Lights out to help save the planet
Tuesday 24th February 2009, 3:00PM GMT.
TODAY Jersey joins a worldwide campaign asking people to switch off their lights for an hour.
Next month a billion people are expected to turn off their lights for 60 minutes to help save the planet and send out a powerful message to world leaders to take action and tackle climate change.
The international campaign is being backed by Environment Minister Freddie Cohen, who is asking Islanders to do the same in their homes and businesses.
The idea of the Earth Hour campaign comes from the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, who has thanked Jersey for agreeing to take part.
The plan, which originated in Australia, will see around a billion people turning out their lights between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm on Saturday 28 March.
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deja vu? I’m sure we did this a few months back!
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Can anybody tell me? Is more emery wasted from light bulb or poor insulation? I suspect we are focusing in the dripping tap and ignoring the burst water main.
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When local/world govornments’ start to respond seriously to this problem then so will I, locally we are about to spend vast sums of money on an incinerator to ruin the environment, so don’t talk to me about responsibility !!!!!
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People are expected to turn off their lights for 60 minutes to help save the planet…
What a load of rubbish.
Climate change is a natural thing. It happened before humans arrived and started putting thier lights, TV’s and washing machines on. It would happen if we were here or not. They use pictures of Polar bears to make you feel bad. But no one gave a dam when the dinosaurs were wiped out, by something that couldn’t be controlled by humans.
Yet people are still being brainwashed like religious believers, that its all thier fault. Goverments like the argument to make money through taxes. Over population is a bigger problem that needs sorting all over the world and especially in Jersey.
Get real People. Look at the history of the world’s climate over 4 billion years and not what they make you believe.
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What a pointless exercise. Jersey electricity is made from Nuclear fuel, and tidal energy. This energy will be produced whether people have their lights on or not.
I think Mark is right about the insulation.
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I wish the states would have come up with a similar idea when the Christmas lights that lined the streets were left on day and night.
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Who comes up with these ideas? The government doesn’t care about the real problems such as global warming then backs silly little plans to make it seem green.
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This is a good idea even if it is only symbolic.
We should all as a society and individually focus on saving energy and the scarce oil and gas reserves that are left.
This will buy our children precious time to look for alternatives and it will also, by cutting the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, help lessen climate change.
The States as a huge energy consumer should have this as one of the main points of the Strategic Plan.
There is not much point in worrying about the danger to your children posed by the traffic on Wellington Hill if we have as a society pressed the big red button marked ‘Inevitable climate meltdown in 50 years time’.
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Great idea but I suspect that using my torch for that hour will have a greater environmental impact!
Can we do it between 0300 – 0400 when I’m asleep?
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Good idea so we stop work and boil the kettle instead,but just the lights?not the biggest current use.
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and the States, I’m sure the lights will be turned off for an hour to!!
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Individuals can fix dripping taps; governments can fix burst water mains.
Both must be done.
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Well, I won’t mind switching off my lights for an hour and I may even switch them off for an hour or more every night, as it will help to offset the extortionate price increase on my next electricity bill!
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Would it not be a better idea to just have everybody switch off all their lights for an hour at some point during that day (time of their choosing)?
Everyone switching off and on within minutes of each other may cause a bit of a headache for the grid (as it has in the past with kettles going on during breaks in major sporting events).
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Living in exile of the edge of London,south east corner to be exact. I’m just on the high ground surrounding the city. There is a constant glow on the horizon. One thing that strikes me everytime I come home. It gets dark! You can see the stars! If this seems odd for a grown man to say, be asured darknes is getting to be a precious comodity.
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The way lecky bills have been going up I can’t afford to turn them on i the first place!
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The idea of earth hour is not just to get people to save energy for one hour on one specific day each year, as this won’t actually make a whole lot of difference as the electricity will still be produced anyway, but to get 1 Billion people to sign up to the initiative and show their support in WWF’s global deal climate change campaign.
And FUBAR – yes climate change is a natural process but as technologically advance humans spewing all sorts of things into the atmosphere we are speeding up the change.
