Makes you think...

Mar 31, 2010 19:24

My hubby, agtiger, found this article on Earth Hour written by Ross McKitrick (a Professor of Economics at the University of Guelph):

Text reposted here.

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sinisterbug April 1 2010, 00:27:57 UTC
I think the point is sort've exactly what you just said.

"I don't think people see the Earth Hour as a time to remember about living in the past..."

Precisely. They aren't really considering that. They're simply making an overly simplified statement about the environment, and its somewhat a smack in the face to all the advancements we've made as humans. We *need* electricity. People should try to make a serious effort at doing something real, instead of once a year hopping on a bandwagon and turning off your lights to no real, lasting effect.

And I have to ask - in a very polite and non-confrontational sort've way - in what way does Haiti rock? They currently cannot maintain a standard of living, women and children of all ages are now falling victim to rape at astonishing numbers due to a lack of security, hundreds of thousands of people died and their bodies *still* litter the streets, there are more homeless people than not, the list goes on and on. If you mean the effort to turn the situation around, absolutely. From my perspective, I wouldn't exactly say Haiti 'rocks' right now.

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sheasa April 3 2010, 01:45:03 UTC
You're totally right, and I don't take any sort of offense or anything, it's just my view on the whole Earth Hour thing, and the way me and my 'people' (friends, family, people I'm around alot, etc.) see it.

As for the Haiti thing, again, people I know are saying how Haiti sucks BECAUSE of all those reasons, and that money should be spent on better things. (Great people, I know right?) So I only mean to say that even though all that is going on, it shouldn't be seen as some horrible, ugly place. Every place in the world holds it's own beauty.

Sorry if I upset you or anything, but, well, that's just my view. I wouldn't ever try to seem like I'm forcing my ideas on anyone. It's just nice to express sometimes, y'know?

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bronzetigress April 11 2010, 15:12:28 UTC
It is indeed good to express and exchange opinions. And I'm not upset; if we can't share our views we can't learn anything from each other, right? :)

vis. Haiti: There's a fine, but definite, difference between a place by itself, and the situation in a place. Currently, Haiti itself might be a lovely place, but the situation there definitely sucks. It's too bad that the people you reference are lumping the two together.

vis. Earth Hour: I believe that symbol (as a general thing) is an important device for learning and passing along knowledge. If from that one hour (that symbol) of Earth Hour (in specific), we take away the lesson that we shouldn't abuse the resource(s) we have, then it is a good thing. Unfortunately, the way Earth Hour is presented, it doesn't always have that effect (as I've seen), which makes it less useful than it might be. So it's sort of a mixed thing, from where I sit...

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bronzetigress April 11 2010, 15:20:30 UTC
*smoosh* Yeah, pretty much just that.

Hey, I know you passed that link around, but I never did hear what comments you got back from it?

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