| Earth Hour, a relatively new global event, took place not long ago in countries all around the world, including Singapore. Raffles Press Writer Moses Lim finds out more about the event, and comments on how we should start playing a part in saving the environment.
Introduction
In a tropical, humid country like Singapore, life without air-conditioning is almost unbearable. It is even more so presently, as we begin to feel, see and witness the effects of global warming on the climate. This year, in Washington, cherry blossom trees started blooming flowers early before spring. Good news for the tourism industry, bad news for environmentalists.
In Singapore, I feel that our weather has grown rather unpredictable, and one major reason for this is, of course again, Global Warming. How many times were we playing sports out in the field when there was a sudden change in weather? Perhaps we simply do not realise it when the fun factor sets in, but then again, we can no longer deny that we are not affected by climate change.
The time has come where Youth, like you and me, should do something to protect our environment from further damage.
The time has come when we should start tweaking our privileged, promiscuous lifestyles for the sake of the environment. The time has come when we should start being aware of what’s going on around us, and not wallow in self-pity as we discover the limited amount of resources left. Needless to say, the list of negative human impacts on the environment is perpetually long. The time has come for Change.
Why it Matters to You
As the world begins to face the harsh reality of Climate Change, grandiose plans to avert dire consequences have remained largely on paper. One cannot help but question, why do individuals find it so hard to do something positive for the environment, such as performing small “green” deeds. The subject of climate change, to many, is hardly of pressing interest, especially in current times where economic woes dominate the global agenda and job security triumphs over all other individual concerns. To cut production costs, many firms have resorted to reducing their workforce, and many are struggling to put food on the table. Environmental issues are likely to play only second fiddle to their careers and lives. Well, at least for now.
Nevertheless, some are perhaps not adversely affected by the economic crisis: Youth. Young people are often granted wider parameters of freedom and independence compared to children, and at the same time, free from the financial burdens of adults. With their material and physical needs covered, young people seemed to have few incentives to be engaged in issues that hardly affect them. They might also believe that their opinions command little weight and influence due to their lack of experience and maturity.
Yet, in terms of economic power, the youth possess considerable purchasing power and are so often targeted by corporations as their main source of income. When organised properly, young people can exercise their influence over products that do not meet proper standards of production, including products that harm the environment.
More and more youth can now acquire knowledge of a product’s “eco-friendliness” through Internet search engines, or by looking out for “green” logos and labels endorsed by reputable organisations. Therefore, youth nowadays are no longer ignorant and unaware. Most of them are now beginning to take action, even through the smallest means, and play a part in protecting the environment. Many young people in the Green or Earth Clubs of their primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions are willingly volunteering to spread the message of going green among their peers. They have introduced recyclable bins in their campuses, initiated various campaign sprees, worked in tandem with external organisations and participated in green community projects. Among their enthusiastic efforts, one of the more prominent examples is seeking peer support for a recent global initiative, Earth Hour, where they pledged to switch off their household lights for an hour on a particular day.
More and more youth can now acquire knowledge of a product’s “ecofriendliness” through Internet search engines, or by looking out for “green” logos and labels endorsed by reputable organisations. Therefore, youth nowadays are no longer ignorant and unaware. Most of them are now beginning to take action, even through the smallest means, and play a part in protecting the environment. Many young people in the Green or Earth Clubs of their primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions are willingly volunteering to spread the message of going green among their peers. They have introduced recyclable bins in their campuses, initiated various campaign sprees, worked in tandem with external organisations and participated in green community projects. Among their enthusiastic efforts, one of the more prominent examples is seeking peer support for a recent global initiative, Earth Hour, where they pledged to switch off their household lights for an hour on a particular day. How Earth Hour showed us the Light
Earth Hour originated in Australia, Sydney in the year of 2008. This year, Singapore is officially taking part with many other countries, pledging to switch off their lights for one hour. Participating countries have agreed to turn off their façade lights and dim their interior lights, especially at famous landmarks such as Egypt’s Great Pyramids and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
In Singapore, the lights of the Merlion and buildings in the Central Business District were switched off promptly at 8.30pm, leaving behind rare darkness seldom seen and experienced. Back at home and at work, more than 10,000 individuals and 450 companies pledged their support for this inaugural event. Despite falling short of the 1 million mark, it is still a good start to cutting down electricity consumption
by Singaporeans.
However, Earth Hour had its fair share of critics and skeptics. Many claimed it sent the wrong message to countries - that turning off the lights for one hour is enough to reduce the perils of global warming. What happens after Earth Hour 2009? Turn the lights back on and wait for Earth Hour 2010?
To be fair, a sustained, long term solution is needed. Saving the planet is about taking sustained actions all year round.
Will you make the effort?
Ultimately, it boils down to the question of “what should we do?” We have often found ourselves confronted with the issue of responsibility, and so often we have ignored and shelved such notions of green schemes.
As an individual, playing one’s role in saving Mother Earth is not difficult. The most common and basic of such means is the 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Individuals constitute society, and mass and sustained participation is key to ensuring success for environmentally friendly schemes. Be it saving water, recycling paper and reusing plastic bags, the core responsibility for environmental conservation often sits on the shoulders of individuals.
Environmental conservation must become the top priority of our agenda. We do not have much time left, but we still have time to step up efforts on educating the younger generation and saving the environment. Let us achieve this on the global scale with united actions, and let us live up to Al Gore’s words that “together we can resolve the climate crisis”. E |
