Lights Out!
Category: Unitarian Universalism - General
Tonight, 8pm-9pm is Earth Hour! Supported by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour will be observed in cities and towns around the world, as people turn off their lights from 8pm-9pm (in their timezone). I just found out about this — very exciting!
The actual turning out of the lights for an hour will of course have only a tiny impact on global warming. What I find exciting about Earth Hour and similar campaigns is that they mobilize us to communicate with one another, with our governments, and with businesses about the threat of global warming, and potentially laying the groundwork for more ambitious campaigns that result in systemic change. On a personal level, it’s also a good reminder to take an hour and observe through a ritual the need for greater action to reduce climate change.
March 29th, 2008 13:14
What a powerful idea, and a beautiful video. The image of a group of people sitting around a table by candlelight suggested to me the basis for a very meaningful ritual uniting the individual/family with a larger community doing the same thing at the same time - like a religious holiday, but not tied to any particular religion, something UUism is somewhat short on. I imagined a UU family or small worship group sitting together in candlelight, discussing pragmatic ways to help the environment or sharing readings about the earth and nature. Maybe something worth trying someday.
March 30th, 2008 08:23
I like Miya’s idea, and will have to try that next year…this year we turned our lights out but were so exhausted from our day that we just fell asleep!
March 30th, 2008 14:26
Hi Miya, Your idea for “a UU family or small worship group sitting together in candlelight, discussing pragmatic ways to help the environment or sharing readings about the earth and nature” sounds like a great idea to me.
Terri, that’s a funny story about falling asleep at 8pm!