"Shut Everything Off" worldwide demonstration??

[WisJim]

I came across the following on another site, and heard about it from a local friend, also.
Sounds like an interesting idea to me---shut off all electrical items for 15 minutes, Thursday Feb 1st at 7:45 pm, and see if enough people participate to make a noticable demonstration.

I will print it verbatim, as I found it:



Dear Friend,
Just imagine, if we all, simultaneously followed the following invitation, what an impact that would make! So, let's join in:

***TURN EVERYTHING OFF***
**ON FEBRUARY 1st BETWEEN 7:45 p.m.and 8:00 p.m.**
*FIVE MINUTES, NOT JUST TO SAVE ENERGY, BUT...*

Urgent: action against climate change!
On February 1st you can participate in the worldwide greatest action against climate change!
Various environmental organizations ae asking the peoples of this planet to hold 5 minutes of silence:
Everyone should turn off all lights, electricity etc. between 7:45 and 8:00 pm
to bring attention to other inhabitants, the media and politicians about the waste of energy.
An act which takes only 15 minutes, which costs nothing but shows the governments that
climate change should be top on the agenda of world politics.

Why this date?

On February 1st the United Nations is publicizing the newest results and knowledge base
on climate change.

SO.....TURN OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'l see you there.
Together we can "move mountains" (:-))))

[DaleK]

Hmmmm. So that's 7:45 and 8PM in..... New Zealand? The Azores? Chicago? Don't think someone thought this out too far. I'd like to know so I can turn everything on for 15 minutes.

[FrankTheTank]

Interest...That would include the heat here, but i'm game...see what happens? I've got to dig out my flashlights or a candle...

Time Zone??????

[deaconjim]

I don't mind turning off the power for a few minutes, but that has nothing to do with climate change. If you want to have any effect on global warming, you will need to cool down the sun just a bit.

[arabian knight]

Nope I won't

[MELOC]

Originally Posted by arabian knight

Nope I won't

go figure

[charles burns]

Me neither. I won't get that warm inner glow that says I've done something good for the planet and mankind because I'll know I haven't. I'd much rather foster a lifestyle that is pro active towards moderating consumerism than pretend 15 minutes of awareness counts for anything.

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by MELOC

go figure

And IF I remember AT that time I may just go outside and see my mini and while doing so turn On 4---- 1000 Watt Quartz Outside lights. While leaving the TV on The stereo receiver on the Satellite receiver on The computer on my monitor on and house lights on inside. And a 1500 Watt space heater on in the bedroom warming that up just before I go to bed. And Of Course I have a 1500 Watt Water Heater in the water tank for my steer, and another 500 watt heater going for my mini and my dog.
This is the same nonsense as don't buy gas for one day. What a bunch of

[floramum]

Some May Get That 15 Minutes Of Silence Anyhow, If Some Enviro Nut Working At A Power Plant Takes It Seriously.

[Cloverbud]

I do this every night between midnight and 6 a.m.

[RoseGarden]

HOKEY DOKEY! So, for me that will include.... HHHMMMmmmm.... let's see now.... turning off..... my computer and my little bitty clock/radio. Hah, WHAT a CONTRIBUTION I shall be making!

[rambler]

To honor - I think it was Edison? - they were thinking of turning off all electricity for one minute backa few years.

All planes would have to be grounded for hours, people would die in hospitals & at home, traffic snarls......

It was an interesting study. They listed the ungodly number of deaths that would result from one minute of _all_ electricity turned off. Not to mention the days of unwinding the conjestion that would happen.


As to this 15 minutes - what would it do? everyone will need to use a bit more electricity for the next 1/2 hour to bring the heat back up. Net effect - use more electricity. As well the power surge of turning everything back on will be a brownout waiting to happen.

Silly people with silly ideas. Pointless.

Let's actually do something, and figure out ways to trim the electric bill for the whole month. Not a silly pointless 15 minute game that will cost us more in the long run.

