Thursday, March 27, 2008

Ot: Earth Hour (for the Chicago readers)

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Earth Hour 2008: Saturday, March 29
On Saturday, March 29, turn out your lights to show your support and commitment toward taking action to combat climate change. Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and this year cities across the globe, such as Tel Aviv, Bangkok and Copenhagen, are taking action. This year the City of Chicago is partnering with World Wildlife Fund as the U.S. flagship city for Earth Hour. As an environmental leader, Mayor Richard M. Daley is committed to fighting climate change and this year he will launch the Chicago Climate Action Plan as Chicago's roadmap for action. Join City Hall, Chicago area residents, businesses and organizations in this symbolic event to show Chicago's commitment to combating climate change by flipping the switch. Enjoy the skyline as never before when skyscrapers, landmarks and shops along Michigan Avenue go dark.
Details
When: Saturday, March 29
Time: 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
What: Turn our your lights in support of taking actions to combat climate change
Who: All of Chicago, plus other citizens across the globe
Why: Flip your switch to show your support of climate action
For more information & a video narrated by actor Jeremy Piven: Visit www.earthhourus.org

8 comments:

Tari said...

I'm planning to be downtown to watch all the big buildings (like the one where I work) go dark. I'm curious about exactly *how* dark the city will actually go; stargazing from Millenium Park sans light pollution would be really amazing...

vesta44 said...

Minneapolis is doing the same thing for the same reason. Personally, I think they ought to do it all the time. It would save a lot more energy than just doing it one night a year for one hour. As soon as the offices are closed and the cleaning crews are done, all lights out till it's time to start work again.

Anniee451 said...

Are they going to put out triple-pay so they can make sure there are policemen everywhere? I remember when the lights went out in NYC in the 70s and all that happened was a lot of looting and rioting.

Anonymous said...

I thought about coming downtown for it... but then I thought about being downtown in the dark, unable to get home for at least an hour. So I guess we'll see how dark it gets in Evanston.

Anonymous said...

I am from Chicago and because I think global warning is due to solar cycles and sun activity, I will be turning on every light and appliance I own to celebrate the fact that global warming is not man made.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous: Everyone's entitled to their opinions, even if I disagree with your's. Hope the extra utility bills are worth the "statement" :-)

By the way, electricity conservation isn't just about global warming, neither is environmental conservation. Every kilowatt of electricity requires non-renewable natural resources to provide and adds to air pollution including mercury and particulates. Since I'm pretty sure most air pollution can be blamed on humanity, you might want to think about the fact that conservationists can have many goals, and that the fight against global warming also reduces other environmental hazards (as well as creates new industry growth for the economy). People can work together towards the same end regardless of divergent motivations.

Anniee451 said...

I don't know - from what I hear from the Southern Hemisphere (New Zealand et al) most of their air pollution comes from bovine farts/burps. Which I guess you could say is human-caused since we're the ones keeping them, but still.

As far as non-renewable...well, I don't think the evidence is stacking up that way so much. But as you say, we're entitled to disagree on things like that. Whether humans can affect global climate - one way or the other - I seriously doubt it (actually I don't believe it at all.) But I do think there were enough counter-protesters to earth hour to probably combat whatever effects it might have had. I know it was a symbolic gesture, but still.

Anyway, it was a nice post, and I'm glad I haven't heard about any looting or rioting, which is usually what happens when the lights go out accidentally in big cities. I assume they didn't shut down hospitals either. Good move.

Bry said...

Here are some photos I took of the event in Chicago. The first 5 are from the first 5 minutes of the event, the last 2 are when the lights came back on. The last photo shows the effect on the skyline one building being turned back on can do to the overall light.

http://www.blue-echoes.com/portfolio/earthhour/index.html