Earth Hour

It’s over! I have a confession to make. I really didn’t participate.

A month ago, I planned a film night. The posters had been distributed and everything arranged. Then I realized that it was on the same night as Earth Hour. I didn’t cancel the event. Why not?

To start, trying to create new posters and having it another night would have used up energy and trees in a wasteful manner.

Second, getting people together and using one DVD player is using energy more wisely than having people sit at home and watch on their own players individually.

Third, I wasn’t doing anything differently than theatres and sports venue. I noticed, for example, that the National Hockey League didn’t reschedule games due to Earth Hour. In Toronto the good, Nelly Furtado and others performed at a concert. While energy was reduced, they certainly used some, too – much more than I did.

Now that the event is over, I wonder how much the hype really did to change attitudes. While there may have been an energy saving over an hour, did it really change attitudes enough for people to modify their lifestyles? My guess is that next Saturday night things will be back to its former state. We will be guzzling energy the same way we did before Earth Hour. I hope I am wrong.

There are a couple of things that disturbed me about Earth Hour, though.

The first was the bandwagon. It seemed as if companies and celebrities joined in with great exuberance for a one-hour event. It was great way to give yourself a halo above your head. I wonder how many are in for the long haul?

The second was the holier-than-thou attitude by some people. As mentioned above, I was caught in a difficult situation. However, I do feel that Earth Hour was a choice. I should participate in it because I want to, not because somebody is pressuring me or making me feel guilty if I don’t. I live in a free country. I should have the right to choose. In my country, people can choose to end a life before it is born without guilt. Is my deciding to use a small amount of electricity a greater sin?

Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Why is Earth Hour compulsory? Who decided this, if it is?

I wonder if these apostles of energy are basing their decision that I am entering this ecological hell based on one hour on one Saturday night of the year. If they are, then they are condemning the whole city of Tel Aviv. It held its Earth Hour on Thursday night. How could the people of this city do such a thing? How do they know that I’m not choosing to celebrate Earth Hour on another night? Maybe I am going to have a whole Earth Day. Does the fact that I exercised my freedom and didn’t bow down to their energy god under their terms a sin?

It sort of reminds me of how Christ was criticized for healing people on the Sabbath. I am aware of the issues. I do everything I can to reduce energy consumption. Perhaps I don’t do enough to satisfy others, but at the end of the day, only I can be responsible for what I do.

These zealots who preach Earth Hour are doing everyone a disservice if the fruit of their efforts doesn’t demonstrate love. If the goal is to chide and embarrass somebody who didn’t participate in Earth Hour, they are doing just that. I believe in leading by example, not trying to hammer down those who don’t see things the same way you do. I think many of them are the Pharisees of folly. They preach one thing yet do another.

Yes, they may have participated in Earth Hour quite religiously. I liken it to the person who attends church once a year and then says that he is Christian.

If you think you are really energy conscious, look at the car that you drive. Think of when and why you drive it. Consider where you go on vacation and how you get there. There are so many factors to examine and questions to ask.

Finally, I ask these people to visit a third-world country if they want to see how you can live using little energy. Watch a whole village gathered around one television set, sort of like the people who attended my film night.

The truth is that we in North America consume much, too much energy, myself included. Participating in Earth Hour lessened the guilt, I feel, for many.

But please don’t lecture me on my not participating in Earth Hour last night the way you would have wanted me to. Remember, if you point the finger at me, there are three more pointing back at you. Instead, why don’t you join me as I celebrate Earth Hour between the hours of 8 and 9 pm on Saturday, April 5?