So you switched off your lights for Earth Hour?

What sanctimonious little do-gooders you all are!
Patted yourselves on the back, wallowed in a dose of the warm fuzzies thinking you'd saved the planet, then within minutes, went back to the same old energy-ravenous lifestyles.
This stunt around the world has done nothing for carbon footprints or saving the planet from the effects of humans.
And while the well-meaning population is running around switching off the lights, the state broadcaster is busily advertising, ad-nauseum, its 'shine a light” self promotion garbage on our TV screens.
If the population of this country was really serious about saving energy and saving the planet, you'd see:
1. At least 95 per cent of the population walking or cycling to work, school, sports.
2. No lights on after dark; everyone in bed by 6.30. (Lights off, no story.)
3. A complete ban on motorsports, clothes dryers, spa pools, computer games, non-essential computer use and hair straighteners.
4. More trains, buses, car pooling and the return of the penny farthing.
5. More food eaten raw. Take a bite out of the nearest living animal.
6. Gas barbecues banned except for essential circumstances. (Events involving beer are essential.)
7. Only vital air travel allowed and the taxes quadrupled.
8. Non-essential vehicle use subjected to the same public intolerance as smokers.
9. Wind power utilised for every possible transport requirement.
10. The Harvey Norman TV ad reader guy's jaw harnessed to the national grid.
However anything New Zealand does, or tries, is a waste of time unless the big continents get their act together and cut emissions and fossil fuel burning.
As discussed before, these islands are just zits on the bottom of the world and no matter how much do-goodie action we take, it is meaningless if the world is being screwed over by the USA, China, Brazil and other giant guzzlers and carbonisers.
If it's that important to turn the lights off on the Egyptian pyramids and the Auckland sky tower for an hour, why not leave them off? All the time?

Lights out
I was talking to a group of young people in the weekend who were gushing about how clever they were, managing without lights for an hour. Lighting candles, having a party and using their cellphones to see around the house….
'We had a great time in the dark... just cranked the stereo up loud (doh) and chilled out…”
Then as soon as it was over, charged their cellphones on the mains power (doh) then pulled their clothes out of the dryer and went partying.
The entire message of earth hour was completely lost on them. Just as the real reasons for ‘celebrating' Guy Fawkes and Christmas are nowadays completely misconstrued, so is Earth Hour destined to be yet another meaningless excuse for a party, rather than a seriously understood message. We might as well rename it 'Missed the Point Again” hour.
It is said that Earth Hour has gained support from global corporations (what makes you think they give a damn?) and celebrities including Cate Blanchett. Do you think for one minute that dear Cate walks the talk for the rest of her lifestyle? She's reportedly 'greenovating” her $10m Sydney mansion and doing helpful things such as catching 'eco-friendly” taxis to the airport. Does that mean the taxi is a rickshaw? Why doesn't she ride a bike? And for that matter, why is she going to the airport at all? The best way to reduce that environmental impact is: DON'T FLY.
I wonder how many flights she takes a year. That tally alone would push her contribution to the supposed greenhouse gas crisis well above the average person's.
She's also renovating her pool to make it more eco-friendly.
Hello, Cate! The best way to cut energy use of a swimming pool: Don't bloody have one!
It's another example of someone who is profiting hugely from our energy-excessive culture, rampant consumerism, living a carbon-colossal lifestyle, yet having the gall to try to tell the average citizen they should do better. Hypocrite.

If Earth Hour produced even half a percent reduction in our energy dependant lives over the course of a year, it would be worth it. I bet it hasn't made a jot of difference. It would be interesting to see the power spike immediately after, when all those households kicked back into gear with washing machines, dryers, jugs boiling for a cup of coffee, televisions and appliances switched back on …
It's yet another gimmick, a novelty for those who really can't be bothered changing their lifestyles to match their supposed beliefs and concerns.
Just a device to appease their guilt for a few minutes so they can then carry on consuming energy at the rate Hori BOP consumes Maketu pies.

In other happenings this week, there's been a ton of feedback from last week's RR on the TECT issues.
This column is of the opinion that the status quo should be retained; that TECT should continue to split 80 per cent of returns of Trustpower profits to its consumer shareholders and 20 per cent to community organisations.
While we understand the principle idea that some TECT trustees have, that ideally the whole amount should be returned to individuals – we do not live in a perfect world.
Until those community groups – some of them vital to our society's sensible functioning – are adequately funded by other means such as central government; there will always be a need for some community assistance such as TECT which is the backbone of their existence.
It is not a perfect animal and sure, there are some anomalies. But cutting the whole community funding beast off at the knees, in my opinion, is not the answer.
See some of the letters in this week's edition for more viewpoints on the TECT issue. And make your view count in the referendum currently underway. Voting papers went out last week and you can also take the poll online.

Parting thought:
About those store robbers who grabbed Easter eggs – does that make them poachers?