An hour of darkness will come
That’s not a cryptic prophecy of some kind. An hour of darkness will come at 8 pm on March 29 for Earth Hour.
I remember "Earth Days"—the blackout that affected much of the eastern seaboard back in 2003. I don’t recall whether the Rosewater Supper Club was serving organic lettuce by candlelight at that time.
Lights out in major cities has a depressing, quiet and eerie feel to it. I first experienced it in Communist Poland—where prior to 1989 many lights were out every night (and not because people were trying to be green). Ditto for the dark streets of east Berlin ten years after Communism fell. Not a great way for a girl to get home from late night classes. In other parts of the world, like El Salvador and Mexico(off the resort path) again, the flickering of a broken fluorescent bulb is more the norm than the exception.
But you know what? I support this Earth Hour so every spoiled westerner can feel and see what it’s like when the lights dim. As we congratulate ourselves for "making a difference" over a night of organic greens, perhaps some will turn their thoughts to those parts of the world where they don’t take basics (like light) for granted.
I don’t feel guilty for having these benefits. I want the rest of the world to achieve the same. I’m not going to deny the family living in poverty in rural El Salvador plumbing and electricity so that we can keep the earth cool and dark.
"See the difference you can make" is the Earth Hour slogan. "See a difference?" Well, not as I sit in the dark, I sure won’t. Earth Hour–taking us toward a bold new dark age. Literally.
Cross-posted to ProWomanProLife.