In one of the more obtuse exercises, we're being asked to turn off all non-essential lights from 8 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Apparently, this is supposed to make a dramatic, symbolic statement about energy usage or going green or saving the planet from ourselves. The Hound is feeling warm all over and wants to break out in song to "Kumbaya".
The World Wildlife Fund came up with this lights-out strategy as part of its global campaign against climate change. They call it Earth Hour and have talked cities across the nation, including Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix and San Francisco; across the globe Bangkok, Copenhagen, Dubai, Dublin, Manila, Sydney, Tel Aviv and Toronto.
In Lake County, Highland Park (no surprise there) and Round Lake (there's a surprise) will be taking part. Walgreens corporate headquarters in Deerfield will be dimmed, while the folks at Prairie Crossing in Grayslake will be holding a pot luck dinner during Earth Hour. Bring your own wheat grass.
In Chicago, more than 160 buildings in the Loop, including Sears Tower, Hancock Center, Boeing corporate offices, Northern Trust, theater marquees will be darkened. Wrigley Field will turn off its landmark marquee at Clark and Addison, while the United Center will turn out the lights that shine on the Michael Jordan statue. Somebody better tell MJ about this.
This is all fine and dandy, but if we really want to make a statement about global warming, let's all throw our car keys into the gene pool and start walking or taking mass transit. Start using more solar power. Start using less plastic, more recycling and composting.
While The Hound thinks the whole idea is dumb, the dog house will have its CFLs turned off for the hour. The computer may be unplugged. But not the 12-foot plasma. We'll see how many others join in.
