You may or may not have noticed this past Saturday from 8:00 - 9:00 pm that many places in and around Chicago went dark to call attention to our consumption of electricity which produces greenhouse gases.
Here is a link to an article in Sunday's Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-world-lights-out,0,3671686.story
As you will read, this is a tradition that was started in Australia last year and this year it was hoped that 100 million people would participate.
I was particularly struck by the following comment made by Richard Moss, vice president for WWF, World Wildlife Fund:
There's a widespread belief that somehow people in the United States don't understand that this is a problem that we're lazy and wedded to our lifestyles. (Earth Hour) demonstrates that that is wrong," Richard Moss, a member of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the climate change vice president for WWF, said in Chicago on Saturday.
What is your reaction to this comment? Do you agree that the perception is that Americans don't care about the environment? If so, what can we do to show the world that we are serious about taking care of the environment.
If you believe that we are doing enough give examples. Did you participate in "Earth Hour"? What do you to prevent global warming?
About Me
- Prof. Lisa Cherivtch
- I am a Professor of Business at Oakton Community College where I teach Introduction to Business, Global Business, and a variety of Marketing classes. I have over 20 years of experience in Product Development, Product Management, Sales, and Training. In addition, I am Liaison/Director for the International Trade Association of Greater Chicago. My passions are language learning, international travel, running, and dance. My teaching philosophy is to give students real-world experience in the safe environment of the classroom. While I do have a variety of things that I enjoy doing, teaching is definitely my greatest passion!
6 comments:
Interesting. I would have to say that I agree with Richard. I think americans these days are so consumed with new electronics, and things, that they may not take the time to stop and think of all the non-energy things still available that are entertaining. i understand that in this present time technology has grown so much in innovation and popularity. This leaves us with growing used to depending on certain things to get through everyday life. I think its the small things that count when trying to save energy, and if everyone can learn to make those little changes, then using other electronics might not be so damaging and critical. Just turning lights, tv, radio, computer, etc. off whenever leaving the room can add up. I have a habit of turning even my friends things off when they leave.
I'm agreement with Mr. Moss. Americans are so caught up in their daily responsibilities that things like the environment often get neglected. We feel as if taking care of the environment is the responsibility of some higher power such as the government. The earth hour is great idea just for the simple fact that is brings awareness to this issue. We've talked about the importance of social responsibility in the workplace and I believe we've all got to be more conscious of the responsibility we have to the world we live in.
I AGREE WITH RICHARD. I THINK AMERICANS DONT CARE ABOUT HELPING OUR ENVIROMENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. IF WE DONT DO SOMETHING ABOU IT BY THE TIME A BABY BORN TODAY IS 80 YEARS OLD THE WORLD WILL BE 6 AND A HALF DEGREES WARMER THAN IT IS NOW. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
THERE ARE SIMPLE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO. YOU DONT HAVE TO GO MILES AWAY FROM HOME TO PROTEST OR SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. IF YOU CONSIDER THE THINGS THAT IM GOING TO TELL YOU NOW YOU WILL HAVE STARTED TO HELP US ALL
-PLANT A TREE ----- TREES WHEN FULLY GROWN, WILL HELP KEEP THE PLANET COOLER
-RECYLE MORE 15-25% OF PEOPLE DON'T RECYCLE
-UNPLUG UNUSED ELECTRONICS
I myself did not take part of the Earth Hour. I did not know that it was to take place. I found out to late. Had I known before I would have taken place. I think a lot of People American and not are ignorant to the needs of the Earth. Today people are more worried about now and not the effects that now will have on the earth. In general people are not educated on the earth or just seam not to care. With more and more things going green hopefully this will change.
I believe Mr. Moss is generalizing. Wanting to cause a stir. Has he done a comparative of the U.S. against other countries of the same population/size? People per area with electrical service at all hours? How many people at home at any given hour using this service? How many businesses run 24 / 5,6 or even 7 days a week? I don't think it would really matter how much we do they are going to find something to say on what or what we are not doing. How much more can we do? We have our recycling programs,car pooling, shutting off or unplugging appliances that are not in use.
Personally Mark and I keep the furnace at 66 degrees during the winter and use a wood burning stove for heat. Last summer we might of used the air conditioning maybe 5 days out of the whole summer (type of housing 1960 modular home & 1969 single wide trailor). We do alot of reading, listen to the radio/music, T.V. watch maybe 6 hours a week when home.
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