--->Paul

[MELOC]

ah, come on paul. even if i was using my furnace, it wouldn't cycle but once every 15 or 20 minutes..and i have a drafty old house. i doubt 15 minutes without heat will cause that many problems. perhaps millions of folks in a city turning lights and tv's on all at the very same instant would cause some problems. what are the odds of that happening though? so many critical systems will still be running that i doubt a brownout would occur. it is a token jesture to be viewed as such.

of course, if there are enough people like some of those above who plan to triple their usage in protest, a brownout may be a possibility.

(shaking head ruefully at the extreme reaction to a token jesture of awareness)

[RoseGarden]

....and no one even got the snarkiness of my post....

I live pretty darn frugally. Heat with wood, light with oil lamp(s), small propane refrigerator and deep freeze, dry everything by hanging, blah blah blah. My electric consumption is very little compared to most folks. Most of my clocks are even wind-ups. My point being....

[Gercarson]

Originally Posted by RoseGarden

....and no one even got the snarkiness of my post....

I live pretty darn frugally. Heat with wood, light with oil lamp(s), small propane refrigerator and deep freeze, dry everything by hanging, blah blah blah. My electric consumption is very little compared to most folks. Most of my clocks are even wind-ups. My point being....

Hmmm - I didn't think it was "snarky" - I just couldn't help being envious of anyone who does, in fact, choose to live so simple.

[live on land]

I will and why?? Because even if you use very little power if we all did it, one voice turns into a large voice and could be herd. That's why a lot of things never go far is because people don't stand together as one. Maybe it wont do any good but what would it hurt to try and do something even if its for your children or grand children or even you brother or sister and family. The earth is like life we only have one shot at it.

[sullen]

I won't. Just because the OP mentioned "climate change" and the UN. I serve neither cause.
Funny how everyone is always saying how small and insignificant we are as humans but little us can mess up a whole planet.
Plus I am more environmentally conscious that anyone I know. Not in the HT board, but real life.
I am always sharing with people I meet and know why some products are bad and how to be better to themselves and their environment. This will help in the long run.
Plus my TV hungry Ma would never turn anything off.

[longshadowfarms]

If you could get past the political issues and get enough people to do it, you'd possibly upset the power grid and cause it to go down, taking hours or days to get it back up again, depending on how good a job you do.

[WisJim]

Just in case anyone is actually interested, I found a more complete closer-to-the-source version of the email announcement:

Want to do something simple about global warming?
Something quick and easy, that costs you nothing?

Turn off your lights, stereos, TV's, computers and other electrical appliances for five minutes on February 1st.

The call to action comes from Alliance for the Planet, who ask that people all around the world join forces to create five minutes of electrical rest. This isn't just about saving five minutes of electricity (although as Mom always said, every little bit helps). It's about sending a clear message to our political leaders, the media and each other. It's about getting attention without making a lot of noise.

Because on February 1st, 2007, the UN report on global climate change will be released in Paris. And this is how we make sure that the whole world will be listening.

While the planet is resting, why not take a micro nap or have a mini-meeting? Stare out the window with half a cup of tea, or organize the black socks in your drawer? Read three pages of a good book, or one paragraph of an inter-office memo?

Mark it on your calendar. Tell your friends. Tell your sister. Tell your boss. Tell everyone who has ever sent you one of those annoying chain letters.

When do you turn off?

Pacific Time between 10:55 and 11:00a.m.

Mountain Time between 11:55 and noon.

Central Time between 12:55 and 13:00

Eastern Time between 13:55 and 14:00

Atlantic Time between 14:55 and 15:00

Newfoundland- between 15.25 and 15:30

In London it's Lights Out time at 18:55. France, Belgium and Italy turn off at 19:55.

[seedspreader]

Originally Posted by RoseGarden

....and no one even got the snarkiness of my post....

I live pretty darn frugally. Heat with wood, light with oil lamp(s), small propane refrigerator and deep freeze, dry everything by hanging, blah blah blah. My electric consumption is very little compared to most folks. Most of my clocks are even wind-ups. My point being....

Ah dear Rose Garden, you will have to be MUCH snarkier around here to even be a blip on the screen.