Saturday, March 28, 2009 0:03
Earth Hour – The world gets ready to switch off
In Darren Boon, Top Story • 1,322 views • 25 Comments
Darren Boon
What will you be doing come Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm? If you are out and about in the Esplanade area, you might notice that the façade lights of some of the buildings have been switched off for Earth Hour 2009.
The blackout will last for an hour as Singapore participates for the first time in the global event, which first originated in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. This year’s global lights-out is expected to draw participants from all seven continents. Some 2,400 cities in 82 countries have signed up to participate, six times more than last year. Famous global landmarks which will be darkened include the Great Pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt, Acropolis in Greece, Broadway Theater marquees, the Las Vegas strip, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Moscow State University and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
In Singapore, there will be celebrations all over the island, with a presentation on climate change in the afternoon at the Botanic Gardens, followed by a Green Carnival and concert at the Esplanade Park, culminating in the 8.30pm hour-long lights-out.
Carine Seror, Director, Corporate Responsibility, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Singapore, and the campaign manager for Earth Hour, hopes to get 1 million people to participate in switching off their lights. Seror estimates that 400 to 500 organisations have signed up to be on board this initiative.
Is Earth Hour just a symbolic event?
Seror admitted that Earth Hour is a “symbolic gesture”. “It’s not about how much electricity we are going to save within this hour because obviously we are not going to save the world with one hour of electricity,” she said.
“Climate change requires a long term action. It requires us to make changes everyday not just for one hour,” Seror added. She emphasised that changes could only be brought about when people “walk the talk” and start to take action in their daily lives.
Doctor Brendan Mackey from the Climate Change Institute, Australia National University (ANU), agreed that turning of the lights is largely symbolic. “The solution lies not so much in adopting more primitive lifestyles though we do need to be thinking about eliminating unnecessary and wasteful over- consumption,” he said.
Loo Deliang, Office of Environmental Sustainability, NUS, agreed that Earth Hour is just an “awareness initiative” and that one hour is “less impactful”. Loo suggested that it might be better switching off the air-conditioning instead.
Meanwhile 76.5 per cent of those polled agreed that Earth Hour is just a symbolic event. (Please see TOC’s poll of NUS students below). However Koh Shang Jing, an Arts undergraduate, said that it requires “something symbolic” to get things moving.
A way to create awareness
Dr Mackey agreed that Earth Hour, although symbolic, is a powerful and useful tool that allows people to unite in solidarity to show that they are concerned about the problem and want governments to respond to the issue of climate change.
55.9 per cent of those polled felt that Earth Hour is a good way to get people to be aware of environmental issues such as global warming and climate change while 44.1 per cent disagreed. One of the respondents said that Earth Hour is probably meaningful to those who are passionate about environmental issues, but those who are not would probably trivialise the event. Another respondent said that Earth Hour is a good event to raise awareness, but is unsure of the outcome.
A more sustainable initiative
To counter climate change, Dr Mackey suggested the use of energy sources that do not cause massive greenhouse gas emissions such as solar energy. He also pointed out that individuals have a vital role to play in experimenting and demonstrating innovative ways to achieve low carbon societies.
Loo said that NUS is working towards establishing an agenda in NUS to help combat climate change. NUS is currently encouraging its staff to turn off all electrical related items at the end of the work week on Friday.
Companies could implement energy efficiency measures in the manufacturing business and for those in the service sector, said Seror. They can reduce the impact like switching off the computer during lunchtime, installing light sensors and printing on both sides of the paper. For individuals, Seror suggested using more public transportation, riding the bicycle to the market, having a vegetarian meal once every two days, and educating children to turn off the lights in an unoccupied room.
Criticism of Earth Hour
Meanwhile an anti-Earth Hour initiative has been established on Facebook and has so far attracted more than 400 members. Esabel Nacu of Australia pointed out the irony of leaving the electricity of the fridge, computer, laptop and television sets turned on even though the lights are switched off. Another member, Alexander Woodhouse said, “Earth Hour makes people feel like they’ve done their share and makes them better…that’s nice for them but it doesn’t help the earth.”
There are others on Facebook labelling the move as stupid and propaganda. A blog has also been set up to get people to “Switch on the lights for Sanity Hour”. There are also calls to submit pictures and evidence of power-hungry activities for Earth Hour 09.
Seror rubbished the criticisms that people have of Earth Hour and reiterated that nothing could be changed significantly in a day to curb climate change. “They haven’t really understood what Earth Hour is about,” she said.
Urgency of financial crisis dwarfs environment issues?
While Seror does not discount the possibility that the urgency of the economic crisis might have shifted the priorities away from environmental issues, she sees some opportunities in the current economic crisis. The development of more environmentally-friendly technology which facilitates the change of a high carbon economy to a low carbon one such as wind and solar power, for example. Biofuels, which could help stimulate job creation and create new businesses, is another.
