Googling, i found this article which i personally felt was extremely ironic. The title read, AN HOUR TO SHOW OUR CONCERN, but the article writes about numerous fun filled activities for the public during the 'blackout period'. Briefly, they are:
A paraphrased excerpt from An hour to show our concern, The Star Online."Here are some of the events that you can take part in tomorrow to show your support for the global initiative *:
Cultural performances at Dataran Merdeka, launched by the KL mayor.
Suria KLCC, the first 100 shoppers (with T&C) will be rewarded with a cup of freshly-brewed coffee courtesy of Suria KLCC. 15 lucky avid shoppers who spend a minimum of RM1k will win two grand stand tickets to the Msian F1 GP.
CapSquare will have an eco-bazaar from 10am as well as cheerleading and school band performances, and a charity “Walk of Hope” at 7:30pm. Enjoy low-powered show such as the 18-prosperity drum ensemble, a fire show, tap dance, acoustic performances and celebrity includes Jac Victor, and Jojo Struys.
Mont’Kiara, the finale of the month-long ‘Let’s go Green’ campaign will be celebrated in the dark as students of Mont’Kiara International School will present a sketch and form a moving globe with the creative use of glow sticks.
UCSI University is also organising Dodgeball games for free, themed “Dodge Global Warming” and a free open-air concert featuring live bands. After 8.30pm, a candle light vigil to form a giant number “60” for the 60 minutes blackout. The event is open to the public and is free of charge. (If FOC, tell me who wont be compelled to go?!!)
Starhill Gallery, at Shook! featuring Harith Iskandar, Hans Isaac, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar (oooh, he's a crowd puller!), and young environmentalist and performer Jes Ebrahim, etc. This is by YTL.
i-City, Shah Alam will have a lion dance performance, magic show and cup stacking contest for children as well as other fun activities from 5pm to 9:30pm. Walk in on that day will be chargeable at RM30 per person."
*Does it mean must attend these events only can be said to 'show support for the global initaitive'? =S
Don't get me wrong. Im ALL FOR saving the environment and all that. Im just concerned that this noble cause may be exploited and will lose its main purpose. Then it will be like they say in Malaysia, hot hot chicken shit (hangat hangat tahi ayam -- a Malay idiom meaning immense excitement towards a cause in the beginning, but unsustainable as time passes). Soon, instead of generating and sustaining the awareness, it becomes a publicity stunt for all to enjoy.
Turn off the power for and hour, and then power on for another three hours into the night? Hardly sounds like a good deal to save the planet. =/
Coincidentally, i stumbled upon this article by a reader of The Star. Apparently the reader seems to share my personal sentiment:
Copied from See how these campaigns are really done and you'll see the light."ISN’T participating in WWF’s Earth Hour a bit irresponsible? It’s the perfect example of “slacktivism” - symbolic, with minimal practical effect. Why limit ourselves to turning off the lights for a mere hour every year? Shouldn’t it be our second nature to conserve energy whenever we can?
WWF’s main goal is to raise awareness on climate change. But what message is it sending when Sydney celebrated its Earth Hour with a fireworks show? Tel Aviv, for its part, organised a rock concert, which was powered by pedal generators and falafel oil.
And, one wonders how much energy is wasted in marketing the event throughout the world.
A fellow Malaysian summed it up best: “During the Earth Hour, I’ll turn of my lights then I’ll be driving to the nearby Carrefour. They can’t afford to turn off theirs, can they?”
Rather than switching off the lights for one hour, and then proudly claiming “I did my part”, do what our Government says: ubah gaya hidup (change our lifestyle).
If we’re really serious about minimising our carbon footprint, we should go back to the Stone Age. Then, every hour would be Earth Hour.
AL GORILLA,
Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor."
The title has a cycnical ring to it, i must say. :-P
Will you uphold this just cause? Are you willing to make a difference?
Get wiser at www.earthhour.org and Earth HourWiki and www.emmagem.com.
I urge you to support this cause because it is the cause. Err, without the frills and thrills please. This would be an excellent time to spend with the family and loved ones, kindling relationships of humanity, probably under candle light, and just look out towards the sky and marvel at the Creator's majesty.
Take this time to find some peace and quite and calm your mind. Take this time to share a prayer with the divine. Take this time to reflect on your life, and how it will be in the times to come. This may well be one of the rare moments in your life. Make the most out of it.
Just my personal advice: for those of you who has never lived a day without power before, I'd highly recommend that you simply take some time to plan ahead for the actual 'blackout'. A little preparation won't hurt, trust me. List out what you can/want to do during that time, and prepare them so that you won't be caught sitting in the dark when the time comes.
That was such a cliche, wasn't it? LOL
Although I will be at a full day business training tomorrow but I'm extremely excited because the organizers will be having a 'session in the dark' too! Just a word of caution, do be careful about the safety of your home and your loved ones. Baddies out there may just be planning a 'visit' during the 'blackout'. Pray that doesn't happen.
So, let's raise the awareness first. Then only we talk about seriously changing our ways to save the planet. Here's to a better tomorrow!
Posts
5 ppl said sth:
In one way or another I agree with the argument. We switch the lights somewhere else to divert the electrical energy to somewhere else at a much higher capacity for a fun filled activity. Maybe we are going to spend more than saving.
I will do my part by switching off and stay at home with my family. Will that be better than hanging at Dataran Merdeka in the dark?
imma just sleep it off...do the work that needs to be done, turn off lights and fan and pc and go sleep.
Yo bro!haha here i am reading ur blog @ 5 in da morning :P
Yes i turned off lights man! at home also got la...i was at pyramid lor..how did it go for u ah?
Hi, I strongly feel that the meaning behind the act is to create awareness among Malaysians, however I have to agree with you that its a bit overrated, businesses are using this as a stint to improve sales and stuff like that.
In the end of the day, people still go.. global warming? what?
need a better approach next year I guess.
cikgu>
Thanks for the effort to help lower electric consumption. :-)
Agian, Dat Merdeka will be full of 'light', if you get what i mean.. haha
rojakrojak>
remember not to charge your fon too k? LOL
EVo>
5am?! cool!! teeheehehe! mince was so so nia. stuck at the training. they off the lights la, but as a symbolic nia.. =_="
Then it was on again, so we cud see the speaker, which at that slot, was kinda boring. T_T
Small Eyes>
Hi there, thnks for swinging by, and thank you too, for sharing your thoughts here. I really appreciate it! :-)
I share you thoughts too. As i said, im not against saving the planet, in all for it in fact. its just HOW you save the planet is what i dont agree with. =/
Global warming? what? hahah.. thts a good one.
perhaps ppl will only realize when the day sea levels come up to their porches. =P
Definitely a different approach next year, IF there will be a next year. =S
ps. if it was really to save the planet, they wud at least, device a plan to have it more frequently, rather than make it an annual event. :-D
Post a Comment