grodscorp@grods.comEarth Hour
 | Posted by The Editor on Saturday 29 March 2008, 1:02 pm Categories: Environment Tags: ClimateChange, EarthHour |
I won’t be taking part in Earth Hour tonight. That’s not to say that I oppose those who are planning to take part, or that I’m going to turn on every light and appliance in my house in protest; it’s just that I don’t think it’s the right thing for me to do. While I believe in human-induced climate change and believe that it’s a significant challenge that we face, I think that Earth Hour is a bit too heavy on symbolism and a bit too light on action. Don’t get me wrong — symbolism is important but it must be backed by concrete action.
As Matthew Warren reports in today’s Oz, only 8% of NSW homes have signed up to “green” power (sourced wholly or in part from renewable sources), rising to 12% in SA and 15% in Victoria. Most people cite cost as a factor in their decision not to upgrade to green power. It’s easy to turn off the lights for an hour but it’s a much more gutsy and honourable decision to pay an extra dollar or two a week to actually make a difference.
At home we try hard to do our bit. We pay about $130 per year on top of our normal electricity bill for 50% Green Power accredited energy, we turn off the entertainment unit (TV, DVD, sound system) and other appliances at the wall when they’re not being used, we have energy saving globes in all suitable light fittings. But we’re not perfect. We don’t turn off everything at the wall (for example, the modem and wireless router are always on), we still use the pre-installed halogen downlights in the kitchen, and sometimes we absent-mindedly leave lights on when we’re not in the room. But the important thing is that we’re making a real effort.
I also despise the way that Earth Hour has turned into a giant marketing carnival as sub-tabloid newspapers and corporations try to out-green each other in declaring their commitment to Earth Hour. Nothing’s surer to turn me off participating in an event than when it turns into a Live 8 style corporate wankfest with a thin sheen of noble cause barely disguising the scramble for branding opportunities.
Again, I bear no ill will towards those who decide to dim their lights for an hour tonight, for if it triggers personal action then it can only be a good thing. But don’t come sermonising if taking symbolic action without real and ongoing action is enough to cleanse your conscience and “raising awareness” is your only goal.
GrodsThink Ep.31 (16/9/08)
Saturday 29 March 2008, 2:14 pm #Ray Dixon
I think there’s at least one large group of people who will willingly turn off their electrical appliances between 8 and 9pm tonight, especially their TVs - Carlton supporters.
Saturday 29 March 2008, 2:18 pm #The Editor
Bloody inner city latte lefties.
Saturday 29 March 2008, 3:00 pm #Steve D
SBS is showing vintage Top Gear (first season) tonight during Earth Hour. Now that’s taking it seriously.
I also don’t go for the whole “let’s turn everything on” approach, but wouldn’t it be cool to be able to pick out your house in the satellite photo that will undoubtedly appear in tomorrow’s news.
Saturday 29 March 2008, 3:29 pm #magic bellybutton
Being a person who is a leftie AND resides in the inner city (don’t like coffee though so I’m clearly not a *proper* leftie), I’ll be curious to see if any places around here go dark. I’m tempted to go for a wander up Brunswick Street to see how many of us apartment dwellers actually take part.
Of course, their lights could be out ’cause they’re not home, as opposed to being a stubborn bitch like me who will not be dictated to about what, where and when she should be doing something for the environment.
Saturday 29 March 2008, 3:58 pm #Damian
I’m groupthinking with you on this one, The. I reckon this post sums up my position that I could myself.
I’ll be at work during the specified hour, pouring beers. The tellies will be showing various codes of football, poker machines will be making their racket, the show will definitely go on.
I can’t imagine all the pubs and clubs in Strayer shutting their poker machines off for an hour. There’d be a bloody riot.
Of course, after the revolution we’ll trash all the pokies, take the cash from them and give it to Greenpeace and the teachers’ union (Maoist).
Saturday 29 March 2008, 5:38 pm #Ant Rogenous
As a newish parent and oldish wet blanket, I’ll probably be in the fartsack by 8pm. Which means I’ll be participating by way of what Homer Simpson once described as “the two sweetest words in the English language”.
Saturday 29 March 2008, 6:16 pm #EC
Good post Ed.
We’re on full green power. The other half is so passionate about renewable energy that we took a 6 hour detour when we were in Tassie so he could see a wind farm, bless his geeky socks -
http://www.roaring40s.com.au/
Said geek is at some music festival in Centennial Park tonight to see Air and The Presets, whoever the hell they are. I just bought season 1 of The Tudors and don’t want to sit reading by candlelight for an hour.
Saturday 29 March 2008, 7:20 pm #Goobermetrics
We actually tried to sign up to green energy with our provider, but due to total incompetence on their behalf we are still on regular gas and electricity. In fact I think the idiots still classify our apartment as a registered place of business rather than a household.
Nice work Origin.
Saturday 29 March 2008, 8:13 pm #Goobermetrics
P.S. For Earth Hour I am playing Guitar Hero 3 unplugged
Saturday 29 March 2008, 8:37 pm #Steve D
I think more people would get involved if they were told that the power surge that will happen when everybody (ie. nobody) turns their stuff back on could blow things up (transformers, substations, that sort of thing).
