Las Vegas Review-Journal - Thomas Mitchell

I’ve never been one for symbolism, gimmicks or rituals. They seem like such hollow substitutes for actually doing something.

But this Earth Hour thing — where everyone around the world at 8:30 p.m. local time is supposed to turn off all the lights in a symbolic gesture of planet worship and its trinity of global warming, carbon capping and saving endangered bugs and weeds from the scourge of humanity — might just be an opportunity to vote with our light switches.

Just think of it. All the cactus huggers and World Wildlife Funders and planet warming acolytes can genuflect to their faith by toggling off the power switches in their homes and businesses. But all those who put more belief into the efficacy of hard work, productivity, free markets and actual science and technology should power up every light, computer, television (For some reason I don’t think the television stations will go dark in a symbolic gesture, do you?), appliance and gadget in the house.

Think of it as a plebiscite. If during that hour NV Energy here in Nevada registers a decline in power consumption, it will show one thing, but if power consumption stays the same (despite the lights on the Strip going dark) or even increases, that would reveal where we Nevadans stand on this issue.

As for me, I plan to get on my computer and do some work, earn my pay as an editor, monitor the layout and stories for Sunday’s paper, which will be chock full of stories about real things that are happening and full of advertising about things we can buy to keep the economy humming and workers working and entrepreneurs profiting.

Maybe I’ll pop a cork on a nice California cabernet and toast the vintners and their laborers and investors and wholesalers and retailers. I might slap a couple of steaks and some vegetables on the grill and support our farmers and ranchers. Maybe I’ll toss a ball to dogs and thank the people who make their food and toys and the veterinarians who keep them healthy. I’ll either watch some basketball or slip in a DVD and help out the entertainment workers. I’ll call someone on the phone. Maybe go for a drive (before the wine, of course) and burn some West Texas crude and listen to the radio or my iPod. Visit a bar maybe and play some video poker to support the slot route guys.

That’s the ticket. Live, be active and productive instead of curling up in a dark, dank cave with no carbon-producing, wood-burning fire, of course. Must save planet, brrrrrrr.

You do it your way. I’ll do it mine.

Watch the equivalent of the anti-fireworks as people go awwwhhh as the lights go out.