed by manufacturers and resource extraction, it’s all for naught.
“I am certainly a believer that we are causing global warming, but really what does Earth Hour do? ”
One more time: it’s essentially a well-conceived, highly visible theatrical gesture designed to attract positive media attention to the issue of conservation. I’m not saying that disparagingly, I’m saying it with admiration. It’s very good political theatre. The proof is that the moronosphere has felt the need to mock it.
Causing? I’m not so sure we are “causing” climate change. By it’s very nature the climate has always been changing – go for “contributing unnecessarily to” and/or “compounding the problem” and I’m with ya.
I’m not sure you guys should actually engage “Winston” – someone that catastrophically stupid could be contagious.
A reference to mad cow disease perhaps?
Say what? You’ve been sparring with Patrick for months now.
Not moi – that’s alllll CC’s doing
I just get in the occasional boot to the nethers …
One more time: it’s essentially a well-conceived, highly visible theatrical gesture designed to attract positive media attention to the issue of conservation.
I can see that, but I think it also helps keep people in denial as to what we really need to do. Shutting off lights is really an empty gesture because it allows people to believe that if they just shut off their lights, or drive a hybrid, we can save the world/environment/humanity. No, we need a complete re-structure of society and all it’s institutions. Some would even say, and I tend to agree, that we need to take down civilization all together.
Causing? I’m not so sure we are “causing” climate change. By it’s very nature the climate has always been changing – go for “contributing unnecessarily to” and/or “compounding the problem” and I’m with ya.
You are right of course. Poor choice of words. In my defence, I had had only one cup of coffee up until that point.
“Not moi – that’s alllll CC’s doing
”
You know, that thread, the last long one with Patrick, made me feel – old. I simply could NOT see the point of exchanging utterly adolescent insults ad nauseam – even normally smart, funny people were cretinizing themselves to talk at great length to what was clearly an obsessive with some form of cognitive disorder and undescended testicles.
Excuse me now, please, I’m off to chat with Canadian Sentinel.
“Shutting off lights is really an empty gesture because it allows people to believe that if they just shut off their lights, or drive a hybrid, we can save the world/environment/humanity.”
No, I don’t think that shutting off the lights for an hour will save humanity. I DO think, however, that if my DAUGHTER thinks that (she’s 14), maybe she’ll start turning the lights off in rooms she’s not in, turning the TV or stereo or computer off when she’s not using it, not run the washing machine for one pair of jeans (ignoring the sorted laundry RIGHT THERE), etc and my power bill will reflect that by a dollar or so.
Excuse me now, please, I’m off to chat with Canadian Sentinel.
So sayeth the pot to the kettle … you are the funny, Balby.
I DO think, however, that if my DAUGHTER thinks that (she’s 14), maybe she’ll start turning the lights off in rooms she’s not in, turning the TV or stereo or computer off when she’s not using it, not run the washing machine for one pair of jeans (ignoring the sorted laundry RIGHT THERE), etc and my power bill will reflect that by a dollar or so.
Again, that’s great, but it really doesn’t mean much in the long run. We are in serious ecological trouble and doing those things only keeps us in denial to the real problems and the only solution to them.
“Again, that’s great, but it really doesn’t mean much in the long run.”
Instilling a sense of conservation and of personal responsibility among our young people does do something. Maybe not in the short run but certainly in the long run. It helps create a climate-conscious, energy-conscious population. That paves the way for future regulations that will affect those industrial and government polluters.
If we. as individuals, refuse to change our own wasteful habits, how can we demand that industry and government change theirs? If we, as individuals, adopt Earth-friendly attitudes, we will elect legislators who reflect our concerns.
Personal action doesn’t put us into denial. It makes us aware of the problem and it tells that remedial actions do have some effect. The next step is to carry that awareness into political action.
Live green? Vote Green!
I continue to promote conservation and energy-efficiency for government. I blogged on this topic about a year ago. While that post was aimed at the Ontario government, it applies to all provinces and the federal government, too.
Here’s a little from that old post:
1. The government purchases hundreds of vehicles for various ministry operations, policing, etc. Does the government have a procurement policy that requires public funds be spent on fuel efficient and/or hybrid vehicles?
