Saturday, March 29, 2008

Earth Hour 2008



I hope you are all ready and going to do your bit. If you have been living under a rock, cities around are participating by turning off all lights etc. for one hour at 8p.m. tonight.
Well I am ready, I have the playing cards, candles and wine at the ready. I do try to be green in everyday life, wash laundry in cold water, don't use my dryer if at all possible, changed all my light bulbs, and, when there is no snow on the ground, I compost. I am even trying to be more conscious (?) of where my groceries are coming from, which is hard when you love bananas and live in Canada!
I saw an article on TV where a couple had been doing the "one hundred mile diet" whereby they did not eat anything that was not produced or grown within 100 miles of where they lived. That would mean no coffee, no tea, no olive oil ....the list, as you can imagine is endless. Unfortunately I am not quite that committed but when in the store I will select the apples (or whatever) that were grown in Ontario rather than USA, trying to vote with my choices in a way. I'm sure Fortinos are paying attention, right !?
I am always shocked at other people's carelessness, or is it bloodymindedness! Our neighbours are absolutely dreadful about having air conditioning on day and night all summer, even when they are gone for the weekend, every weekend at the cottage!! Last year they were gone for two weeks and the a/c was on the entire time. That's my rant for the day!!

8 comments:

dND said...

I think we all need to remember, Every little helps. Individually what we do won't change the world but collectively we can. But if we try do to do so much that it puts us outside our comfort zone we will give up and then join the ranks of those that do nothing.

Like you I try to buy local as long as I can afford it but I have bananas, tea, coffee etc. Bananas I try to buy from French colonies, usually the only ones available, tea and coffee I'm still on what I brought over to France with me but will soon have to look round for Fair Trade products, more difficult to find in France than the UK.

I also have the problem of practically no income source until I can get my farm running so cost is a very high factor in being eco friendly but it is still surprising what can be done. I change a bit at a time. With eggs, I went from mass produced, to barn, to free range to having my own chickens.

Re your neighbours, only a hike in energy prices that is not matched by a hike in salaries wiil lead them to re-evaluate IMHO and then unless they believe in the problems the Earth is facing it won't necessarily lead to being more eco friendly

aims said...

I am trying to do my bit - but being a Celiac doesn't allow me that. I can only get some foods I can eat from far away places...

As for your next door neighbours...I'd be having a word with them..maybe they just never think about the a/c....we always turn down our hot water heater and put the fridge on vacation...all those things...

I don't have any children - so what the world will become...well you see my point...however - just what the world IS right now is scary enough...and people being lazy and anal politicians doesn't help....now grrrrrrrrrrr - you've got me going this morning girl....
:p)

Almost American said...

We plan on switching the lights etc. off tonight at 8 too. I doubt if any of our neighbours will - certainly not the people with the large swimming pool with its own, extra large, propane tank to keep the water warm.

I'm trying to persuade DH that we need to start growing some of our own vegetables seeing as we have the space. I can't imagine ever committing to the 100 mile diet though!

We keep putting stuff in the compost bin all winter - it doesn't start to break down while it's so cold outside, but eventually come spring it will.

Mya said...

I'm actively trying to fart less. Not for the planet, my husband says he's going to leave me if I don't stop.

We grow our own veg, eat eggs laid a mere couple of metres away, have fruit trees that give generously and neighbours who do the same.We don't use any chemicals in our horticulture and we are surrounded by organically farmed sheep and cattle. We live in an area highly populated with green activists who are very vocal and get on your case at any given opportunity. I don't mind that, it's good to listen to their views/advice. I will be turning the lights off at 8pm - best go and fetch a torch (wind-up of course!)

Hope your trip to La Belle France goes well - the weather has been atrocious, let's hope it improves.

Mya x

softinthehead said...

Its good to hear we are all doing our little bit (especially mya!). I am very envious of those of you who manage to grow or raise your own food, I do grow tomatoes and zucchini and we have a pool but we don't heat it. Keep up the good work everyone, lovely to get such wordy comments.

Carolyn said...

We're on the same wavelength today. Way to go girl!

We celebrated by doing candlelight yoga. What a crazy bunch of granola-heads we are.

I could get into a huge rant about all the things people could be doing to help thwart climate change, but I'm tired tonight and don't have the energy to go there... all that yoga and candlelight has made me sleepy.

Sally Townsend said...

I completely agree with you, I think we were the only one's observing Earth Hour 2008 in our village. Wonder if you could have a discreet word with your neighbours ?

Debra in France said...

Hi SITH, I must have been on Mars or something because I haven't heard of Earth Hour. We try and act responsibly when it comes to energy and shopping (OH tries not to use any energy at all, so he just sits around!). Luckily France is very good at promoting its own fruit and veg, and 90% of the fresh produce in the supermarket is French. We live 20 mins north of Limoges and this is a big beef producing region. We have our own chickens for eggs, and a small apple orchard. We grow most of our own veg, our water heater on heats at night when the electricity is cheaper, we compost and don't use chemicals in the garden. If everyone did a little bit, the collective effort would help.