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Kill the lights for an hour to help the planet

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BY ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Mar 28, 2008 - 11:46:35 pm CDT

It’s Saturday night and you’ve got nothing to do.

How about turning off your lights for an hour to help the planet and its birds?

Two environmental groups — the World Wildlife Fund and the American Bird Conservancy — are asking people to join a global phenomenon called “Earth Hour” and switch off all their lights from 8 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

On the Web:

To learn more about “Earth Hour,” a global event to reduce greenhouse emissions and protect migratory birds, visit:

www.abcbirds.org/newsand

reports/releases/080326.html

www.earthhourus.org/

“Turning out your lights will save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and benefit migratory birds during spring,” wrote Karen Cotton, the American Bird Conservancy’s collision campaign manager, on the group’s Web site, www.abcbirds.org.

Most birds migrate from mid-March through June. Many migratory birds fly at night and collide with large buildings and other structures because of lights, according to Cotton.

After a tremendous response to last year’s event in Sydney, Australia, sponsors of  Earth Hour are trying to get people across six continents to participate this year.

On March 31 last year, 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses in Sydney turned off lights for one hour, which reduced energy consumption by about 10 percent for one hour or the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year, the conservancy said.

Chicago will serve as the U.S. flagship city for Earth Hour this year, with Atlanta, Phoenix and San Francisco joining as leading partner cities, according to World Wildlife Fund.

What will you do when the lights are off?

That’s up to you, but sponsors suggest change out those old energy-wasting light bulbs to new, inexpensive and efficient compact fluorescents.

They say Earth Hour is also a time to consider what you and your family can do in the coming days and months to reduce emissions and live more sustainably.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at (402) 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.


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Light Up wrote on March 29, 2008 12:23 am:
" What useless symbolism. As Foxworthy might say, if it's Saturday night and you've got nothing to do, then you might be a total loser! I'll have a small party and be turning on every light inside and outside the house for this hour. I just hope I don't break a CFL and get mercury poisoning. "

 A fan of the night wrote on March 29, 2008 1:39 am:
" How about just using fully-shielded outdoor lighting? That would allow fewer lights to be used and would keep the light going down towards the ground where it is needed instead being wasted on confusing birds and lighting up the bottoms of clouds and airliners. It would both save money and help the environment. Those big round lighting fixtures on 27th street are pretty, but have you seen how much glare they put into driver's eyes? Yup, inefficient *and* dangerous. So use full-cutoff shielded lights and we won't have to shut them off for an hour to save energy. "

 HPG wrote on March 29, 2008 4:57 am:
" I am going to celebrate "Earthe Hour" by burning every light in my place. What good is the earth if you can't see it?
This is about the dumbest thing I ever heard. "

 Douglas Novak wrote on March 29, 2008 5:39 am:
" What a simple idea to raise awareness of our wasteful, selfish, and energy consuming habits. The light contamination in this country is just ridiculous. Look across the skyline in the darkeness of night and be stunned by the wasteful over use of lights. I expect no less than 50% are used because of habits established when energy was cheap and pollution was not a concern. What is the energy conservation policy of your city government. I am unaware that the City of Crete has one. "

 Aren't CFL's bad? wrote on March 29, 2008 7:59 am:
" OK, that's cool to get everyone to turn off their lights for an hour, but what about the toxicity of using compact fluorescent lights? Actually it is the mercury and disposal of the CFL when it has quit working. Do we really think people will go the extra mile to throw it away? Besides the light is not as good. "

 Joseph Elsener wrote on March 29, 2008 8:28 am:
" The whole concept of turning your lights out for an hour to help the earth is a contemptible effort by people to make themselves feel good. They say they will raise awareness but who has been able to avoid the Al Gore traveling carbon footprint and movie selling his snake oil. The one hour lights out seems to be an ignorant protest against modernity and reason that needs to stop. The bottom line is without energy and the science that created and the rule of law that allowed it to be developed you and/or your children would be dead as you read this of either starvation, disease or privation. "

 John G wrote on March 29, 2008 9:06 am:
" I say turn on as many lights as possible. Global warming is a hoax which is destroying our economy. High gas and food prices are a direct result of the global warming scare. "