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Do you think countries such as india and china will be taking part?
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#15 Tony… thankfully back home I get to have genuine darkness (as some parts of Jersey manage) and it is very nice indeed.
Maybe Patriotic Street Car Park should lead the way with this initiative, my flat is so close that the lights from it keep my bedroom and lounge ‘nicely’ lit! Saves my electricity but also gets in the way of a good night’s sleep.
As Alexa said, little is going to change given that China and India are intent on causing more, not less, emissions! Their populations far outweigh ours.
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PC – I think the lights have been turned off at the states for years!
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The idea that climate change is being brought about by human activity is a myth. It is politically based in order to reduce our dependency on oil from the Middle East.
Our climate is mostly controlled by the sun which is now in an extended minimum of the sunspot cycle. This has happened before. One time was called the Maunder Minimum, 1645 to 1715, and caused the Little Ice Age. The Dalton Minimum lasted from 1790 to 1830 with a cold climate again. There was a similar reduction in sunspots around a 100 years ago with another cold spell.
The present solar minimum was predicted to be over about 2 years ago but the sun is still largely spotless. We have had a much colder winter than for many years.
If the sunspots do not return soon we will be asked to burn more carbon fuel in order to raise the temperature again!
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I think you are on a bit of wishful thinking there Islander.
It is perfectly true to say that the sun’s output does vary significantly over time and it does affect the climate.
But there are plenty of other things that affect the climate as well.
The amount of carbon dioxide and methane in the armosphere has a significant affect on the amount of solar radiation that is absorbed and retained as heat.
Other very important factors are the amount of snow and ice as it reflects a lot more sunlight back out into space compared with earth or open water.
So we are entering uncharted territory when it comes to materially increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The results may be fairly mild or they may be catastrophic.
The fact is that we are burning fossil fuels at a terrific rate and the Brazilians, Chinese and Indians are catching up with us quite fast and we really do not know the long term affects of all that extra carbon dioxide.
We should be looking at finding workable alternatives and reducing consumption. Better and more efficent insulation and low energy light bulbs etc could easily save 20% without affecting our lifestyles and we should be doing this as a precautionary measure.
The more we can do the better are the chances of handing on a ‘working’ planet to our grandchildren.
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if it’s any consolation my water keeps getting turned off by the people digging up the road my st thomas’s church… WHY can’t they do their work when we are out of the house instead of turning off the water from 7pm – 11pm?
i mean come on! If my road has to turn its water off then an hour without light isn’t gonna hurt you – i mean yeah it’s pointless but it won’t do any harm lol
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No 21. Islander.
Finally, someone with some common sense.
If the earth’s life until now, was shown as one year…
The Earth was born at 00.01 on January 1st. Humans only came along at the very end of December.
Climates, Creatures – great and small, weird weather, Natural disasters, came and went, without humans to blame. Weather studies are only approx 200 years old. The earth is approx 4.5 billion years old.
Scientists can’t tell you how fast an ice age should take to melt. Humans have only been around during the end of this one. Technologically advance humans spewing all sorts of things into the atmosphere is but a blip. Volcano’s spew more carbon than Humans.
Maybe we should ban them from the planet too.
Humans can not save this planet from anything. We don’t control everything like we think we do. This is just our time now, until something else comes along. So just enjoy it.
‘If your ambition is to be a better person. Its the best ambition you can have’
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Islander, while I’m not sure it’s totally a myth I have to admit that having acquaintance with scientists who are involved in studies around climate change there is little agreement between any of them about whether or not humans are to blame. Every study that proves we are is then debunked by one proving we aren’t and so the cycle goes on.
I do believe our Universe will go through cycles regardless of human input, but whether or not we speed it up…? I doubt we’ll ever know for sure. It is always worth remembering how little a part of the Universe our Earth takes up, never mind how little we are in the scheme of things.
Maybe part of the Universe’s cycle is such that the time for which Earth can sustain human life is limited anyway.
