Earth Hour

Last Saturday, Earth Hour was the main topic of conversation in the media. Radio, TV, print and the web had been urging us for weeks to become 'greenies' for an hour and 'vote earth'.

We celebrated with a candlelit birthday cake and coffee but many homes around us kept their lights blazing. Part of me felt like shouting 'turn your lights off' but we live in the city and community unity is on the wane.

The energy conservation message of the event does appeal but the promotion of it, which snowballed into a trendy bandwagon did not.

When I started high school, I joined 'The Environment Club'. We talked about recycling projects and so forth. In Woodwork, I made a tree shaped money box for its symbolism.
It soon became clear though that individuals can be environmentally friendly but the world isn't going to change to save the planet.

We don't recycle, reuse and reduce for the glory or recognition. In a way, the media jumping on the bandwagon by branding 'green as the new black' almost cheapens an independent movement that prides itself on its anti-establishment stance. Where can it go from here?

Soon this green trend will be discarded to make room for the next fad. Those hoping that Earth Hour has made a lasting impression on the population may have to be content with only an annual swell of support generated by the media.