2. Buildings are one of the biggest contributors to GHG emissions. Has the government embarked on an energy audit program for all Ontario’s publicly owned buildings?
3. Ontario collects a hefty 8% sales tax. What is Ontario doing by way of tax incentives to encourage reduced energy use?
4. Government properties like the grounds of public buildings and parks require lawn-cutting and landscape maintenance. What measures have been taken to ensure that eco-friendly methods are employed with regard to gasoline powered equipment, weed and pest control, planting of native species, etc.?
Governments act when the voters demand action. By educating and instructing our youth, we are shaping a new generation that will, hopefully, demand real action from government.
JB
[...] notion that raising environmental awareness is fascism, to the proud proclamations of people determined to waste as much energy as humanly possible during Earth Hour, there was no shortage of childish [...]
Me thinks you are wasting electricity by blogging. Stop ignoring climate change! Switch off your comp.
Instilling a sense of conservation and of personal responsibility among our young people does do something. Maybe not in the short run but certainly in the long run. It helps create a climate-conscious, energy-conscious population. That paves the way for future regulations that will affect those industrial and government polluters.
I have no problem agreeing it does something, just not nearly enough. Our way of life as it stands is totally unsustainable. It will someday, sooner rather than later, crash. Yes personal responsibility is great and all, but we need much more fundamental changes to the way we live. Green capitalism will not save us but many environmentalists seem to think so. This belief is a state of denial because it ignores the much larger problems we face.
If we. as individuals, refuse to change our own wasteful habits, how can we demand that industry and government change theirs? If we, as individuals, adopt Earth-friendly attitudes, we will elect legislators who reflect our concerns.
As I said earlier, I try to minimize my impact as much as possible. I agree that all should. But it isn’t nearly enough. And industry will never change its ways, nor will government because they are based upon the destruction of the environment in the name of profit. Until we stop seeing nature as a resource, nothing will ever change. Hence why me riding my bike in the big picture isn’t really much of anything.
Governments act when the voters demand action. By educating and instructing our youth, we are shaping a new generation that will, hopefully, demand real action from government.
But what are we teaching them JB? That if they use CFL’s that everything will be OK? If we were really teaching them we would be teaching them to grow their own food, forage, and how to defend themselves from marauding invaders.
And I disagree about government. They will do the minimum, just as industry will to address these problems. Look at Alberta and Saskatchewan with oil sands development. Is there a more toxic industry in the world right now? And they are moving ahead full bore, despite a growing sense in both provinces that these things need the brakes put on them. Our government is a government of business. Has been for a long time.
‘Again, that’s great, but it really doesn’t mean much in the long run. We are in serious ecological trouble and doing those things only keeps us in denial to the real problems and the only solution to them.”
Peter, I don’t think you’re thinking about the dynamics of social change. Your attitude is a bit reminiscent of the Peoples Front of Judea – “Our first goal is the complete overthrow of the Roman Empire. Agreed?”
Assume the long term goal is to create a shift in social attitudes. Then think of individuals in terms of three continua:
- Knowledge. What do the people out there KNOW about the climate change? What’s their level of awareness of the GOOD science (pro OR con), of the different opinions and models? What do they know about the range of opinions and options?
- Attitude. What do people feel about climate change, on a scale that runs from indifference to a real commitment to DO something?
- Behaviour. As a function of their knowledge and their attitudes, what are they DOING about it? What action can they take, short, medium and long term?
On any social campaign I’ve ever worked on, those are three key factors we consider in our planning. There are more, but this is the simple version.
So considering those three continua:
- do you think MORE people or FEWER people have MORE information or LESS information on climate change, as a result of Earth Hour promotion, coverage and discussions?
- do you think attitudes toward climate change awareness have been positively or negatively impacted as a result of Earth Hour promotion, discussion and activities?
- do you think Earth Hour will have ANY impact on behaviours?
I would argue that the both the knowledge and attitudinal goals were probably met, and the behavioural goals less so. I think there are probably many who now relax, thinking they’ve done their bit. I think there are many more who now have more information, a greater knowledge of strategies to save energy, and increased likelihood of doing so in future.
[...] Sure it’s disappointing but I would not have expected anything else from Harper and his Con cronies. [...]
