Montecito Journal, editorial: Lights Out Santa Barbara Good Idea, But Why Stop There? (This issue is not yet online.)
"...(I)t should be clear the only way to promte 'awareness' is to strive for baby steps in the quest to wean humans off the consumption of oil. Give people something they can tangibly accomplish and we may see a difference.
That’s why I was pleased to receive an email from a grassroots group supporting an initative aptly named ‘Lights Out Santa Barbara.’ The group has one simple goal: to convince people of Santa Barbara County to turn off all non-essential lights for one hour between 8 pm and 9 pm, Saturday October 20.
We fully support this effort. In fact, we plan to make a romantic evening of it. We’ll turn off the lights, light a few candles, andmake dinner. We will save money on our power bill, and - who knows? - this is an idea that could spread to two hours, three, four, maybe even a 24-hour cessation of all power use, including vehicles, one day a week. If the Lights Out Santa Barbara people are serious, so are we. Count us in!
We are indeed serious and count you in!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
12 days to go
Unlike in San Francisco and its team and perhaps in LA, too, we in Santa Barbara started not very long ago, about a week ago, I think, although at this point it is very hard to tell, so weary I am after days before the computer screen.
It's such a simple straightforward idea, really, turn off non-essential lights for one hour! Why does one have any non-essential lights on, anyway? Or is that my New England childhood speaking? We had no money when I was growing up, and still so many years later, I can hear, "turn out the light when you leave the room! Do you think we're made of money?"
And then it became second nature, as it is for a friend who grew up in wartime London, while, for her younger sister, lights are made to be on. Darkness is to be banished.
But that's not what this is all about, not about saving money, although that may be the carrot to save energy. We're inviting an energy saving awareness, planting and urging watering the seeds we all have to be conscious, to think of our footprints, to recognize the changes we humans cause.
I hope others will join in here and say why they're participating. For me, it's that hummingbird parable told by Wangari Maathai posted on our website: one does, we do what we can, as best we can with what we have, sprinkling our drops of water on the raging forest fires of needs.
Pleased to get an e-mail just now from Phyllis, the initiator of this campaign, quoting a friend: "Every friend I've told about Lights Out already knows!" Hurrah! but now to get them all to sign up on the supporters' list. How proud I am to live in a city where the city council people, 6 of the 7, all express strong support and are brave enough to say so, especially after the recent thrashing - and so does this area's County supervisor, Salud Carbajal - and so has our Congressional representative, Lois Capps.
Wow!
It's such a simple straightforward idea, really, turn off non-essential lights for one hour! Why does one have any non-essential lights on, anyway? Or is that my New England childhood speaking? We had no money when I was growing up, and still so many years later, I can hear, "turn out the light when you leave the room! Do you think we're made of money?"
And then it became second nature, as it is for a friend who grew up in wartime London, while, for her younger sister, lights are made to be on. Darkness is to be banished.
But that's not what this is all about, not about saving money, although that may be the carrot to save energy. We're inviting an energy saving awareness, planting and urging watering the seeds we all have to be conscious, to think of our footprints, to recognize the changes we humans cause.
I hope others will join in here and say why they're participating. For me, it's that hummingbird parable told by Wangari Maathai posted on our website: one does, we do what we can, as best we can with what we have, sprinkling our drops of water on the raging forest fires of needs.
Pleased to get an e-mail just now from Phyllis, the initiator of this campaign, quoting a friend: "Every friend I've told about Lights Out already knows!" Hurrah! but now to get them all to sign up on the supporters' list. How proud I am to live in a city where the city council people, 6 of the 7, all express strong support and are brave enough to say so, especially after the recent thrashing - and so does this area's County supervisor, Salud Carbajal - and so has our Congressional representative, Lois Capps.
Wow!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
GREETINGS!
LIGHTS OUT SANTA BARBARA on October 20th from 8 to 9 pm is a great - and very simple - step. It makes a statement that we can do something that will effectively save energy.
Everyone is invited turn off their lights and non-essential electrical uses for just one hour. It will send a strong, measurable statement about our need and our ability to conserve energy.
We can change the world—one switch at a time.
"Lights Out" was first implemented last March 31, a Saturday evening, in Sydney, Australia where an estimated 2.2 million, more than half the population, switched off their lights, cutting more than 10% the city’s electricity usage.
This county-wide, totally voluntary event is grassroots. You are on your own, you do it yourself, and it’s easy. There is nothing to join, no dues, and no meetings. Simply turn off your lights and non-essential appliances, and please ask your friends to do the same.
"LIGHTS OUT SANTA BARBARA" will be on October 20, 8-9pm and will run concurrently with San Francisco (lightsoutsf.org) and Los Angeles (lightsoutla.org).
This is another step in needed sustainability efforts, and who knows, you might find a new friend or new interest that will enrich your life on October 20 and beyond.
Take charge.
Send a message loud and clear.
Be part of the solution.
Don’t forget to tell your friends to turn off their lights on October 20, 8-9pm.
Everyone is invited turn off their lights and non-essential electrical uses for just one hour. It will send a strong, measurable statement about our need and our ability to conserve energy.
We can change the world—one switch at a time.
"Lights Out" was first implemented last March 31, a Saturday evening, in Sydney, Australia where an estimated 2.2 million, more than half the population, switched off their lights, cutting more than 10% the city’s electricity usage.
This county-wide, totally voluntary event is grassroots. You are on your own, you do it yourself, and it’s easy. There is nothing to join, no dues, and no meetings. Simply turn off your lights and non-essential appliances, and please ask your friends to do the same.
"LIGHTS OUT SANTA BARBARA" will be on October 20, 8-9pm and will run concurrently with San Francisco (lightsoutsf.org) and Los Angeles (lightsoutla.org).
This is another step in needed sustainability efforts, and who knows, you might find a new friend or new interest that will enrich your life on October 20 and beyond.
Take charge.
Send a message loud and clear.
Be part of the solution.
Don’t forget to tell your friends to turn off their lights on October 20, 8-9pm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)