Lights OFF for Earth Hour

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 25 Mar 2009, 19:55

LIGHTS OFF FOR EARTH HOUR!

Edinburgh residents are being urged to show their support for international action on climate change by switching off their lights for WWF's Earth Hour 2009.

Some of the most iconic buildings on Edinburgh's skyline will be plunged into darkness for 60 minutes this weekend as the city marks the event at 8.30pm on Saturday 28 March 2009.

Landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument and the Scottish Parliament will have their lights extinguished as the Capital joins thousands of cities across the globe to mark WWF's Earth Hour, which has now become an annual event.

Council Leader Jenny Dawe today urged residents to add their voices to the call for an international response to climate change.

She said:

I would encourage everyone at home to play their part and turn off their lights to mark Earth Hour this Saturday night. Climate change is a huge issue that must be addressed on all fronts and especially at a local level. This action to mark Earth Hour in Edinburgh will send a very bold visual message to the world's governments that we must all take action to help tackle climate change.

The City of Edinburgh Council will switch off the lights at its Waverley Court HQ, the City Chambers, the Scott Monument, Edinburgh Castle rocks, Calton Hill monuments, Burns Monument, and St John's Church. Other landmarks being plunged into darkness in the capital include Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish Parliament.

The people of Edinburgh will join those in over 1800 cities and towns in 80 countries, across 25 time zones which will power down for WWF's Earth Hour.

Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland, said:

To have the backing of so many important buildings and organisations in Edinburgh for WWF's Earth Hour is tremendous. We are grateful to all those who have agreed to join this event which promises to be the biggest ever show of support for decisive action on climate change.

2009 is a crucial year for climate change with world leaders meeting in Copenhagen in December to agree a new international climate deal. Closer to home, Scotland’s Climate Change Bill has the potential to lead the world. We hope that the support shown in this country for WWF’s Earth Hour will inspire our politicians to make the bill world leading.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 26 Mar 2009, 00:00

As a symbolic idea it could be a good one. Unfortunately in reality the power down will coincide with one of the power peaks of the year, during the Holland v Scotland world cup match. Wtf?

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 26 Mar 2009, 10:10

Symbolic just about sums it up. I read recently that if the whole of the UK closed down for 10 years and did not use one iota of energy during the decade - this would still not compensate for one year's annual increase in China's emmissions.

I do not know if this is true or not but it does kind of put the problem into context. Either way, it makes me feel pretty pathetic when I stick my piddly bit of cardboard in the recycle bin.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 26 Mar 2009, 11:58

And how do you feel when you walk about with your Porty Shopper?

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 26 Mar 2009, 12:43

Pal of Porty wrote:Symbolic just about sums it up. I read recently that if the whole of the UK closed down for 10 years and did not use one iota of energy during the decade - this would still not compensate for one year's annual increase in China's emmissions.

Those figures are a bit out. Total emissions from China are about 12 times ours but their annual increase is lower than our annual emissions. However the increase in China's emissions over the last 10 years or so equates roughly with our total emissions.

And of course, per capita, our emissions are far higher so we probably face greater challenges in moving to a low carbon society.

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 26 Mar 2009, 12:48

It also worth pointing out that our historical contribution to raising CO2 levels is also higher than China's.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 26 Mar 2009, 13:38

Epykat wrote:And how do you feel when you walk about with your Porty Shopper?

I don't have one but I do have one of the Kitchener's Deli ones, which serves the same purpose. Reminds me of the old days because your Mum could never send you out for some messages without giving you a shopping bag.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 26 Mar 2009, 13:46

seanie wrote:It also worth pointing out that our historical contribution to raising CO2 levels is also higher than China's.

I think this principle applies to a lot of areas. It is difficult for the rich developed countries to preach to the rest of the world when the rest of the world is striving to attain many of the things we already have. Only thing I know is that the planet we live on is a wonderfully balanced global ecosystem and we somehow we need to lessen our impact and get a better all round balance.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 26 Mar 2009, 14:16

Pal of Porty wrote:
seanie wrote:It also worth pointing out that our historical contribution to raising CO2 levels is also higher than China's.
I think this principle applies to a lot of areas. It is difficult for the rich developed countries to preach to the rest of the world when the rest of the world is striving to attain many of the things we already have. Only thing I know is that the planet we live on is a wonderfully balanced global ecosystem and we somehow we need to lessen our impact and get a better all round balance.

It's also rather fuzzy logic. Realising the damage caused to the environment is a relatively new phenomena and cannot realisticaly be applied to the pollution of previous centuries.
We need to concentrate on what we do NOW and the impact that this has. It can be difficult to see the impact oan individual makes - but it is nevertheless essential that we all play our part, not only in recycling, reusing etc but in influencing opnion. The past teaches us many lessons - and we should heed them:
"First they came for the Communists but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out;
Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists but I was not one of them, so I did not speak out;
Then they came for the Jews but I was not Jewish so I did not speak out.
And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 26 Mar 2009, 14:29

If you are genuinely concerned about this possibility may I you should start hanging out with catholic capitalists?