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agree with you fubar,this so called climax change has gone on since time begun,but is a good money earner for some.wonder who got the blame for noah,s ark or the giants causeway and many more disasters over the centuries.
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So the upshot of the two letters from FUBAR and Leah Holmes seems to be that we should just chill and wait to go the way of the Australian megafauna.
Maybe the States could write that into the strategic plan
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FUBAR…..no one gave a damn about the dinosaurs because no one was around! Only Hollywood puts humans in the same era as dinosaurs. Besides, wasn’t it a meteor that made them extinct and not climate change????
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I believe we are entering a time of change and maybe humans have had their day? They haven’t exactly looked after the place have they? Most other species are adversely affected by their actions. The planet is not infinite and it can’t go on taking all the rubbish that gets thrown at it. Just look at plastics dumped in the sea. Google Pacific Vortex and you will learn more about this phenomenum.
Most people seem unaware or just don’t care whether their life style is impacting on other creatures or the planet itself. They are only interested in what they can get and nothing else. However with 6 Billion plus people on the planet this is not a viable life style. The weather is already changing even in Britain yet people don’t ask questions like why and what is causing it?
When all the trees are gone the weather will become even more extreme and much of the planet will end up as desert due to mans crazy capitalistic approach to things. Everyone will sooner or later suffer the adverse effects of the changing weather patterns but by then things will have gone too far and take too much time, effort, and money to put right that the entire world economy will not be sufficient to pay for it. All things in an eco system are in balance upset the balance and you will get problems.
I believe we are approaching the end of the world as we know it, however until a massive catastrophe hits a western country, like the USA, for example, no one will listen or take any notice. Once something like this happens then it will be headless chicken time as everyone panicks and blames everyone else. However the weather is inpartial in its blame and will treat everyone the same. These people who most rubbish the green movement will be the very first to complain when they get affected. It is funny how its fine when its someone elses problem but when it affects you thats not allowed!
By all means carry on doing what you want because it is your right to do it, however don’t come moaning when you get affected by these changes. I for one won’t listen and neither will the weather. However by all means moan as it is your right to and at the same time you can ponder what if people had been more considerate of others and the planet as a whole? I am not perfect but at least I make an effort to try and make things a bit better, others can’t even be bothered to do that.
This the planet could wipe us out in an instant just as one meteorite 100 mtrs across could do as well. Man tampers with the planet at his peril. Just a few years ago India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons, within a short time Bam in Iran was raised to the ground in an earthquake, then an earthquake in Pakistan and then the tsunami off of India. Mess with nature and you suffer the consequences. How long before man realises this and starts to live in harmony with it?
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Moi.. Exactly my point . Humans havn’t been around long enough to make a dent on this planet, are far as weather and climates are concerned. We make a mess with rubbish, waste, pollution we breath, and war!. We need to concentrate on what we do have control of first.
The dinosaurs lived in a land of fire. They never knew Ice. Humans started life in an Ice age that was and is still ending. The dinosaurs were wiped out by a huge meteor. Which went on to create a catastophic climate change. As there were no humans around then, you can’t pin that one on us.
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Pip, I wish it was but no!
I just don’t doubt that we are being spun some information for reasons that are not entirely climate change related.
I do live as environmentally friendly a life as I can (within reason, I wish I had the money to buy all the right products) because regardless of whether or not climate change is an entirely human issue, we still should do our best for the planet we live on. All the non-environmentally friendly things we do affect plant-life, animals, other humans… whether or not they affect the life of our planet is not the only issue.
There is no doubt in my mind that everything is not as we are being told. If my friends involved in the Science surrounding climate change can’t even agree then there is no chance that what we are being told is the whole truth!
Ultimately I do suspect that maybe human life has had its time on this Earth, I don’t think we’re some great plan when looking at the size of our Universe… but it’s not going to stop me showing respect to the Earth while we’re on it. Hope that puts your mind at ease.
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Adrian, unfortunately I think subjects like those you’ve raised are of concern to the public but not so our Governments. They try and bully us into doing certain things while themselves doing things that will undo the good that we are meant to be doing.
