Earth Hour 2009

Did you know that 40% of global warming is a result of electricity usage?

Neither did I.

This was one of the reasons why it was collectively decided to turn off all lights from 8:30 to 9:30 pm on 28.03.2009 all over the world. The campaign, that I too was a part of in my own small way where we switched off all the lights (made easier by the fact that a. there was no electricity b. the weather was so brilliant you'd want to sit outside anyway), is the result of a global campaign that was launched in Australia in 2007 where the lights were shut off for an hour. This year, the campaign's aim was to get 1 billion people all around the world to do the same.

I don't know if they succeeded or not, but I can assure you this. If they took a satellite picture of Delhi and the NCR that evening, they surely would have seen a number of dark areas all over the city.

Is it because I'm reading Hot Flat and Crowded by Friedman and State of Fear by M Crichton that I've become more aware about climate change? Or the fact that I played Holi this year with very cold water and didn't feel cold in the first week of March? Or that I'm going trekking in May but I know that when I look at the Himalayas in the back of my mind I'll be wondering about the depleting snow line?

What's the point of all this wisdom if we are not wise about our decisions? Americans consume 1/6th of the resources an average Indian does. They are one of the chief polluters in the world today. I know we all have our problems - but shouldn't the developed world sit up and take responsibility as well?

Let's hope a solution is in sight. I don't want another conference on climate change. I'd much rather we actually had something change.