Earth Hour, a success?

I was telling you about the ‘earth hour’. Although the project is more about awareness, it might be interesting to see if it has made a difference.

In terms of electricity consumption, the ‘earth hour’ in Ireland can be considered a success since the electricity use dropped by 1.5%, as this RTE article highlights. Some businesses actually got involved in the event and I believe they are the ones who can make a difference. Hopefully next year will be even better. Most importantly though, it should help people realise that day to day savings can also make a difference for the environment. Little things add up…

On another level, I found that the ‘earth hour’ was real quality time. I was a bit extreme and even unplugged the fridge, as a result the place was in total silence. I found that it gave me time to enjoy deep thinking without the distractions of modern life, and it’s something I will now do on a regular basis. I was talking to someone who told me she got to know her children during this hour. She actually got to talk to them and discovered more about them. This says a lot about our modern life. It seems that we have actually lost touch with the important things of life, starting with people around us, because we are too distracted by the modern world. Maybe it’s about time to realise that we should slow down a bit!

Therefore, from personal experience, I think the ‘earth hour’ has been a success. I hope more people will become aware about the impact electricity (since in this case it is limited to that) has, not only on the environment, but on our lives. I’m not talking about regressing, but maybe about learning to reach a better balance.

Smile!

                                                           Et un sourire

La nuit n’est jamais complète 
Il y a toujours, puisque je le dis
Puisque je l’affirme
Au bout du chagrin
Une fenêtre ouverte 
Une fenêtre éclairée 
Il y a toujours un rêve qui veille 
Désir à combler, faim à satisfaire 
Un coeur généreux 
Une main tendue, une main ouverte 
Des yeux attentifs 
Une vie, la vie à se partager.

Paul Eluard (Le Phénix, 1951)

And a smile 

Night is never total

There is always, since I say it

Since I affirm it

At the end of sorrow

An open window

A lit window

There is always a dream that remains

Desire to fulfil, hunger to satisfy

A generous heart

A hand held out, a hand open

Attentive eyes

A life, life to be shared.

(my own translation)

This is my favourite poem. I find it beautiful, filled with hope, love, and compassion. For me, it represents a lot of things that tend to be forgotten in our modern society. People do not seem to take the time to smile anymore, they are so much in a hurry that they do not pay attention to all the little details that could make them smile during their day. Stop for a minute, look around you, and appreciate. There are still so many simple pleasures in this world, but they are missed on. Why make everything so complicated? Take a deep breath and smile!

I tend to make this my philosophy of life, and it is extremely satisfying! I wake up in the morning and look at the green hills at the back of the houses across the street. I go to the shop and exchange a few words with the shopkeeper. On my way back home, I smile to the passer-bys, and sometimes they even smile back or say ‘hello’. At work, I try to care and to connect with people. And finally, at the end of the day, I think about what made me smile, what positive details happened during the day, and I smile!