Earth hour in reality invites one billion people in more than 2800 cities in most countries around the world to turn off and switch off not only their lights, but most every other power or water source in their houses, hotels and homes for the duration of one hour from between 8:30pm to 9:30pm local time. This not only allows participants to reduce global energy consumption during that period, but also increases energy saving awareness to further reduce consumption throughout the year.



Luxury Hotels to the rescue

Even luxurious hotels and their guests throughout the world are taking part in Earth Hour. In places like Bangkok and Tokyo where this hour falls on Saturday evening, some of the top luxury hotels like the Dusit Thani are doing their bit to fight global warming. Not only are they increasing awareness to their guests by asking them to economize on electricity and power use, (this includes the standard luxury devices such as high speed internet use and flat screen TV usage, not forgetting the air conditioning setting change) but they also minimize non-essential luxury hotel lighting and other luxury enhancing power sources that will be shut down for the duration. This also includes the use of candles in some of the top luxury restaurants in the hotel and in and around Bangkok- all helping to fight for the cause.

Critics will have their say though?

Someone I know recently had this to say; Sorry to be cynical, but if we really want to show a decrease in climate change, we need to do far more than this.

Don't get me wrong, as this is a step in the right direction.

However, this is a very naive gesture, when you consider the huge impact every modern human family has upon our environment and the planet. Our society is not sustainable period!

You must understand there is no human solution to this problem! We all, everyone that is, simply consumes too much energy and natural resources and future generations, if they survive, will have to pay for it.

If we really want to be serious about this, let's not pat ourselves on the back over token gestures to ease our guilt. Let's start by NOT clearing pristine land, NOT buying new cars every few years, plasma TVs and just about every other luxury we have.

It annoys me that the real serious impact we have on the planet is softened by these ?feel good? stories, while so many native animals and habitats are being destroyed and natural vegetation is being lost at an alarming rate. Of course, she is right you know-I believe some of major corporations are doing their best to lower global warming-even if it is just lip service. But in the end it's really up to you and me to do something about it. Next time you are staying at one of the luxury hotels in Bangkok for example. Think of Earth Hour and do something for the planet for a change.