Earth Hour is Pointless

Earth Hour is Pointless

Am I the only one who doesn’t see the point of Earth Hour? Last year, 2.2 million people around the world saved 7 cents by turning off the lights for an hour. This made for an interesting display for the 5 astronauts in space, and made everyone feel good for “doing something” for the environment. I just can’t figure out what that “something” is. Wouldn’t it be far better to do something useful for the environment?

Every year hundreds of demonstrators shout slogans and wave banners protesting the IMF and World Bank. Every year the IMF and the World Bank still get the money they want from richer countries. The news channels cover both sides and everyone goes away feeling they have accomplished something. Wouldn’t an actual policy change be better evidence that the protests have accomplished “something”?

The Problem with Awareness

For those of us who live in the richer parts of the world, we know we have it good. Electricity, hot and cold running water, schools, and ample food sources are available to the majority of the population. To obtain all these modern benefits, most of us have to go to work in an office, shop or factory. This invariably requires some sort of transportation device, unless you are lucky enough to live within walking distance of your job. If you have kids, they invariably require transportation to and from school, and to various entertainment avenues in between. These are the benefits and costs of living in the modern age, and few of us are willing to go back to the Stone Ages.

There is a small, but loud, segment of the population who insist on pointing out the “sins” of modern living. The self appointed guardians of our social conscience are great at pointing out the flaws, real or theorized, of internal combustion engines, power generation, and practically all human activity. While there is value in knowing the true cost of production and consumption, there is greater value in find solutions to these problems in a way that will keep humankind moving forward rather than going backward.

The first step for most of these guardians of our social conscience is raising “awareness” of their pet cause or issue. This is the fun part, involving creative demonstrations, ad campaigns, vigils, benefit concerts and the like. And we the public will go along for the ride, since it doesn’t cost much to proclaim we are “aware” of something, attending a concert, wearing a ribbon or a button or giving a few dollars. Or switching off the lights for an hour.