Earth Hour 2008

LiKuidLinsang · 03-26-2008

Not sure if anyone has heard of Earth Hour. It started last year when Sydney, Australia went lights out for one hour on March 31 from 7:30 - 8:30 pm local time as an act against global warming -- a start, if you will, with the belief that we are part of the problem. Over two million people took part in Earth Hour, turning off all their lights and appliances for 60 minutes, and electrical consumption was reported to be reduced by around 5% for that hour. There's a lot of criticism on it, of course, but I'll leave that for you to read into if you're interested.

Earth Hour 2008 is going global on March 29, with several cities, including Sydney, taking part. It starts at 8 pm local time (local time being whichever time zone you live in), and will sweep across the globe. As I said before, it's a start, and I think it can make a difference in the long run. I plan on participating in the event -- it's only an hour; I can survive.

What are your thoughts on Earth Hour, and do you think you would or will participate?

(Obtained information from various sources on the web. Google is your friend)

E. Writer · 03-26-2008

I might do it.

Swiss Miss · 03-26-2008

Global warming is for hippies.

I'm turning all my electric appliances on... at the same time!

.Freed. · 03-26-2008

If there is global warming, then why the hell is it snowing in spring and still cold out? I miss about 3 years ago when it was actually hot outside. I wish everyone would go back to driving big suvs.

LiKuidLinsang · 03-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Freed.

If there is global warming, then why the hell is it snowing in spring and still cold out? I miss about 3 years ago when it was actually hot outside. I wish everyone would go back to driving big suvs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Increasing global temperature will cause sea level to rise, and is expected to increase the intensity of extreme weather events and to change the amount and pattern of precipitation.

Sure, it's Wikipedia, but looking at the history, it doesn't look like that part has been edited for quite some time, and there are other sites that state this as well, in one form or another.

A huge portion of ice -- said to be seven times the size of Manhattan -- broke off a part of Antarctica, called the Wilkins ice shelf, yesterday, which had started February 28. While this does happen, it's extremely rare, and it's becoming more frequent that large chunks such as this one are disintegrating. This is believed to be one of the effects of global warming. The only thing connecting the Wilkins ice shelf (which is the size of Connecticut) to Antarctica is a relatively thin beam of ice, and it's believed that it will break off in the future.

I don't know about you, but I'd say we've got a problem, and it's beginning to show. You are entitled to your opinion, of course. =)

Jimdalf · 03-26-2008

This earth hour thing won't actually change a thing... if the power companies predict millions will actually follow the idea maybe then they will reduce the amount of juice they produce for that hour, but I can't see this catching on enough to warrant the power plants actually lowering their energy output... so there will be no drop in emissions of carbon dioxide.

Powering back up for 9 o'clock, if they do turn it down, would be a pretty big undertaking, and I wouldn't be surprised if the increased strain cancelled out all gains from the previous hour.

And 8pm? Its pitch black in much of the northern hemisphere at that time. We need lights.

Its all bollocks really. Lights don't really use that much electricity, its household appiances that do the damage, the gits just want a few pictures from space of a slightly dimmer earth.

BoyEngland · 03-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swiss Miss

Global warming is for hippies.

I'm turning all my electric appliances on... at the same time!

Agreed!

If 2 million people can reduce power consumption by 5% in 1 hour, they don't need me to help them.

I would say I don't believe in global warming, but that's not true. I do believe it is happening, but some famous figures in the world are blowing it out of proportion. If the world only has 100 years to "live" before it melts, drowns, disappears into a giant arse hole or whatever they predict to happen, then that's long enough for me.

NJD4 BamF · 03-26-2008

I'll be at work when "Earth Hour" hits. I really doubt they'd shut down an entire airport to save a small amount of energy, so I won't be taking part.

BoyEngland · 03-26-2008

I was just thinking, I might convince everyone on my street to do this so I get all the internetz.

hcky21rskor · 03-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoyEngland

If the world only has 100 years to "live" before it melts, drowns, disappears into a giant arse hole or whatever they predict to happen, then that's long enough for me.

Agreed!

I don't see how this is going to do anything for global warming? I don't know the exact definition of global warning, and I don't care enough to look it up, but doesn't it have something to do with the amount of carbon dioxide released to the ozone? Maybe for this "Earth Hour" we should have 2 million people not drive. Also, don't most people at night turn out all there lights anyway?