Big news--Atlanta joins three other U.S. cities (Phoenix, San Francisco and Chicago) in pledging to support Earth Hour, the hour on March 29, 2008 when cities around the world will shut off all nonessential lights in a dramatic demonstration of concern about climate change. More than two million people in Sydney, Australia, inaugurated this event last year, resulting in a 10% drop in energy usage, double what was predicted. This year, participating cities currently include:
Aalborg, Denmark
Aarhus, Denmark
Adelaide, Australia
Atlanta, United States
Bangkok, Thailand
Brisbane, Australia
Canberra, Australia
Chicago, United States
Christchurch, New Zealand
Copenhagen, Denmark
Manila, Philippines
Melbourne, Australia
Odense, Denmark
Perth, Australia
Phoenix, United States
San Francisco, United States
Suva, Fiji
Sydney , Australia
Tel Aviv, Israel
Toronto, Canada
Yes, my friends, there it is, yet again. Adelaide, Australia, home to Kate and Maggie. I am starting to think that I am being sent enough messages about the connections between Atlanta and Adelaide, that perhaps, just perhaps, I'm being called to do something about it. I am not quite sure what yet. An article? A book? A cultural exchange non-profit organization where we can learn from each other, build bridges across the world, across hemispheres, across issues, between people who seem to have very much in common? I told my younger daughter the other day that the baton of spring and summer would soon be passed from Adelaide to Atlanta as Adelaide embarked on fall and winter, and she said, "It's as if Atlanta and Adelaide work together to keep the world in balance." Or could, I thought to myself.
Speaking of balance, and the world's energy, and the simple action of turning off lights for one little hour on one synchronized day around our FoodShed Planet, see www.EarthHour.org to sign up, get involved, reduce your impact and learn how to organize your own Earth Hour in your town or community.
(A quick thanks to my friend Judy for finding out about this for us! She's on top of so many environmental and health issues, you wouldn't believe it. Judy--when are you going to start blogging?!)
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3 comments:
I had forgotten about that. Our governments are quick to say stuff and do little antics like this that will give them a good name but even though we changed governments at the recent election, nothing of any substance is being done.Last week we had the "International Solar Conference" here in Adelaide and our local Premier said all sorts of stuff but this weekend (2days after this conference finished) Adelaide is hosting the Clipsal 500 - an international city-circuit car race, spewing pollution everywhere and using masses of oil and blocking all the roads to traffic for weeks.It is so hypocritical but so typical.Come and see us Pattie - there are lots of good things too!
Pattie you shall have to get a book published and then visit all our Australian capital cities as a guest speaker for each of their writers week activities, all expenses paid.
Sydney is the most beautiful city with the harbour and lots of old buildings and you can just travel around on ferrys, get off where you want and then get another ferry to somewhere else. Its still a quiet way to travel.
My fiance and I have already committed ourselves to no TV and computer for an hour for lent but we've also started using strictly candlelight once the sun goes down. At first it was a bit weird and we are quickly going through our candle supply but now we really like the soft light they provide and it enables us to slow down and focus on one another. Once we use up the candles we have we are going to switch to beeswax which burn longer and our better for the environment. We are even contemplating making our own candles...
http://badhuman.wordpress.com
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