“I think in times of economic crisis and financial difficulty, it’s probably more relevant to what you can do. It’s not only good for the planet but for your bank account,” she said.
WWF Australia, in cooperation with The Fairfax Media Group, inaugurated the first Earth Hour in Sydney in 2007. The movement extended its reach internationally in 2008, and this year hopes to achieve the participation of one billion people for the global event.
If you are at home tomorrow at 830pm, will you do your part by switching off your lights for an hour to show your support for and solidarity with Mother Earth? Leave them on, or turn’em off, it’s you who decide!
Visit earthhour.sg for more details. http://www.earthhour.sg/60/
Here is the official video of Earth Hour 2009:
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Results of Street Poll at the National University of Singapore
With less than 24 hours to go before Earth Hour, The Online Citizen visited the National University of Singapore and conducted a quick one-hour street poll of 34 people. 88.2 per cent indicated unequivocally that they have heard about Earth Hour. 79.4 per cent of those polled had also managed to correctly identify what Earth Hour was about.
Among those polled, 47.1 per cent expressed their unequivocal support for Earth Hour by turning their lights out at 8.30pm if they are at home. 32.4 per cent did not give a definite answer. 17.6 per cent gave a firm no, while 2.9 per cent did not comment.
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25 Comments
ffds
white man disease, very contagious
No need to turn off light, crying over the spilled MILK.
notalone
Guys, please support this event.
1st time in my life I felt the world has come together, much more meaningful than the Olympics and World Cup because there isn’t any competition of any kind in this event.
May this event long live. Peace.
too early to get attention
here is the thought i was trying to convey, we have mothers and fathers yet we choose a day out of a year to remember them, the rest of the year we forget they exits.
Now instead of turning off light tonight, we save whatever amount and quantity (i minute, an ounce its add up eventually) we can of not just electricit but also water, food and waste(garbage) starting tomorrow and the rest of year.
just doing on a day when very hips, famous entertainers tell you and all followers are doing it without heart and the rest of year will have no effect.
btw there is no cure for judgement day which will come
It will be June 09
If this event turns out successful, the credit goes to the west.
The west consumes the most energy.
They have the largest SUVs and oil guzzlers.
They they they.
We should be helping the world to be aware of sg if u know wt… i mean.
regards
kanga154
The Sound of Silenced Watchmen
So, like Valentine’s day, only do it on this day?
ha ha ha ha ….humans.
pugdragon
I doubt majority of Singapore’s population, for instance, people who don’t surf the internet much, would know or care about Earth Hour.
Oh, it’s tonight! Looks like I’d be watching movies with the lights off. Let’s do these as we’re aware.
Anon
I’m just gonna go there, catch the show (I think it’s free, right?) and pretend I did my part.
After that life goes on as usual.
William
I think the message of this exercise should go beyond just this hour.
Its heartening to see an awareness for the environment not just amongst experts but even the common person.
Of course this 1hr is not gg to make an impact on climate change directly but hopefully, the intangibles of awareness and positive change in people’s behaviour that will come from this exercise will come true as the bigger picture of things unfold.
Remember to not just save electricity but other things like choose energy saving inverters, print on both sides of paper, sort out thrash at home and bring down to recycling points; all of which I do and I hope others will too.
Cheers to a good event.
xlemuelx
i’m for it!
Your chance where you actually get to VOTE
Everyone should switch off exactly the same time and then on at exactly the same time of 1 hour later.
Like that got impressive.
notalone
Why I would say this is different from Valentine’s day…
My taxi uncle sms me for a mahjong session at 9pm this evening.
I replied sms “No lights, Earh Hour 830pm to 930pm”.
He quickly called me up and asked “Why no electricity? You say which part of Earth wire spoilt?!”
The other auntie of mine asked me when i told her about the Earth Hour.
“What if the baby boy in the house needs to go to the toilet?!”
Like what #9 William mentioned, the message goes beyond this one hour.
Donaldson Tan
Do not look down on the power of symbolism!
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
The advertisement said this 60 hour is a ‘Global Election’.
Wow, I am glad i was given the chance to vote. My friend is adult but had not voted before. He is glad he got the chance to vote at least in this way. He switched off the lights at 8:30pm just now.
Oh, I forgot the whole thing completely. I was watching fast n furious with all lights on.
waht to do ? lets move on.
Mr Manhattan
#14, why you worry about people who never voted before?
People are ok with it as they accepted the situation in their own stride.
No need worry for them.
What they hope is what I hope they get.
How about URA’s lighting masterplan, where they want office buildings to switch on their lights at night to brighten the night skyline? How does that gel with Earth Hour?
