It’s currently #EarthHour on the East Coast, and this post is being brought to you with the assistance of two electric lights. It’s no coincidence that it’s also #HumanAchievementHour, a well-lit alternative created by the Competitive Enterprise Institute to “pay tribute to human innovations that have allowed people around the globe to live better, fuller lives, and defend our basic human right to use energy to improve everyone’s quality of life.”
Are you joining #EarthHour2016 tonight? “Switch on your social power” @EarthHourCanada
— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) March 20, 2016
Better yet, switch off every light in your house and then use your battery powered phone to take pictures of the darkness. (That is, if you remembered to charge it first by plugging it in earlier.)
#EarthHour2016 #Toronto pic.twitter.com/0k0gElRauX
— Julie Mollins (@jmollins) March 20, 2016
#Earthhour candlelight pic.twitter.com/dbCcbProZO
— Julie Mollins (@jmollins) March 20, 2016
#EarthHour2016 pic.twitter.com/yothBsnRDo
— Valerie (@vcshirley) March 20, 2016
Better source of light than you think. #EarthHour2016 pic.twitter.com/6ncXRc7bbk
— Kavita Dogra (@KaveetsD) March 20, 2016
It’s a wonder we don’t work by candlelight all the time. We suppose that’s the point — we should if we’re going to minimize our collective carbon footprint. So what if some hot wax drips into your open-heart surgery patient … we’re talking about saving the planet here.
While many have voluntarily chosen darkness, “The Skeptical Environmentalist” author Bjorn Lomborg has seen the light.
This #EarthHour lets turn on the lights and celebrate electricity. Find out why: https://t.co/B3K0lWyXVa pic.twitter.com/VsfLWM2Qx8
— Bjorn Lomborg (@BjornLomborg) March 19, 2016
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Here’s why, writes Lomborg:
While more than a billion people participate by shutting off their lights for an hour — and saving at most the equivalent of China halting its CO emissions for fewer than four minutes — 1.3 billion people across the developing world will continue to live without electricity as they do every other night of the year.
Almost 3 billion people still burn dung, twigs and other traditional fuels indoors to cook and keep warm. These fuels give off noxious fumes that are linked to 4.3 million deaths each year, mostly women and children.
In fact, it was the advent of widespread electrical power that freed us from these harmful practices that still affect large parts of the developing world.
.@BjornLomborg #EarthHour mocks much of #Africa which doesn't have access to #electricity #EarthHour2016 pic.twitter.com/aH8AqcCaTn
— Calestous Juma (@calestous) March 19, 2016
While people might enjoy playing pioneer for 60 minutes, how many are considering the billions who have no choice but to live without power? But this isn’t about them … it’s about raising awareness.
@BjornLomborg quite a narrow minded article. #EarthHour isn't supposed to solve the worlds problems, more to raise awareness of them
— Josh Bowley (@JKBowley) March 19, 2016
@BjornLomborg Missing the point – reminder, awareness, education, responsibility etc.. Keep up!!
— Maggie_B_Oz (@Enigma_Margi) March 19, 2016
@BjornLomborg Earth hour isn't about celebrating darkness, rather promoting awareness. And its a false dichotomy to imply we can't do both
— Geordie MacDonald (@Geordie1977) March 19, 2016
@BjornLomborg Even if I agree about that I still wouldn't underestimate #EarthHour it's a way of showing that we love this planet.
— Brigitta (@abfashionlights) March 19, 2016
Hear that Jeb? The overwhelming scientific consensus is that turning off the lights for an hour is an “act of love.” #Science
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Editor’s note: A typo in the headline has been corrected.
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