Peter, I don’t think you’re thinking about the dynamics of social change. Your attitude is a bit reminiscent of the Peoples Front of Judea – “Our first goal is the complete overthrow of the Roman Empire. Agreed?”
Well, I don’t know the story, but if the people of Judea were dying as a result of the Roman Empire, that would be my first and only goal. When people are dying, wouldn’t that be yours? What I see you saying is – “We’re getting killed by these people, but rather than overthrow them, let’s just try for the time being to only allow them to kill 4.5 out of 5 of us.”
My argument is that they don’t go nearly far enough and in some cases leads to a further entrenchment of the denial of the problem. Teaching kids that if they want a liveable world all they need to do is turn off the lights when the leave the house or drive a hybrid makes them think that this will solve our problems. It won’t. Not even close.
– do you think MORE people or FEWER people have MORE information or LESS information on climate change, as a result of Earth Hour promotion, coverage and discussions?
People probably have a modicum of people have a modicum of more information. But again, despite people having a little more information, they now walk away believing that if they turn the lights off an hour a day then we’ll all be saved.
do you think attitudes toward climate change awareness have been positively or negatively impacted as a result of Earth Hour promotion, discussion and activities?
I would say negatively because what we are telling people as a result of a promotion like this is that they can save the world thru very minor personal changes. That’s simply not true. In George Monbiot’s Heat, he argues that we would need a 90% reduction in our total ghg production. My question would be, what was the effect in terms of decreased ghg production of something like Earth Hour and how many of these people will continue the practice going forward?
do you think Earth Hour will have ANY impact on behaviours?
Sure, some people may decide to turn off their lights next time they leave the house. Great. And I don’t mean that sarcastically, but given the reality of the situation and what we need to do and how quickly it needs to come, it is just a tiny drop in the bucket.
I think there are probably many who now relax, thinking they’ve done their bit. I think there are many more who now have more information, a greater knowledge of strategies to save energy, and increased likelihood of doing so in future.
I would argue that it will be a lot more the former than the latter.
“Well, I don’t know the story, but if the people of Judea …”
It’s a scene from Monty Python’s Life of Brian. My point is that the transformation of our economy and culture is going to be incremental, not revolutionary. If a measure inches us a long the way, it’s a good thing.
So we agree that Earth day spread some information, changed some attitudes, and possibly initiated some new behaviours. Good. Reinforce and build on that. Don’t shit all over it. THAT’S how real social transformation happens.
‘Teaching kids that if they want a liveable world all they need to do is turn off the lights when the leave the house or drive a hybrid makes them think that this will solve our problems.”
Fortunately, I have never heard anyone make that foolish assertion.
My point is that the transformation of our economy and culture is going to be incremental, not revolutionary. If a measure inches us a long the way, it’s a good thing.
And that’s fine. But given the state of the emergency we are in, I just don’t see us getting there in time thru this method. I also think, again, that while Earth Hour does a few positive things, I think for too many people it will ingrain in them that these little things we do are all we need to do.
I was thinking of an analogy using puppies and toilet training. When I was younger and we got our puppy we trained it to go to the bathroom in the house on paper. Then we trained it that this was wrong and to go outside after a while. Today, dog trainers say this is one of the worst things you can do to a puppy – you are teaching it that a behaviour is fine and then after a while, it’s wrong. It seems to me that we’re training people to go to the bathroom in the house on paper when we need them to go outside. Except in our situation, there is about 46 more steps in between paper training and going outside. I love analogies!
Fortunately, I have never heard anyone make that foolish assertion.
Al Gore does it in his movie. He argues that if we make some personal changes, we’ll be OK. In his movie, does he attack the corporate culture and cultural mindset that allows us to treat the world like a resource rather than a biosphere? I don’t think people come right out and say, hey, this is all you have to do, but the assumption is inherent to it. Buy a hybrid. Save the planet. Use a CFL. Bike to work. Again, all great things, but in the big picture, with the growing industrialization of third world countries and continued industrial growth of first world countries, it all seems for naught.
“It all seems for naught.”
Well, then, your first step should continue to be the immediate overthrow of the Roman Empire. Let me know how that goes for you. The rest of us will work incrementally.
