Most people would directly say no when faced to this question. That’s quite understandable actually, nobody would want their reputation to be exposed negatively. So, you readers, don’t need to claim or say anything after you read this. If it’s not you, then it’s not. No need to be offended. If it does sound like you, think about it.
These last few days there are warnings, advertisements, about global warming and how we suppose to turn off the electricity on Saturday to celebrate the “earth hour”. In many media we heard so many explanation about this earth hour thing. How good it is, how it can impact our earth, ourselves, our life, and the future. From what they say, it is absolutely important to take part in this thing. But you know what? Still there are so many what I call ‘shallow shouts’ from everywhere. Protests against the earth hour based on only their own satisfaction, their own comfort, and their ignorance of what happens in the world right now. Theme line is ‘as long as it does not do me, I don’t care’.
Here in Asia, my neighbors claimed that they will keep the lights on by that time. When I talked to them about the precious effect of turning off the lights their comments were just “so what??” The conversation pretty much went like this:
“Hey, there! Just wanna remind you about the earth hour. Don’t forget to turn off the electricity”
“The earth what? Oh, the electricity, yeah I heard about that. I think that’s ridiculous! Why would anyone go black out the universe for any reason anyway?”
“Why? For the sake for everyone’s life!”
“Naaahhh… ain nobody gonna die if the lights are still on by that time.”
“Nobody now. But the earth will have shorter life if we keep careless about this.”
“Nonsense! I would have died anyway by the time the earth run out of age!”
There’s one. And many others with many tone of ignorance and, if I may say, stupidity. At this point there are still so many people who don’t understand their position as human being in this world. The existence of human being is supposed to be completed with sense of responsibility, sense of nature, sense of future, and also consciousness, awareness of surroundings, and the trait of caring the environment. Humans are the leaders of the world. Now take a look at how our leadership has been going so far.
Did we make other creatures extinct?
Did we ‘rape’ our mother nature for our own needs?
Did we lead our subordinates to the right path?
The concept of doing small things for big things is still out of reach for some people. People are used to instant effect of everything. Take a look at those rubbish on the street. Do they consciously know that by throwing bins on the main street will lead to flood? This information is to be sure exist in their heads but they don’t understand it consciously. In the end, when the flood does come, they cry, beg for help, disappointed, and sometime curse the nature of God for letting such things happen to them. If I were God or mother nature, I’d look at their face and say loudly “it’s because of what you’ve done!! Wake up!!!”
Now. This earth hour. For whom do we turn off the electricity only for that one hour? For the earth so the earth can have a better condition. If the earth is in better condition, who will take advantage of it? Us and our love ones. Why should we do this? Because it is our duty to make sure that our generation has better place to live and our responsibility to fix what’s already damaged so we can provide a good earth for the next up-coming generation.
Imagine this. When we throw garbage on the street, everybody will do the same. There will be piles of garbage that block the water flow. When the rain comes heavily, the water has nowhere to go so it makes flood. When we use keep the TV on when we’re not home, or take a shower, or whatever and not watching it, we spend number of energy and cause number of damage on the atmosphere. The earth will have more pollution, more money spent, and dirty inhale air.
What if we change some stuff. We habit our self to turn off everything that’s out of use, roll our cellphone charger when we’re done using it, throw the garbage at its bin, turn off air conditioner when we’re out, and use less paper. What will we have? A nicer room, a better life, less money spent for electricity, better personality, and happier healthy life. What do we cost for doing that? Our energy? Well, why do we always have energy to play video games all day long or gossiping through our cellphone, and not to do those better things?
Think about it. Are we too selfish even when its for our own well-being? Define your self (you who resist to join the earth hour), are you selfish, stupid, shallow, or just plain evil?
