Thought for the Day No.37

Earth Hour.......Saturday, 28 March 2009 *8.30pm - 9.30pm

Where were you on this hour? How did you contribute to heighten the baby steps being taken around the world?
Did you feel yourself part of the global effort to reduce carbon emissions that are choking Mother Earth.....endangering the wildlife and plantlife on the planet.....melting the ice-caps at the North and South Poles thus raising the sea levels at alarming rates ..... simply making it less livable for our future generations ...our grandchildren or their grandchildren - yes, our own bloodlines and carrying our Family Name into the possible future....if it is still there when the time comes?

I was at home with my wife who was watching CNN and nearing 820pm we got the candles out ready. I then walked down to the hawker centre down my house and bought some food.
As I paid for the packet of food - the lights went off and the waiters started carrying out candles to the various tables where the customers were having their food.

There was no complaints and even a few customers clapped in appreciation and all the stall holders did not grumble or made cynical remarks - I was truly impressed at this collaborative mindset from these usually business-minded people. That they too understand the significance of this moment and willing to do their bit without fuss.

I was so impressed that I sent out sms to many people urging them to join in the golabl effort to share the signifcance of this Earth Hour.
I also received many sms telling me that
- Petaling jaya town is in semi-darkness
- someone staying in an apartment looked out and saw the Komtar and Penang Bridge dimmed their lights
- another said she always could see the the town lights but tonight more than half the lights are out - a remarkable sight she said.
- another took my call for action and began encouraging the shops in the mall he was in to also switch off some of their lights - he said it was so difficult but by 915pm he was happy that 5 shops did what he told them to join in observing Earth Hour

My friends, its not about what can the effect be if I switch off my house lights for one hour or 5 shops comply when 2000 did not - it's the combined united aligned effort and reinforcing our belief that we must continue to do whatever and whenever we can towards saving our endangered planet Earth - and influencing more people to do the same.

Yes, there is Hope for all - when we begin to give back more than we take from Mother Earth