Earth hour

[1sttruck]

Surveys of studies on the impact of lighting levels on crime rates typically find it inconclusive overall.

If you want higher crime rates keep something open late, have parking space, and light it up; gas stations, 7-11s, etc., and 24hr Walmarts have a bad reputation in some areas as they're crime magnets. As I mentioned earlier people are like bugs, they like lights, criminals too.

 

[dhise]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
T&S, what always strikes me as strange when reading your posts regarding any kind of topic that has to do with the concept of conservation, environment, and other "green" concerns is that you will invariably point at the fact that the Earth has existed for a long time and that we can't destroy it. Well, I'll gladly that give you that short of nuking the planet to bits (An international, times effort would be required

), we truly can't destroy the Earth, but I will also point out that it's never really about saving the Earth: it's about saving our own species, nothing more, nothing less. The Earth will be swallowed by an ever expanding red giant long after all life on Earth has been burnt to cinders. Maybe this prospect makes you think one should live like there's no tomorrow?



As I learned in a geology class, the earth's atmosphere used to have very little oxygen in it until the algae in the oceans reproduced so much that they poisoned their environment by making the oxygen our modern planet needs to survive. I suppose we are just another small rung on the ladder of greatness.

 

[Shannow]

Don't worry, we can give it back to them.

 

[AcuraTech]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Don't worry, we can give it back to them.


The remaining plants are loving life, with all the CO2 floating around. Too bad that we keep chopping them down! Given enough time we as humans will pull a reverse of what the algae did, by poisoning our planet with too much CO2 and not enough O2.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: dhise
I suppose we are just another small rung on the ladder of greatness.


Lemme see... ah yes, it was the sometimes (more often not) great Michael Crichton who said, through Ian Malcom in 'Jurassic Park,' "Life finds a way."

DNA doesn't care in what form it procreates, carries on, carries over, Carrie Fisher.

Unless we sterilize the planet, rid Earth of all life, even if just a bacterium remains, life will find a way. That ladder or greatness is just genetic code, DNA, which lives and procreates as happily through worms as it does through petunias and humans. We better not make uninhabitable or miserable our big, blue, and beautiful spaceship. Earth can get along without us just fine.

 

[oilyriser]

I saw people burning lanterns and candles. They switched off their compact fluorescent lamps and went with 0.05% efficient fossil fuel lighting.

 

[AcuraTech]

Originally Posted By: oilyriser
I saw people burning lanterns and candles. They switched off their compact fluorescent lamps and went with 0.05% efficient fossil fuel lighting.


Kinda makes you think about what we as humans would do if fossil fuels disappeared tomorrow! No more driving (gasoline), no more oceanic or overland shipping (diesel), no more heating or hot water (natural gas and LP gas), no more plastics, even something as small as lamp oil is petroleum based. No more BITOG oil discussions, either. Many, many people would starve and die due to the humongous reliance of modern farming on petroleum for tractors, transport, and petroleum derived fertilizers.

Alternatives exist, but aren't nearly as widespread enough to take care of everyone's needs. Back to the dark ages for us! If you think about it, we as humans have way too many "chips" bet on petroleum products, if Mother Earth calls our bluff, it's game over for about 1/3 of the earths population. Without petroleum, our modern society comes crashing to a screeching halt.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: MarkC
I find it strange that so many followers of a certain religion seem to ridicule ( or worse) any effort to avoid screwing up the place. After all, seems like we should take care of what we've allegedly been given.


Can we have some examples please. If you are ridiculing Christians for not following Al Gore, you got us there!!

 

[txrhino]

Originally Posted By: AcuraTech
have raped our Mother Earth
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! *Door Slams*


I hate when people use this term. I can assure you, if you were ever personally affected by an actual rape, you wouldn't use it anymore. The earth is not getting raped,women/kids are however.

 

[MarkC]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: MarkC
I find it strange that so many followers of a certain religion seem to ridicule ( or worse) any effort to avoid screwing up the place. After all, seems like we should take care of what we've allegedly been given.


Can we have some examples please. If you are ridiculing Christians for not following Al Gore, you got us there!!

