… and you need NOT turn your lights off.
As a grad student I don’t watch television that much. I stopped doing it general as every time I turn my TV on, I often find myself struck by misleading and harmful stupidities, mindlessly thrown at me in no order.
Like today, on Larry King Live, celebrities like Alannis Morisette and Edward Northon talked about the need of common action in stopping global warming, and how proud they are to contribute to the “Earth Hour” event worldwide. I just cannot help myself in saying “Guys, your whole idea of a special Earth hour is absurd.”
Every hour is an Earth hour. People are not intruders on Earth, but are intrinsic part of it and if Ed and Alannis dream of a different face of the Earth than the current one, than their argument must be in favor of a slow human extermination.
Think that every moment energy production gets cut off or limited, there will be less products and services available for consumers’ use, in terms of shortages, or higher prices. And consider that almost all products on the market use energy as a primary of complementary input. Less things to buy for one person may mean zero to buy for another. The latter person is a poor person of course, the well-being of whom depends critically upon competitive prices. In reality terms, all this translates into an increase in deaths caused by famine and diseases among the poorest people of the world, and in a poorer quality of life for the rich as well.
My message to Morisette and Northon:
Sure, the Earth hour idea sounds fun. Yes, it seems fun for people who look for “extreme experiences”. Let’s all spend one hour in the dark, how exciting, wow, it even feels like a childhood game. Than get back to your usual activities thinking that you saved the world. No you didn’t… Always remember that your one hour in “extreme darkness” might mean long hour of torture for other people.
And consider that, for instance, when Russia regularly stopped the flow of electric energy to Moldova throughout the ’90s, Moldova’s economic activities also stopped, and you can imagine how Moldovans’ quality of life plummeted. Urban areas were paralyzed. People living at the country side, could make a fire, use woods to keep their homes warm during the cold winters. Those living in cities did not have that option. Putting more clothes on was the only way to deal with the situation for the majority. An epidemic of bronchitis and pneumonia erupted during those years. I certainly remember every day of the two painful months as “my share of it”, as well as I remember doing my homework at weak improvised candle lights. Was I happy or excited about the candles or bronchitis experience? NO, I suffered greatly like many others at that time, and I am happy to be still alive. For me, to see a voluntary movement that militates in favor of something as destructive as this, it is both perplexing and disturbing. Thus, I consider the anti global warming movement a criminal movement responsible for promoting poverty and misery in the world.
Bottom line: Human activity is what makes people flourish, and if using energy resources in the most efficient way in the present brings prosperity, stimulates innovation, and creation of advanced technology, than we are on the right track, and this is what I want for future generations. I want them to benefit from today’s advancements and use this high platform to create a higher one that would help and protect them from any threatening catastrophes of any nature. Human societies are unique and sacred.
People have to stop thinking of human activity – mother Earth relation as one of parasite – host relationship. Yes, modern societies consume many resources, but what gets often omitted or not seen, is the fact that they also consume what they create, that human minds develop as societies become more prosperous. Thus, always keep in mind that for us the most important resource of the Earth is the man himself.
So, let’s celebrate every hour of man on Earth by doing what each of us already do – things that we’re best at in relation to others.