I have a porty shopper but keep forgettng it and using the sainsbury long-life carrier bags. I tend to shop for groceries once a week so the the porty shopper and kitcheners bag are not practical. I use the Kitcheners bag to store my root vegetables.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 26 Mar 2009, 14:32

And there's more bad news for those who didn't vote No on the God thread. Seems like it's not that bothered.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7964880.stm

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 26 Mar 2009, 14:55

The issue of historical and cumulative emissions is very relevant since mitigating climate change will only be achieved through global co-operation. Developing countries, whose current contribution may be significant but whose historicc contribution is small, aren't going to sign up to measures that don't take account of that historic legacy.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 26 Mar 2009, 15:42

Porty wrote:If you are genuinely concerned about this possibility may I you should start hanging out with catholic capitalists?

Catholic Capitolists?

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 26 Mar 2009, 15:42

Porty wrote:If you are genuinely concerned about this possibility may I you should start hanging out with catholic capitalists?

Catholic Capitolists?

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 26 Mar 2009, 15:42

Porty wrote:If you are genuinely concerned about this possibility may I you should start hanging out with catholic capitalists?

Catholic Capitolists?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 26 Mar 2009, 15:50

I meant Cotholic Capitalists. You don't half go on.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 26 Mar 2009, 17:43

Porty wrote:As a symbolic idea it could be a good one. Unfortunately in reality the power down will coincide with one of the power peaks of the year, during the Holland v Scotland world cup match. Wtf?

I wouldn't worry. By 8:30 the game will be effectively over anyway.

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 26 Mar 2009, 17:48

It might come as blessed relief.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 26 Mar 2009, 18:09

As a symbolic gesture, we could agree to switch off our computers for the hour. And watch the game in the dark. And drink only beer to avoid boiling kettles.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 26 Mar 2009, 19:39

Switch the tv off for the duration of the game and watch the computer in the dark.
Seriously, it would be more fun.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 26 Mar 2009, 21:46

seanie wrote:The issue of historical and cumulative emissions is very relevant since mitigating climate change will only be achieved through global co-operation. Developing countries, whose current contribution may be significant but whose historicc contribution is small, aren't going to sign up to measures that don't take account of that historic legacy.

Excellently put.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 26 Mar 2009, 22:21

seashell wrote:Realising the damage caused to the environment is a relatively new phenomena.................

Oh I think it has been around for a very long time - it is just that the information has become more common knowledge in the recent past.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 26 Mar 2009, 22:43

In 1959, the year I was born, the world population stood at around 3 billion. By the time I turned 40 that figure had doubled. Today it stands at around 6.7 billion. By 2040 it could be 9 billion. Our planet, with its finite resources, simply cannot sustain these numbers. There is not enough fresh water. We cannot grow enough grain, even with GM. There are not enough fish in the sea. We cannot produce enough energy to satisfy the ever-growing demand.

What will happen when over 2 billion Chinese and Indians start to consume resources at the rate we currently are in the west? And Africa? Does this make you feel uncomfortable? Perhaps because in the whole debate about the impending ecological disaster, over-population is the elephant in the room.

I'm not sure turning the lights off is such a good idea. A blackout baby boom is the last thing we need.

http://gpso.wordpress.com/materials/

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 27 Mar 2009, 09:16

Bob Jefferson wrote:
Porty wrote:As a symbolic idea it could be a good one. Unfortunately in reality the power down will coincide with one of the power peaks of the year, during the Holland v Scotland world cup match. Wtf?
I wouldn't worry. By 8:30 the game will be effectively over anyway.

Seanie wrote:It might come as blessed relief.

Soupdragon wrote:Switch the tv off for the duration of the game and watch the computer in the dark.
Seriously, it would be more fun.

Oh yea of little faith

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 27 Mar 2009, 11:02

Marya this is the "Lights Off vs Football" thread. The "Does God exist thread" is further down

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 27 Mar 2009, 11:26

I (perhaps mistakenly) believed that the world's population is expected to peak in 2030.

I'll throw another staggering stat in in relation to china. I was watching a documentary a couple of years ago and they spoke about an initiative to get people out of agriculture and into other industries the number of people that were trying to persuade was £500M!!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Apr 2009, 07:52

From the BBC today:

Earth population 'exceeds limits'

There are already too many people living on Planet Earth, according to one of most influential science advisors in the US government.

DG · Post by DG » 04 Apr 2009, 18:46

I really liked this. We kept everything off for most of the night. It's so much more relaxed and candlelight is lovely. I had this silly notion that when I looked out the window at 8.30pm I'd see lots of lights in houses / flats going off but unfortunately not. Maybe next time(hoping that this will happen again).
DG