The initiative of WWF to observe Earth Hour by switching off all electricity at 8:30 PM for an hour on 26th March 2011 is already at the door step. It has created a lot of awareness amongst the masses for a better planet earth. To some folks, it might have become a Fashion but for others it has become a livelihood issue.
Much has been said and appreciated for the cause but there are some critical issues / feedbacks. This year also, Nagaland state is ready to take off in a grand manner. Last year, the Power department switched off the light not much to the like of the general public. For the cause, many candles burnt, generators, invertors, and various batteries run electric gadgets lit up including fossil fuels (woods) that were available in the backyards- what a use for the cause... It must have irritated some house wives for interrupting their TV serials; school children from completing their over loaded home works; inconvenience made to especially poor women & children from fetching scanty winter water from far away water holes-traditional wells; for that matter depriving of livelihood of struggling daily labors/common man such as e.g. goods to be delivered the next morning … squeezing ones purse to buy a candle stick/struggling.. et al..
The citizens would much appreciate it if the power department do not bother to switch off by compulsion but leaving it to the wise decision of the consumers to switch it off at their own will -those non-essential lights and other gadgets not only on Earth hour for 1 hr but inculcate the culture to the masses to implement 24x7x52 a year.
The rich can afford to light generators, invertors; other gadgets like torch lights, candles, kerosene lamps, coal etc.which are more detrimental to the health of the globe … more harmful causes than for the good cause. Enough awareness has been generated, now the public are well aware and thanks to the ones who initiated this piece of innovative idea…let’s give a chance to public to act, decide and satisfy themselves by switching it off by themselves. Let the people observe the “Earth Hour” at their own understanding and according to their own lifestyle.
Sometimes, it may irritate people who could not avoid/afford such observance due to unavoidable circumstances and out of poverty. Let us imagine in our rural areas, where there is no electricity (where electricity is a luxury not necessity) to many it may be nonsense; an insult (like throwing/putting a salt to the injury) ; it shows only negative attitude and wrong picture of the society.
Let’s be true to ourselves.. let us observe the “earth hour” only when we can afford to have electricity in our homes, schools, streets, offices, industries.... Let the polluting developed countries (North) observe earth hour by switching off light by one hour, mean time let the poor & developing countries(South) catch up with them by at least an hour. By copying or imitating the haves will not only bring negative impact but will bring a shame to our establishment. Please light our land first..Let our pristine clear water flow freely on our planet earth..Let the Mega watts flow ..People will judge it…
Please “Earth Hour” later… First “Power to the people”.
Much has been said and appreciated for the cause but there are some critical issues / feedbacks. This year also, Nagaland state is ready to take off in a grand manner. Last year, the Power department switched off the light not much to the like of the general public. For the cause, many candles burnt, generators, invertors, and various batteries run electric gadgets lit up including fossil fuels (woods) that were available in the backyards- what a use for the cause... It must have irritated some house wives for interrupting their TV serials; school children from completing their over loaded home works; inconvenience made to especially poor women & children from fetching scanty winter water from far away water holes-traditional wells; for that matter depriving of livelihood of struggling daily labors/common man such as e.g. goods to be delivered the next morning … squeezing ones purse to buy a candle stick/struggling.. et al..
The citizens would much appreciate it if the power department do not bother to switch off by compulsion but leaving it to the wise decision of the consumers to switch it off at their own will -those non-essential lights and other gadgets not only on Earth hour for 1 hr but inculcate the culture to the masses to implement 24x7x52 a year.
The rich can afford to light generators, invertors; other gadgets like torch lights, candles, kerosene lamps, coal etc.which are more detrimental to the health of the globe … more harmful causes than for the good cause. Enough awareness has been generated, now the public are well aware and thanks to the ones who initiated this piece of innovative idea…let’s give a chance to public to act, decide and satisfy themselves by switching it off by themselves. Let the people observe the “Earth Hour” at their own understanding and according to their own lifestyle.
Sometimes, it may irritate people who could not avoid/afford such observance due to unavoidable circumstances and out of poverty. Let us imagine in our rural areas, where there is no electricity (where electricity is a luxury not necessity) to many it may be nonsense; an insult (like throwing/putting a salt to the injury) ; it shows only negative attitude and wrong picture of the society.
Let’s be true to ourselves.. let us observe the “earth hour” only when we can afford to have electricity in our homes, schools, streets, offices, industries.... Let the polluting developed countries (North) observe earth hour by switching off light by one hour, mean time let the poor & developing countries(South) catch up with them by at least an hour. By copying or imitating the haves will not only bring negative impact but will bring a shame to our establishment. Please light our land first..Let our pristine clear water flow freely on our planet earth..Let the Mega watts flow ..People will judge it…
Please “Earth Hour” later… First “Power to the people”.
K. Khekiho Shohe
Citizen’s Voice
(The article is based on social survey conducted during 2011 for the cause)