 Theo wrote on March 29, 2008 10:58 am:
" Earth Hour. As a symbolic act it is meaningless, and in the long run it will have no significant impact on the way we live our lives.
For 1 hour the droves of unknowingly despondent sheep who joined Earth Hour will turn off their power.I suggest a more forceful approach, instead of the passive Earth Hour. Power Hour.
We all turn on everything that consumes electricity for one hour immediately following the Earth Hour. Thus causing a brown out, or possibly grid failure. It would send a more powerful message that we need better technology.
"

 Perplexed wrote on March 29, 2008 11:14 am:
" Kudos for doing this story which has been ignored by too many. Their ignorance is obvious in comments posted with this article and is causing the ruining of this formerly great nation. Wake up sheople. Nebraska is about as green as coal. "

 Mom's Worry wrote on March 29, 2008 1:08 pm:
" At my house, every light in the house will be on. It's called freedom. "

 Mark wrote on March 29, 2008 1:42 pm:
" Oh yeah...and if we all don't pump gas on Thursday - Gas compaines will have no choice but to lower the price. "

 Big Chief wrote on March 29, 2008 2:17 pm:
" Instead of turning off your lights send an E-Mail to Ted Kennedy and ask him WHY he opposes truly green energy like the offshore Wind Farms that were to be located in his backyard. "

 aj wrote on March 29, 2008 3:01 pm:
" Wow! The ignorance and venom that some of you display is amazing. Climate Change is real and if we don't start to do something now our children and grandchildren will pay the price. One hour may not do much to save energy tonight, but anything that raises awareness and makes people think about ways to reduce their personal energy use is a good thing. "

 megan wrote on March 29, 2008 3:43 pm:
" I can't believe there are so many negative comments on this story just for suggesting to save a little energy. Your right, turn on your lights try to show those "green tree huggers" that saving energy will do nothing. Every little bit helps and if we can begin to try to conserve and save, even if you think global warming is a "hoax" , wouldn't you rather at least begin to think in a little more "green" terms, because it would atually save you, yourself, even money in the long run. I just can't believe there is such ignorance and biggotry over something so simple. "

 I'll do it! wrote on March 29, 2008 4:10 pm:
" To make up for all the jerks on this thread I'm going to turn my lights off for at least 6 hours! I can handle life without t.v., can you? Besides, you can have more fun in dark. Know what I mean? ... nudge, nudge.

"

 Huh wrote on March 29, 2008 6:26 pm:
" Anybody thought about the crime esculating???? And what
about the surge in population in 9 months??? Oh goody,
millions more people to use energy!! "

 KP wrote on March 29, 2008 10:58 pm:
" Whoops, we forgot. Can we reschedule for 3Am to 4AM?

CFLs are absolutely great for power savings and have reduced our power bill significantly. You are welcome to keep thinking that you can tell the difference from incandescent, it's your dime. That said, I have no problems still using less-efficient decorative incandescents in some low use rooms.

Anyways, I think some people are too pig-headed and politically motivated for them to realize that there is nothing wrong with moving towards a more efficient society. "

 surprised wrote on March 29, 2008 11:29 pm:
" I am so surprised at the majority of the comments of so many selfish and unconcerned people out there. Just shows what a me, me, me world we live in. At our house, we turn off the heat when we are gone and use all florescent bulbs and recycle, a little effort goes a long way. "

 Nonsense wrote on March 30, 2008 1:54 am:
" I am going to make sure my lights are on at least one extra hour. This global warming nonsense is a joke. When are you idiots going to accept that the grifter, algore, is punking you?

There is no "global warming". Its a natural change in the climate. . . just as the climate has changed throughout history. Get a life people. "

 Matt wrote on March 30, 2008 6:37 am:
" "Many migratory birds fly at night and collide with large buildings and other structures because of lights, according to Cotton."

How are the birds going to see the builidings if the lights are off? Oh yeah, night vision goggles. "

 Sorry for you wrote on March 30, 2008 8:54 am:
" I am shocked by those who are so moved against the idea of respecting resources and raising awareness. How sad a life you must have to be waiting to turn lights on in protest. You are an ignorant American who represents the very worst of our culture. Enjoy yourselves! Any concept like this is wasted on you. I can't explain it to you in small enough words. "

 rac wrote on March 30, 2008 11:05 pm:
" I had to laugh when I saw this, which I promptly ignored. The liberal treehuggers just keep dreaming of more things to do to make them "feel good". I think they're the ones who must be sad. "

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