On Earth Hour, belatedly...

[alexpgp]

Quoting Ross McKitrick's dissent:

Earth Hour celebrates ignorance, poverty and backwardness. By repudiating the greatest engine of liberation it becomes an hour devoted to anti-humanism. It encourages the sanctimonious gesture of turning off trivial appliances for a trivial amount of time, in deference to some ill-defined abstraction called “the Earth,” all the while hypocritically retaining the real benefits of continuous, reliable electricity. People who see virtue in doing without electricity should shut off their fridge, stove, microwave, computer, water heater, lights, TV and all other appliances for a month, not an hour. And pop down to the cardiac unit at the hospital and shut the power off there too.

I don't want to go back to nature. Travel to a zone hit by earthquakes, floods and hurricanes to see what it’s like to go back to nature. For humans, living in "nature" meant a short life span marked by violence, disease and ignorance. People who work for the end of poverty and relief from disease are fighting against nature. I hope they leave their lights on.

Well said, I think.

Cheers...

Comments

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Those who support these symbolic measures don't seem to understand what they're really asking for.

[fidelioscabinet.livejournal.com]

I not opposed to the idea "Is something that doesn't need to be? Why not make the effort to turn things off if they aren't needed?" which I think would do a lot more for the idea of conservation and careful use than plunging everything into darkness for an hour does. I've lived without electricity for an extended period post-disaster twice now, and spent over a month with voluntary water restrictions last year. It's a PITA but it's doable, but I do not make the connection. I would think the sight of one's utility bills would be a more effective argument for conservation for most people, but I often fail to grasp the workings of the Fuzzy-minded Left, who seem to be unable to communicate with anyone outside their charmed circle.

[bemused-leftist.livejournal.com]

It's not about phasing out electricity. It's about showing support for developing cleaner sources of power.

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

You might as well give a homeless person a penny as a show of support for the construction of affordable housing.

And according to the World Wildlife Fund (which I am told came up with the idea), the purpose of Earth Hour (http://www.worldwildlife.org/sites/earthhour/index.html?gclid=CJj41KL1mK8CFYMKKgodIkCUyQ) is to "display a universal commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all--the planet."

Fine words, certainly, but capable of a many of interpretations, at least in theory. I've noticed that among people who go around talking about a "universal commitment to protect the planet," cleaner sources of power are desirable as long as they remain in the design and planning stage. Lawsuits are regularly filed when such projects are ready to go online.

Cheers...