If you care for Earth, switch off your lights for one hour from 8.30 p.m. You will be joining an expected one billion people around the world in the Earth Hour movement to make a case for concrete action to spare the planet from the menace of global warming. Jakarta, courtesy of Governor Fauzi Bowo, will be one of 1,539 cities from 80 countries, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), that will participate in this global community movement to press their case. Although this is expected to be an annual event, this year is important because a new protocol on global warming should be put in place before 2010. World governments are still ironing out remaining differences on a new document to replace the Kyoto Protocol before they head to their final round in Copenhagen in December. Our action tonight will send a message to global leaders to get their acts together. Indonesia has invested considerably in the process, having hosted one of the international climate change meetings in Bali in 2007. While our participation tonight may seem to be a token gesture - a mere one hour without a light in one evening a year - the WWF Indonesia has come up with interesting figures to show that our action goes beyond symbolic.
Assuming everyone in Jakarta heeds the call, the action represents a saving of 300 megawatts, enough to give one power plant a rest and light up 900 villages; it amounts to a saving of Rp 200 million (US$17,248) in electricity bills in Jakarta; it reduces 284 tons of carbon dioxide; it saves more than 284 trees; and it produces oxygen for more than 568 people. Jakarta has an obligation to take part in this global movement, not because it is the capital city, but because it is the biggest user of the national electricity supply. Its 10 million population, or less than five percent of the national total, accounts for one fifth of the national electricity usage. This gross imbalance puts the onus on we Jakartans to show that we do care about Earth, and that we are willing to put these concerns into action when asked to. Just for tonight, we should put our general election concerns aside and follow the WWF message: Vote Earth.
Assuming everyone in Jakarta heeds the call, the action represents a saving of 300 megawatts, enough to give one power plant a rest and light up 900 villages; it amounts to a saving of Rp 200 million (US$17,248) in electricity bills in Jakarta; it reduces 284 tons of carbon dioxide; it saves more than 284 trees; and it produces oxygen for more than 568 people. Jakarta has an obligation to take part in this global movement, not because it is the capital city, but because it is the biggest user of the national electricity supply. Its 10 million population, or less than five percent of the national total, accounts for one fifth of the national electricity usage. This gross imbalance puts the onus on we Jakartans to show that we do care about Earth, and that we are willing to put these concerns into action when asked to. Just for tonight, we should put our general election concerns aside and follow the WWF message: Vote Earth.
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