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March 23 at 8:30 it’s Earth Hour. Let’s get unplugged

by John Crossen

Saturday, March 23 will be a great night for dinner by candle light, followed by a cozy night snuggling in front of the fire.

We’re not promoting romance, it doesn’t need any help. Instead this is a reminder that March 23 at 8:30 p.m. will be Earth Hour. That’s when the world turns off the lights, shuts off the TV and chills out.

It’s a time to think about how much non-renewable energy we waste.

Do we really need the outdoor lights on all night long? Does a football field have to be lit up when there’s nobody there?

How come business signs are still lit long after the business is closed? The corner store really is just down on the corner, so why not walk or bike to it? The list could go on for pages, but you get the idea.

Participating in Earth Hour reminds our politicians to keep energy and resource conservation high up on their agendas. It also teaches our children to respect and preserve what we have, because when it’s gone, there is no replacement.

You don’t have sit in the dark on a stool facing the wall. There are events you can attend, just remember to keep within the spirit of Earth Hour and take public transit.

Armour Hill will be one place to go, and you’ll have friends up there – the Peterborough Astronomical Association.

They’ll be monitoring the night sky for darkness before, during and after Earth Hour. If it’s clear they’ll have their telescopes set up for public viewing, so with luck you could enjoy a peek at Jupiter, the Moon and maybe even Comet PanSTARRS.

Perched high above the city, they will also be making a list of who’s naughty and nice when it comes to cutting down on unnecessary lighting.

Shutting off the lights for an hour won’t change the world. But thinking about why you’re doing it can change a lot – all year, every year.

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