Earth Hour a success depending where you live?

Although it was my first time to participate in Earth Hour on Saturday night by turning off the lights, etc., and actually going out for a walk in the neighbourhood where I live in Cranbrook, British Columbia, unlike Toronto, out here it seems we may have a long way to go.

As soon as I left the condo complex, I sensed immediately that Earth Hour had not caught on in my small city of about 18,000 in the southeastern East Kootenay region of the province. As an aside I am putting my location because even my best friend wasn't quite sure where Cranbrook actually is in BC.. "I will have to go to Google Earth and look you up," he said only yesterday.

Anyway, while walking about, I counted 100 single family dwellings in a middle class neighbourhood -- 90% had their lights on like any other typical evening. The lights were blazing outside the recreation centre owned by the city as well as at the mall near my place. And I could see that "the Strip" was all lit up.

However, back in Toronto it seems that Nathan Philips Square was packed with supporters, and David Miller, the mayor, is quoted as saying, "Toronto gets it." On the Earth Hour facebook page, reporters were also reporting their pleasure with activities in Edmonton, Montreal and even Ottawa.

News reports today indicate that Earth Hour organizers globally were well pleased with the response. They mentioned its rapid growth to 4000 cities in more than 80 countries in the past three years, and estimated one billion people marked the occasion in the dark.

When I asked some of my friends on facebook for feedback, they were disappointed with the response in their community. And I had no idea if any of my friends knew anything about Earth Hour. I didn't until this past week.

Darlene from Timmins said: "I didn't see too many houses dimmed here in Timmins (at least on my street). It's a sad state really...."

Maggie said: "With my lights out and computer off..no tv or radio..I looked out of my windows and was surprised..not one house on my street was dimmed..the whole friggin' neighbourhood was lit up like it was christmas..NOT impressed!!"

It struck me that perhaps Earth Hour organizers have targeted the very large cities globally, and I suppose that makes sense. However, if I might make a suggestion, it may be time now to start targeting smaller communities, especially in Canada.

I welcome comments as always from folks with much more knowledge than I have about Earth Hour. At the very least it has made me think seriously about the Greening of Michael... and I have not quite finished Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas L Friedman.

Email me too at mj.morris@live.ca