Sorry but I think this Earth Hour is quite a load of rubbish. I have a few suggestions for people who really want to be environmentalists:
1. Sell your car, or don’t get one. Take public transport.
2. Don’t sleep with aircon.
3. Cut down your TV time to max 1 hr a day.
4. Change all the lightbulbs in your home to energy saving ones.
5. Seldom print anything, and if you do, print double-sided or use recycled paper.
How many Earth Hour participants do all of the above? I did not participate in Earth Hour, but I do all of the above. I’d like to challenge all Earth Hour participants to do the same.
Dounai
Hi #16 Gerald
It starts with awareness.
Many people do not do the things you mentioned because of plain ignorance, or misinterpretations of the severity of global climate change. They simply do not understand. Many of my friends do not switch their hostel fans and lights off even after they leave for home for the weekend. We didn’t learn these things in school, not about energy conservation, not about global climate change. Water conservation hogged the spot light simply because it was a scarcity in Singapore.
If it isn’t for biology and the study of ecology, I’d probably be one of them.
I agree that the hour event is not going to cut down energy usage to the point it alleviates any problems due to climate change. But the first step to anything is awareness. It may or may not have been the best way. But it’s time we started educating people.
BUt getting them to CARE enough to do it? Well that’s a different ball game altogether, a task more arduous than creating awareness.
Well, I care enough to do 4 of the 5 things you mentioned. I pack my food from a reusable container. My purchases are carried in my bag pack instead of a plastic bag from the counter.
But realise that it goes beyond that. When you order take away, the disposal plastic packaging that you’ll use would have consumed more energy than a powered light blub would for the day. Practically every modern day contraption leaves significant energy and carbon footprint. So where do we draw the line?
On a side note, March issue of National Geographic has an article on global climate change, our dependence on pollutive energy, and energy saving.
On another side note, TOC still has a lot to learn when conducting polls and presenting statistical analysis. A sample size of 34 barely gives any power to whatever stat test to be used. Even so, what does 34 NUS student mean? It doesn’t even come close to being representative of society as a whole.
wedding cheer
TKL’s blog also almost always is based on a few participants.
With due respect, i find that this is not a credible way to conduct polls.
It shows apathy is too big a problem.
Look at the comments even in TOC. nowadays, its getting lesser and lesser comments. The People seems like less interested to comment nowadays.
I hope my comment is not deleted as it is not singing praise of TOC or TKL and that my comment is being judged with an open mind.
Darren Boon
Dear wedding cheer,
Thank you for your comments. We’re keep them in mind when conducting the next poll. I do agree that 34 may not be a substantive subset to represent the entire NUS community. No excuses, but there is a need to clarify that the poll was conducted in a period of one hour. We currently do not have any full time staff and we run largely on volunteers who are busy with their work or studies. It may be difficult to deploy all available resources on a random weekday poll. Thanks for your understanding and we do look forward to constantly improving ourselves based on your feedback.
Peter Tan
I think this is pure hypocrisy.
On one hand, we are busy promoting F1 which consumes tons of fuel, to entertain the rich and suppoisingly for economic benefits, on the other hand e are crying for Mother Earth.
End of the day, it is still money talks, especially in PAP Singapore.
I’m one of the critics of Earth Hour. My main concern is that I think the time to promote awareness is now over. There is a sufficiently large proportion of the population (correct me if I’m wrong) who knows that climate change is a serious issue. The challenge now for environmentalist is to transform that awareness into actions, and I don’t mean feel-good actions like Earth Hour.
I think we can classify people who participated in Earth Hour under two categories. One, the environmentally conscious: they are the ones who promote and participate with all their hearts for this event. But they are probably being environmentally friendly in their lives already. Two, the people who joined in just for fun: they just do it this once because there’s all the hype and joy with it, then after that their lives goes back to normal? Save electricity? Screw that!
I’m not saying we should not push for environmental causes; I’m saying that the focus is wrong. Personally, I consider myself an environmentalist, and for this cause I cycle as for short distance travel, I don’t sleep with air-con, I recycle all my paper, and I turned vegetarian. Can we convince people just to adopt any one of these efforts?
politics_nerd
It’s sad thing to know that people participated with all but the right reason. Come one…’Earth hour’ is not on 28th March alone. It should be anytime, anywhere as long as there’s a need to conserve energy. Then do it. No need to wait for campaign, advertisement, encouragement etc….
Lesser Mortal
I did the earth hour on Saturday with my kids and they loved it. It also reminded me of my childhood days when power outage was a common occurence in Singapore. It was so fun for the kids that we did a rerun on Sunday night !
Ah Hock
Ha-ha! Imagine people who don’t normally watch the news turning on their TV sets, aircon and lights so they could watch footage of the lights going out worldwide. It’s like the No Car Day we had years ago. To encourage car-owners not to drive on that day, the organisers sent each of them a envelope (bleached white using chemicals) containing a card printed in full colour using chemical inks and a glossy metal button (also in fulll colour).
J dog
Im on crack earth hour rocks
will those privatise power company lose a lot of earning because of this?