Chowrangi

Earth Hour 2010- Switch off the lights to play your part

Earth hour 2010 Remember to switch off your lights in honor of earth hour, 8.30pm today when hundreds of cities around the world will switch off the lights for 60 minutes. It is the debut of a global WWF campaign in association with Geo in Pakistan.

You can look up at the night sky and actually view the gorgeous moon, as it will be its closest to Earth for the whole month around midnight. Sky watchers can also look for the bright star Regulus shining above the moon, Saturn near the moon’s lower left, the star Spica below Saturn, and another star Arcturus down and to the left.

The idea of Earth hour was a WWF campaign initiated by Australians in 2007 when in Sydney 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for an hour to make their stand against climate change. The next year it became global activity when 50 million people across 35 countries participated for the cause. In the third Earth Hour it became the world’s largest global climate change initiative, over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet.

Buildings and landmarks around the globe will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Check out how you can get involved and click the bulb to show your support.

I was wondering why only an hour is dedicated to the planet? Why not Earth day like mothers day, polio day etc? Switching off the lights for an hour will have little effect on climate change but it will be an effort by the inhabitants of earth to learn and remember that we should conserve our planet.

A more effective way to pursue the goal of Earth Hour would be to plant trees, promote fuel efficient vehicles, bio gas, Eco friendly stuff and eradication of pollution campaigns. Wealthier countries can be better environmental custodian than poor nations because people lean to look after their basic needs first and the environment second. Apart from that ‘something is better than nothing’, so play your role :).

If you’re wondering what to do for an hour in darkness, plan a candle light dinner on terrace, and enjoy!

Image: Zcache

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Hina Safdar

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5 responses to “Earth Hour 2010- Switch off the lights to play your part”

  1. M.AKRAM KHAN NIAZI Avatar
    M.AKRAM KHAN NIAZI

    “Dirty Thar Coal Versus Environment Friendly Kalabagh Dam in Pakistan
    & South Asia”.

    • It is very strange to note that present Government of Pakistan is advocating for Air Polluting Thar Coal Project Versus Environmental Friendly Kalabagh Dam.

    • Kalabagh dam which will increase the water resources of the country is being opposed while Thar coal project, which will consume huge amount of water and will contaminate all water, air and land resources of Pakistan is being advocated by the government.

    • Clean electricity produced by Kalabagh dam will be available to every citizen of the country while Thar coal project will pollute all water, air and land resources of not only of Pakistan but also of neighbouring countries like India and China.

    • Thar coal will effect each and every living organism while environment friendly Kalabagh will not only store water for the cultivation of land , but also will produce clean energy without carbon emmision, by that electricity it will be possible to pump out under ground water which will also increase water resources and will store water for cultivation of land, Kalabagh Dam will increase wet land for fisheries, will increase green land which will be helpful in decreasing environmental carbon dioxide produce by coal and other fuels and will control flooding and erosion of land and will save lives and lands of people.

    • Coal is one of the most polluting sources of energy available, jeopardizing our health and our environment. While Kalabagh Dam will have multiple advantages and will act as clean electricity power house, Sweet water reservoir and floods controller all these things will improve fertility of lands, will reduce poverty and will increase food production.

     The Effects of Coal on the Environment.
 Coal as a source of energy is probably the most environmentally damaging of
    
  all the traditional sources of energy.

    • One must keep in mind that a typical power coal plant generates 3 million tons of CO2 or 17 tons of carbon per megawatt and draws about 2.3 billion gallons of water per annum from nearby source while on land coal produces mercury which not only renders water useless for human consumption but also for irrigation purpose as well.

    • “Coal Power in a Warming World” by Barbara Freese et al, published by the Union of Concerned Scientists in October 2008 states that “The underground mining of coal is a dangerous profession, and underground and surface mining are both highly damaging to landscapes, water supplies, and ecosystems”.

    • The Natural Resources Defense Council paper entitled “Coal in a Changing Climate”, issued in February 2007 claims that “Coal mining—and particularly surface or strip mining—poses one of the most significant threats to terrestrial habitats in the United States.”

    • Figures from “Key World Energy Statistics: 2008″ show that coal is responsible for 42% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.

    • “Coal in a Changing Climate” shows that coal produces large amounts of airborne toxic chemicals, including sulfur dioxide, mercury, nitrous oxides, arsenic and lead.

    • Coal is a highly polluting energy source. It emits much more carbon per unit of energy than oil, and natural gas. CO2 represents the major portion of greenhouse gases. It is, therefore, one of the leading contributors to climate change.

    • From mine to sky, from extraction to combustion — coal pollutes every step of the way. The huge environmental and social costs associated with coal usage make it an expensive option for developing countries.

    • Coal mining is responsible for acid drainage from coal mines, polluting rivers and streams, to the release of mercury and other toxins when it is burned, as well as climate-destroying gases and fine particulates that wreak havoc on human health, COAL is unquestionably, a DIRTY BUSINESS.

    South Asia.

    On one side China and India are planning to curb the Carbon emission by curbing the use of oil, coal and other fossil fuels, and Bangladesh and Maldives are crying for taking measures against rise of seas due to global warming and melting of glaciers and on other side Government of Pakistan is planning to use Thar coal which will not only cause global warming but also pollute the whole environment of South Asia but in fact will endanger the life of 3 Billion peoples living in China, India, Kashmir, Northern areas, NWFP, PUNJAB and Sindh, as the direction of smoke and dangerous gases will be from east to north west of Pakistan. And people of these areas will suffer from respiratory diseases such as Asthma, Bronchitis, Cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and people of these areas will suffer from dangers and adverse effects of smoking without smoking the cigarettes.

