Earth Hour

The WWF's annual Earth Hour is scheduled for this Saturday at 8:30pm local time. They estimate that over a billion people will participate this year! I love the idea of Earth Hour, the awareness it brings, and the creativity of event planners. Here are what some of the two hundred and eighty Canadian cities signed up have scheduled:

Calgary is having a "We Should Know Each Other" party. Toronto is entertaining citizens with a free family evening with arts, crafts, street performers, face painters and a huge music concert. In Banff the astronomy club is holding a star gazing and story telling event. Powell River, BC has a free skate and swim for its citizens. An acoustic music night is organized for St. John's. Victoria is hosting an Earth Hour bike ride. Downtown Edmonton will be full of jugglers, magicians, singers, and bannock baking.

And in Regina...we are turning off the lights at city hall, Taylor Field, and rinks, parks, and rec centres. To me this is simply a token effort. A lot of cities have prepared earth and family friendly events to give citizens something to do that evening. Why doesn't our city? Reginans get to sit at home for Earth Hour. Not that appealing to most people and the result is a very minimal change in our power consumption. I guess a letter to city hall is in order. Please write to your city counselor or the mayor about this issue.