I campaigned for a proper recycling system in my old Council area, until I discovered the Council were collecting the recycling bins and taking them to landfill (cost them too much to recycle apparently).
I will recycle because frankly it makes sense, but unless the Government come down much harder on unnecessary packaging then they clearly don’t actually care a jot… the public are just the soft target to appease the more radical Greenies. I question how much the Government really cares when it won’t target big business! Staying in power is more important to them than looking after the planet. I will try and do my part because I feel that is my duty as a human, but I won’t give plaudits to the Government because I fail to see that they actually care.
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Human beings are more than capable of effecting local climate change and we have succeeded in altering patterns of rainfall etc through our tree cutting activities.
Apart from that our production of CFC’s for refrigeration etc managed to create the ozone hole over Antarctica.
We now move more soil and rock with our earth moving equipment than all the earth’s rivers put together.
I think there are enough of us, 6.75 billion, to actually change the world’d climate.
I come from a scientific background and I have looked at the evidence for global warming fairly carefully and I have no doubt that is taking place.
I also happen to think that quite a few governments have their heads in the sand on this issue.
Governments are made up of people and we all like to hope for the best and that is exactly what they are doing.
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Well done Leah let us hope more and more people adopt this attitude or else we can all kiss goodbye to life as we know it. I agree governments are a waste of time, all they do is pander to big business and the rich as far as I am concerned and this is why the planet is in the mess it is.
The planet is at a cross roads, too many people, too much pollution, too much exploitation of people, animals plants and the planet by the few for the few. Then we have the constant wars going on killing and maiming innocent people and animals and damaging eco-systems.
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The Earth Hour is a good idea and should be supported on any view.
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I will be supporting the idea of switching off lights for an hour on that given day. I won’t be doing it during that hour for a couple of reasons.
One is wondering if anyone factored in the Natonal Grid into the Earth Hour plans. The other is that I don’t normally have the lights on at that time on a Saturday anyway so no ‘protest’ would actually be made, although you may argue that it would be made in another sense. I believe Jersey uses the French grid? At least their grid is unlikely to collapse if everyone in Jersey does it but having experienced the grid collapse in GB due to a televised football match, well it may not be the best idea for everyone there to do it at once.
I love the idea, but to make a difference (or even just a protest) surely doesn’t require everyone doing it at that exact time? If it does then I’d genuinely love to hear why.
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I would personally care more about protecting the animals on this planet. Man is the biggest threat to all species of life on this planet and it is disgusting. I’ve adopted a Tiger…in 1900 there were over 1million in their natural habitat…today there are 4000! How many are close to extinction and how many have disappeared because of man??!! I know this is not the argument, but it should go hand in hand with protecting the planet, afterall whats the point of ensuring we have somewhere to live when there is nothing left to live in it…….apart from man!
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I missed the word “animals” from my argument just in case you thought I was only talking about Tigers
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Don’t worry when all animals and plants have gone man will follow, then things can begin a fresh. Hopefully next time round evolution will be more balanced and not produce something that destroys everything in it path.
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Won’t this blow a fuse or something!!
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Jambo, the break in a football match did bring down the National Grid in the UK (the kettles all went on). Grids do plan for and borrow from other grids (for the UK grid, it’s usually from France) but given that France will be ending their Earth Hour as the UK starts and allowing for a few minutes crossover time I imagine France will pull all their resources to protect their own grid.
Jersey should be fine because 90,000 people shouldn’t make a huge difference to the French grid (with the time difference you won’t be doing it at the same time as France). But, if everyone in the UK does it at the same time? I see a problem. The UK will have to be thankful that some people will ignore it, and others will object to being told when to switch out their lights and will do what I’m doing and choose a different hour that day.
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Leah do you not think the body proposing the idea have thought about the problem with the National Grid? Anyway youy talking about the effects of everyone requiring energy at the same time. The Earth Hour is the opposite, the only affect it will have is to reduce the amount of fuel needed to maintain the grid!
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