    Government of Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned for sinking delta dwellers people of Bangladesh and Island dweller people of Maldives under sea by wasting about 10 Million Acres feet water of River Indus from the catchments area of whole of Pakistan in the sea and is not preserving and storing that water in dams like Kalabagh and Basha, on one side people of Pakistan are suffering from acute wastage of water and electricity and on other side Government is wasting sweet water in the sea which is not only causing sea rise and erosion of coastal land for whole of subcontinent, including Bangladesh and Maldives but is also harmful for saline habitat fishes and saline and sea plants like Mangroves

    Countering Rise in Sea level and Global Warming.

    Global Warming:
    For countering global warming there is need to completely restrict use of coal for any purpose and to minimize other fossils fuels such as oil and gas and use of alternatives resources such as wind, solar and water power by means of dams like Kalabagh and Basha Dams in Pakistan should be encouraged and preferred.

    Rise in Sea Level.
    For countering rise in sea level following measures should be taken to save and to protect from submerging the people of Bangladesh, Maldives and other Island dwellers under sea.

    • All the rain and glaciers water on land should be preserved and stored in reservoirs and dams like Kalabagh and other dams for use on land( For Agriculture, Electricity generation and human consumption) and other purposes so that no water should waste in sea which will ultimately cause the rise in sea level.
    • In Coastal areas use of sea water should be increased as much as possible for Industrial and agricultural purposes.

    • After desalination and Purification Sea water should be use for human consumption as much as possible.

    • Wastage of sweet water and fertile silt in sea should be prevented and should be used for fertilization and irrigation of land and other useful purposes.

    • There should be maximum utilization of sea resources such as exploration of silt and stones from sea towards land and coastal areas.

    • There should be maximum utilization of sea resources such as exploration of sea salts for use as chemicals and other purposes.

    • There should be maximum utilization of sea resources such as sea plants such as algae and fishes to decrease the volume of sea so that rise in sea could be countered by each and every mean available.

    Already Polluted Atmosphere of South Asia.

    South Asia is already suffering from the adverse effects of Brown cloud(Accumulation of Dirty gases in upper atmosphere of Subcontinent and is having negative effects on the health of population of India and Pakistan , Moreover there is already shortage of Ozone gas in the upper atmosphere of South Asia, due to which people of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ) are not having perfect healthy bodies as compared to other races of the world, .In view of such a bad condition of atmosphere burning the coal is just like to throw the people of Pakistan into valley of death, where as there already so many poor workers are daily dying in the coal mines of Balouchistan, but no one is having any care about those poor workers.

    There are a number of adverse environmental effects of coal mining and burning, especially the glaciers of the Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindukush and Pamir ranges in Gilgit-Baltistan contribute significantly to the stream flow of the Indus Basin. More significantly, during the dry season these glaciers become the system’s only source. Impacts due to climate change on these glaciers have been studied in recent decades and vivid fluctuation of water flow in the Indus River Basin System has been reported.
    Conclusion:
    Due to flow of toxic gases and smoke from Thar Coal towards North and Western Pakistan, It is the responsibility of Jammu and Kashmir, Northern Areas, NWFP, Punjab and Sindh Governments to review the adverse effects of Thar coal as it is the matter of life and death of the people of these areas. As unhealthy environment due to smoke and toxic gases will destroy the beauty of land of Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan and will cause health problems such as cancer, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory and genetic diseases due to environmental pollution in the people of Punjab, NWFP, Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan. Thar coal will destroy the fertility of land and will pollute the water resources of the country.

    It is the responsibility of Governments of China ,India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Kashmir and Provinces of Pakistan to persuade Federal government of Pakistan not to use Dirty coal while many dams may be constructed for generation of clean energy in Pakistan like Kalabagh and Basha Dam, it is necessary as government of Pakistan is wasting its only Indus River sweet water( 10 Million Acres Feet Water )in the sea while on the other side common people of Pakistan are suffering from the thirst and hunger due to shortage of water and electricity.
    Written By:M.AKRAM KHAN NIAZI.
    Karachi, Pakistan.

    Reply
  2. Hina Safdar Avatar
    Hina Safdar

    @Mr. Jamshaid Khan Barki

    W3ll I blv we shall overcome the hardships but atleast for the planet on which we r living we can show our support.

    Reply
  3. tayab Avatar
    tayab

    I agree with Barki.
    Environmental, animal and human rights issues, though have right places, are used blindly in countries like Pakistan to cast shdow on our real issues. I would never waste my money to protect endangered species when my neighbour are hungry.

    Saying that, we need to learn not to waste natural resources as the same time. Look at food we aste every day, water leaks that we dont fix and litter we throw away!!!!!!!!!!!.

    It is not an easy task to strike a balance between, greed, need, lust, desire and sharing.

    Reply
  4. Jamshaid Khan Barki Avatar
    Jamshaid Khan Barki

    Madam Hina Safdar thanx for sharing. I also want to share a little here.
    Earth hour in a year means nothing but to realise us that the planet where we live, needs our care and love.
    In Pakistan we celebrate it for the last decade for 12 to 18 hours a day because we do not have light to switch off. Yes you may urge us to switch off our candles, emergency lights and kerosine oil devas to celebrate earth hour.

    Reply
  5. Global Voices Online » Pakistan: Earth Hour 2010

    […] Hina Safdar at Chowrangi urges Pakistanis to switch off lights in honor of earth hour tonight at 8:30 when hundreds of cities around the world will switch off the lights for 60 minutes. Cancel this reply […]

    Reply

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