I'm not ridiculing Christians for not following Al Gore, I'm saying that I find it strange that the majority of Christians don't seem to give a flying [censored] about taking care of the planet. Examples are plentiful. TnS seems to be one of them.
I've yet to hear anything in a sermon in any church I've been to about our responsibility to do do, in fact , I have heard quite the opposite.
Now, there are some "eco-Christian" (Not their term) groups out there, but they are more often than not looked down upon or even considered demented or heretical by other Christian groups.
One big excuse around here is that the politics of conservation are unsavory, useless, geared toward controlling people(which nobody here has yet explained with any degree of logic), so why bother.

 

[labman]

I think it is just the opposite. Even many mainline denominations have lost sight of the creator to idolize the creation. At one point, you couldn't use Styrofoam cups in the Presbyterian Church. Better to cut down trees to make paper ones.

Getting back to ''Earth hour''. This seems to be one of those feel good things that show you care and accomplish nothing or worse.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: MarkC
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: MarkC
I find it strange that so many followers of a certain religion seem to ridicule ( or worse) any effort to avoid screwing up the place. After all, seems like we should take care of what we've allegedly been given.


Can we have some examples please. If you are ridiculing Christians for not following Al Gore, you got us there!!

I'm not ridiculing Christians for not following Al Gore, I'm saying that I find it strange that the majority of Christians don't seem to give a flying [censored] about taking care of the planet. Examples are plentiful. TnS seems to be one of them.
I've yet to hear anything in a sermon in any church I've been to about our responsibility to do do, in fact , I have heard quite the opposite.
Now, there are some "eco-Christian" (Not their term) groups out there, but they are more often than not looked down upon or even considered demented or heretical by other Christian groups.
One big excuse around here is that the politics of conservation are unsavory, useless, geared toward controlling people(which nobody here has yet explained with any degree of logic), so why bother.


I don't see this. Hmm....I really doubt your "stats". "Majority"? I need to see some numbers. Examples plentiful? Where?

I've been involved with 2 churches the last 9 years and both have had sermons about caring for the environment. Both have kids groups that do as much as the mind numbing, people controlling public schools. Do you even read the "science" they hand out. I will tell you the latest - they don't even let the kids take the books home, and I have found out it has nothing to do with the budget. If you don't think Ron Sims and his ilk were/are not about people control, then you really need to study King County politics deeper. And for sure Al Gore's fantasies are the same on a grander scale.

TnS - what say you about your not "giv(ing) a flying [censored] about taking care of the planet"? I hadn't noticed, I'll need to watch you closer.........buwaaaahaaaaha!

 

[VNTS]

I did the same, at 8:30 every outside light was turned on. The funny and good things was that a bunch of my neighbors must have been thinking the same thing, the neighborhood was lit up like Halloween, every post and flood was on. Not a single house dark.


Myself I am sick of the UN and Global Extremeists using stunts like this to indoctranate people. THey want to blame the USA and force us to conform to their stupid agenda. They imply that we are wasteful and we need to protest so the goverment can come in and save us, mainly by heavily taxing energy so they can redistribute our wealth. The elitie media then jumps all over it.
People need to wake up and see this for what it is.



Originally Posted By: tpitcher
It looks like you miss the point of this.

First of all, the dishwasher will run and the clothes dryer will run today anyway.

I am a conservationalist, not an enviromentalist. Big difference.

Normally, when I drive somewhere, I make all of my stops along the way and no doubling back. When I get home, I stay home; all of the driving is planned and done along the way.

I coast to my stops saving gas and my proof is my original brake pads are still on and are fine, even at 152,000 MILES!

When I take my boat out, I use the battery powered motor as much as possible; leaving the gas motor off as much as possible. I always turn the lights off when I leave the rooms I am done with.

If I listed all of the things I do to conserve, most people would hardle believe it.

This "Earth Hour" is not just about that, it's among other things, control over your life. There is an agenda going on here, some people realize it, others don't.

I will be exercising my rights and freedoms.

Last of all, by you saying "At least we can hope for sub-par wiring" are you wanting me to die?

JUST WHO IS THE EXTREMIST HERE...?

 

[MarkC]

As far as paper or styrofoam, or any other type of cups in a church, why can't people spend an hour and a half worshipping without the need for something to drink?
Half the congregation at the big church here carries around bottled water(sold by the church) which they sip and guzzle from throughout the service.