Actually, Earth Hour could really take off when Safeway/Woolworths and Coles start to commercialise it. Green painted light bulbs anyone?
Saturday 29 March 2008, 8:55 pm #magic bellybutton
What happens if I’m in the lift in my building and it hits 8:30?
I’m not really that claustrophobic, but it smells like farts in there.
Saturday 29 March 2008, 9:35 pm #Terry Wright
MB: but it smells like farts in there.
Alternative energy?
Saturday 29 March 2008, 11:08 pm #magic bellybutton
*snort*
Of course, I did think it was 8:30 to 9:30 rather than 8 - 9. I’m such a bad lefty, I should be spanked.
Sunday 30 March 2008, 12:24 am #Wah
I don’t understand why people rackon turning a few building lights off is a big achievement.
Why can’t all non-essential lighting, like logos on buildings and effect lighting on public buildings, like the Arts Centre spire, be turned off for at least a few hours between say 2am and 6am, every night.
Sunday 30 March 2008, 10:44 am #John Surname
Because then you’ll be tarnishing Melbourne’s international image.
I mean, DUH.
Sunday 30 March 2008, 12:14 pm #joe2
“Because then you’ll be tarnishing Melbourne’s international image.”
Yeh, like losing the Grand Prix. Heaven forbid!
Sunday 30 March 2008, 12:19 pm #John Surname
As you all know, I am an enthusiastic supporter of the Grand Prix. Vroom vroom.
Sunday 30 March 2008, 4:34 pm #Meself
“It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”
I turned off all the lights and then I followed those wise words and now I have to convince AAMI, Mick Keelty and the CFA that I didn’t deliberately torch my joint.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Damned if I know. You just can’t win sometimes!
Sunday 30 March 2008, 6:22 pm #Jeremy
“Sub” tabloid?
That’s a bit harsh. If “tabloid” is defined as “the Hun”, I can’t see The Age ever actually plunging through that barrier. No matter how close it gets.
Sunday 30 March 2008, 8:51 pm #Suburban Marxist
SBS is showing vintage Top Gear (first season) tonight during Earth Hour. Now that’s taking it seriously.
Love ‘Top Gear’ but er, there was an episode where they drove a Toyota 4WD to the North Pole, racing against a dog-sled team. With the judicious use of such natural tools as the axe and chainsaw they managed to get the car to the pole first. At the the end of the episode Jeremy Clarkson commented (with the 4WD driving into the sunset) that the car had made “…as little impact on the ice as we have on the planet” (paraphrase). I took this as a quite direct refutation of the Climate Change.
Apart from that, I was at a friend’s house who was observing the Hour. It was candles all ’round until it came time to defrosting the frozen steak (yum!)…but we were excused…understanding that it is capitalism (East and West, private and state) that is the root cause of climate change.
:-)
Sunday 30 March 2008, 9:32 pm #Steve D
Yeah, Clarkson is not a believer (and if either of the other two are they don’t speak up about it). While reviewing the (Australian) Monaro last year he made a comment along the lines of “a car with this much grunt could only be made in a country that hasn’t ratified the Kyoto protocol.”
Also, the newest insult is to say that someone’s head is enjoying a permanent earth hour (ie. no lights on).
Sunday 30 March 2008, 10:30 pm #Suburban Marxist
Also, the newest insult is to say that someone’s head is enjoying a permanent earth hour (ie. no lights on).
Lol!
I also recall an episode of Top Gear where they tried to prove that road works could take half the time they do in the UK. They began by attempting to strip away the Health and Safety lectures (apparently workers do get killed doing road works…but damn it if it will hold up a smooth new road surface…I mean, what’s a life worth anyway!?). My favourite part was when Clarkson played a speech by Thatcher over the P.A. in the middle of the night as some sort of neo-liberal humour. The funny part being that, as far as I could tell, the older workers dedicedly were not laughing or impressed and work seemed to slow down for some reason..
Sunday 30 March 2008, 11:07 pm #Roast G
It was actually quite interesting seeing their recording of the bus lane on the freeway. It really did say alot for how much green “action” so far has just been lip service, with nice bus lanes but no effort in actually putting more buses on the road to use them.
Monday 31 March 2008, 2:43 am #Suburban Marxist
Hurrah! I have just been banned from Timmeh’s site. Do I get some kind of medal…or maybe even a Groupthink F.C. shirt…keen to play btw…let me know if you need more players…
:-)
Monday 31 March 2008, 4:22 am #Cabin Boy
After tonight’s steak and onions I am phoning the Tokyo stock exchange trying to get carbon credits. Ant Rogenous. I love this. It’s been a long time mang. Phil here… Chuck Spear mentioned you were loitering about the sphere and I have to say I fucking love this website. I wonder if I get a mystery man photo when I post this. I lost your email address. Mine is longdong (at) AOL. Dot com. Dot com. Ah, Homer J.
Anyway, to Ant I send three Samuel Salutes (ask Chuck).
Ant, my kid can already say ‘fuck’ and ’shit’ and she’s only one. I didn’t even teach her. My missus thinks it’s funny. Far out
Send word!
Monday 31 March 2008, 9:26 am #The Editor
GrodsCorp: better than Friends Reunited!