Being Green - 20 April 2018
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It’s EARTH DAY on Sunday. I’m never too sure about these ‘day’ things, but it does provide a hook to hang many feelings, ideas, wishes and enthusiasms on, and it is generally seen as a Good Thing.
You may recall – probably not – but you may recall we had Earth Hour a little over a month ago, it was a Saturday night, always is Saturday, and the idea there is to switch off the lights for an hour, pull out the electric plugs, just take a deep breath and enjoy the quiet and the dark. Sometimes if the local council can be persuaded to turn off the street lights in the city, you can even see the stars a little brighter maybe; even the Milky Way. That makes amateur astronomers happy, and there’s an International Dark Sky Association that applauds that, as they are intent on working against the inexorable advance of artificial light which as they say is taking the mystery and wonder of the night from us suburban dwellers.
I didn’t notice much of a difference during Earth hour, but as with birthday presents, it’s the thought that counts.
So too with Earth Day. There will be a lot of focus on the environment, where we’re at and where we’re going, by many prominent VIPS, educators, politicians, entertainers, right down to the important audience, the youngsters. The theme this year is plastic and how to reduce its impact, particularly in the waterways and oceans. Not surprising that, we’re hearing more and more about it, and we all have a feeling, Something Has to Be Done.
You may recall – probably not – but you may recall we had Earth Hour a little over a month ago, it was a Saturday night, always is Saturday, and the idea there is to switch off the lights for an hour, pull out the electric plugs, just take a deep breath and enjoy the quiet and the dark. Sometimes if the local council can be persuaded to turn off the street lights in the city, you can even see the stars a little brighter maybe; even the Milky Way. That makes amateur astronomers happy, and there’s an International Dark Sky Association that applauds that, as they are intent on working against the inexorable advance of artificial light which as they say is taking the mystery and wonder of the night from us suburban dwellers.
I didn’t notice much of a difference during Earth hour, but as with birthday presents, it’s the thought that counts.
So too with Earth Day. There will be a lot of focus on the environment, where we’re at and where we’re going, by many prominent VIPS, educators, politicians, entertainers, right down to the important audience, the youngsters. The theme this year is plastic and how to reduce its impact, particularly in the waterways and oceans. Not surprising that, we’re hearing more and more about it, and we all have a feeling, Something Has to Be Done.