Well, then, your first step should continue to be the immediate overthrow of the Roman Empire. Let me know how that goes for you. The rest of us will work incrementally.
My goal is to save as many species and as much land and in the process, as many humans as we can. Our culture/civilization is making this task harder and harder as more land is destroyed and more species extinct and as our population continues to burgeon and teeter on the edge of collapse. What we need are people out there saving species, saving landbases, and others who are working to overthrow the whole damn thing.
And I think you’re misunderstanding me a bit perhaps (or maybe not). I do think that in the short term these types of events do have a minimal impact, but while we do these things, on a global scale things just get worse. While we are holding people’s hands and telling them, just come this way a little bit, shut off your lights, everything will be OK, but things aren’t OK. If you want to keep encouraging people to do these things, hey, that’s great. But what happens when you break the news to them that what they really need to do is drastically alter their lives, as Monbiot and many others suggest? I can hear the cry now – I thought we just had to turn off our lights and drive a hybrid. Why didn’t anyone tell me?
Another analogy – the babies in the river. A bunch of women are down by a river washing clothes and a baby in a basket floats by. A woman runs out to save the baby. Then another floats by and another and another. And these women are rushing out to the water to save them. Then one women, starts to walk away and they all scream “where are you going?” And she says, to stop the person upstream from throwing them in.
We need people doing both. I just don’t see where Earth Hour and other like minded things fit in with this.
The rest of us will work incrementally.
Well, let me know how that works out for you. And let the polar bears know as well. They’ll be interested I’m sure.
I certainly will. I’m currently working with the Nunavut Inuit Wildlife Secretariat, which is the advisory body assisting the Government of Nunavut and the Widldlife Management Board with its harvesting quotas. You’ll no doubt be relieved to hear that the population in the Davis Strait is rising, as predicted by Inuit, and not falling, as predicted by CWS.
I certainly will. I’m currently working with the Nunavut Inuit Wildlife Secretariat, which is the advisory body assisting the Government of Nunavut and the Widldlife Management Board with its harvesting quotas. You’ll no doubt be relieved to hear that the population in the Davis Strait is rising, as predicted by Inuit, and not falling, as predicted by CWS.
Hey, I think that’s great Balb. Good to hear. I think that’s a great example of fishing the babies out of the river. We need as much of that work done as possible to preserve our non-human friends and their landbases until the fall comes. It is certainly an uphill battle and I have all the respect in the world for the people doing this work. What is CWS btw?
But I ask again, how does Earth Hour fit into this? I know you say that it is essentially a promotional campaign, but what are the long term benefits? Does this program scoop babies out of the river, or does it just mean that a few more people are flailing away to try and grab them but in reality, missing by a mile.
CWS, Peter. Canadian Wildlife Service. The agency which implements the Species at Risk Act in Canada.
balb
Nastyboy, your smug, dismissive assumption that participants are all doing “the absolute least” during all the other hours of their lives is comforting, I’m sure.
I’m not being smug, I’m being cynical. Pointless political theatre like this does nothing but cause a minor stir, let everybody feel good then go about their everyday lives without making any amendments to it. Live 8, Live Aid, Earth Hour et al, are all well meaning but the excitement never lasts and the political fall out is always short lived.
By the way, Nasty, don’t forget that CC has declared May 1st, 8-9 pm, to be “Don’t Run Your Genitals Over A Cheese Grater” hour. We’ll all be participating. I sure hope you show us dummies how pointless THAT one is, too.
I’m not giving that up for anybody.
How many holier than thou yuppies shut off their lights last night were driving their Lincon Navigators this afternoon?
Too many unexamined clichés in there to take seriously, Nasty. All my points were made above.
Change doesn’t come by participating in meaningless diplays. Ante up with cash or volunteer your time towards causes you care about. Everything else is tossing off.
Not “meaningless” – see above.
And your assumption that participants limit their action to that participation and then drive away in lincolns is just another exhausted cliché.
Holy smokes — I thought Winston was being ironic and y’all weren’t getting it.
“We are not a part of your blind herd.”
Seriously, I was ready to crown Winston as the heir to Swift. Boy, do I feel ridiculous…
Visit Winston’s website ,CJ. You’ll find about as much irony there as you’d find ham sandwiches in Mecca.