Fresh Greens

What to Do for Earth Hour After the Lights Go Down

By Maura Judkis

Posted: March 27, 2009

I wrote yesterday about Earth Hour, the symbolic voluntary dimming of lights in 2,800 cities across the world in support of increased leadership in climate change. But what are participants expected to do for the one hour without light on a Saturday night? Here are a few ideas that event organizers have suggested for the 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. darkness:

  1. Prepare a candlelit dinner (but not with too many candles - as EcoGeek points out, you'll break even).
  2. Go stargazing. If you live in an area with great Earth Hour participation, or little light pollution, hopefully you'll get a clear night and a great view.
  3. If you want to go out for Earth Hour, some bars are preparing specialty candlelit cocktails. Two hotel chains that are participating are Fairmont and Starwood - their restaurants and bars will have environmentally-themed drinks.
  4. Find an Earth Hour celebration in your city, using the World Wildlife Fund's map. Here are a few other suggestions from Daily Green.
  5. Make a bonfire. Toast some s'mores.
  6. Have a romantic evening with a loved one.
  7. Use a tea light to stir up some cheese or chocolate fondue.
  8. Teach your kids how to play flashlight tag.
  9. Take your dog for a walk in the dark (don't worry, none of the cities that are participating will be turning off safety lighting).
  10. Play, or listen to some music - unplugged. If you live in Toronto, singer Nelly Furtado will be performing a free acoustic concert.
GOT AN IDEA...

While you're out stargazing for an hour keep an eye out for that big freakin' asteroid addressed, "Earth". When that baby hits forget about the "green thing" - It's gonna be all black ash... Then it's back to the drawing board for another 100 million years... And so the circle turns...

R.L. Schaefer of CA @ Mar 29, 2009 22:08:51 PM

I plan on buying another toaster.

So I can use up some power that will go to waste on this day.

If you want real change, it comes from within.

Let put some cash behind Nuclear Fusion. After that, you can complain about conserving power all you want.

If it doesn't work? At least we tried.

But I believe it will work.

Too many mamby pamby Greenies are against anything Nuclear because they are ignorant.

What we need is a real source of power, not pinwheels and sundials.

Dave H. of NC @ Mar 28, 2009 15:46:51 PM

idea is welcome

True, much difference in carbon footprint will be made with an hour light off. But, it sends a message to the decision makers that it is no longer an economic issue to be tackled with a ledger. It is the very survival of the planet and the man. This poor planet has suffered enough damage and it simply can't take it. Environmental issues are no longer debatable issues. They are life and the question of life. We must insist the greed of some or some world leaders can not overrule the urgent need to cut out our carbon emissions.

p k surendran of WI @ Mar 28, 2009 03:18:16 AM

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Fresh Greens

Fresh Greens

Maura Judkis is a producer at U.S. News. She writes about the green movement and looks for ways to be an ecofriendly consumer without breaking the bank. Send her your green tips.

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