For Pablo's questions: I didn't post any 'stats' so there are none for you to dispute.
A few things I've heard during services around here:

The Big Guy doesn't want us to limit population growth, he wants us to fill the Earth with people, more people= more souls to be saved.
There's plenty of room for more, look at South Dakota( not mentioning that the pastor who made this observation lives in a comfortable suburb).
The Lord will renew the Earth for us, his children, he loves us, so why worry about unimportant things like the environment.
And I did state above that there are Christians who are actively concerned about the planet. Unfortunately, there are also those whose idea of 'green' is a pretty lawn and a nice golf course.
Of course, this is true of people in general, regardless of religion.

As for controlling people and their minds, newsflash: Every form of government has as one of its major agendas, to control those it governs. Doesn't matter who's in power, the only thing different are the types of bones it chooses to throw to those it governs. Just because you like one bone rather than another doesn't mean you're not in the same position.
Just because a government enforces it's version of conservation and is, in reality, really making sure it has some control and sources of income doesn't negate the basic premise that we need to take better care than we do.
If we do the job ourselves, as individuals and voluntarily, the government, or any other large, greedy entity, won't have the chance to step in and make it mandatory, while lining it's pockets.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

If they want to drink something, styrofoam or paper, during church, who cares? Are we going to micromanage people's lives to THIS level like CA legislators who are banning dark colored cars?

What's next, rationing holy water?

 

[LTVibe]

Earth hour, earth day, whatever. There are practical reasons for being "earth friendly".

Not wasting electricity or water, or owning a vehicle that is larger than I need, or driving when I don't need to, or changing oil too often, etc...all these things are good for my budget.

And if the environment benefits from me not wasting money, so much the better.

 

[MarkC]

Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
If they want to drink something, styrofoam or paper, during church, who cares? Are we going to micromanage people's lives to THIS level like CA legislators who are banning dark colored cars?

What's next, rationing holy water?


Once again, you take something ans assume something else.
I don't want anybody micromanaged. I want people to manage themselves.
Personally, I think it's a bit weak to need a drink during church. You're allegedly there to worship, not to socialize, and if you're thirsty for an hour, so what? Small thing compared to hanging on a cross.

 

[Turk]

Originally Posted By: MarkC
Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
If they want to drink something, styrofoam or paper, during church, who cares? Are we going to micromanage people's lives to THIS level like CA legislators who are banning dark colored cars?

What's next, rationing holy water?


Once again, you take something ans assume something else.
I don't want anybody micromanaged. I want people to manage themselves.
Personally, I think it's a bit weak to need a drink during church. You're allegedly there to worship, not to socialize, and if you're thirsty for an hour, so what? Small thing compared to hanging on a cross.


MarkC,

I am a Christian. I serve at church almost every weekend and am on the vision team for the 36th largest church in America. We grow at 24% a year.

Yes, we are there to worship, but we are also there to socialize, a lot. Before the service and after. We have a Cafe at each campus. You can get and bring in anything you want to eat or drink. It doesn't matter if you eat a cookie or sip a hot chocolate. It also doesn't matter if you come in grubs or dress up. It doesn't matter!

We are remodeling our church to make more room for people to socialize. We have, for instance, mens "Ribs & Blues" events and the leaders mention that what they want is for people to socialize and get to know each other.

Going to a Chris Tomlin concert tonight in the front row, we are there to worship too, and we will socialize.

 

[jmac]

In the church I grew up in there is even a name for the socialization that is formally encouraged amongst church members and anyone who comes to worship, it is called Fellowship.

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: LTVibe
Earth hour, earth day, whatever. There are practical reasons for being "earth friendly".

Not wasting electricity or water, or owning a vehicle that is larger than I need, or driving when I don't need to, or changing oil too often, etc...all these things are good for my budget.

And if the environment benefits from me not wasting money, so much the better.

+1 People who are aware of the environmental impact, do not need An Earth Day to remind them about conservation. It is an opportunity to educate the general population and start changing the way we do things. The alternative is to shape desirable behavior through more difficult to achieve schemes (taxation change, adoption of new technologies and stuff).