A proposal/challenge for everyone on Earth Day.

[TransitJohn]

Challenge yourself to use no fossil fuels. None. If you are not 100% sure your electricity to your home is all alternative-sourced, TURN OFF YOUR MAIN BREAKER FOR 24 HOURS. Do no driving. No natural gas for cooking. I'm going to give it a try.

[LeftyMom]

1. No juice to your fridge for a day will spoil most of your food.

Sounds like a bad idea to me. Even if you plan around it and just use up most of your stuff you'll need an extra trip to the store on monday to resupply, or one on saturday to buy a shitpile of ice, or both.

Short term gestures have less impact than even very small changes carried out over the long term.

[Captain Angry]

2. Neat challenge.

I live in a town that doesn't bother having mass transit, so I'm kind of stranded if I don't drive to school. Biking isn't safe. We have bike lanes, but that's just so that the pickup trucks with 6 wheels have enough room to drive.

But I can sure go the day without internet, TV and lighting. My electric bill is already down to $16 a month through conservation efforts. Since I live in an apartment, I can't put more efficient appliances in to reduce it further.

When I graduate, I'll be able to move to more efficient conditions and will be sure to be in a town with mass transit / safe biking.

[elocs]

3. Nice idea, but you really didn't think it all the way through, did you? n/t

[TransitJohn]

4. What I didn't think through

was all the fucking Debbie Downers on DU.

[elocs]

6. Ahh, reality is such a bitch. I did say it was a nice idea, just impractical as presented. n/t

[GliderGuider]

5. It's a very cool idea. Think of it not as a gesture to Gaia, but as a practice run.

I think it would open peoples' eyes pretty wide.

If you're worried about food spoilage, turn off the power at the breaker panel, and leave the freezer breaker and refrigerator on. Just don't use anything from either the fridge or the freezer.

No hot water, no indoor cooking (BBQ's a non-no as well), no public transit, no telephone, no cell phone, no computer, no TV.

This is a really good idea.

[Shoelace]

7. we are going to plant about 10 trees

in our neighborhood. A couple of Douglas fir trees, English Oak, Maple and Birch. My garden seems to sprout them thanks to some very active squirrels and organic soil with lots of compost.
Not going anywhere that day except to carry the trees to their planting spots.
Use of electricity will be minimal which it usually is anyway.
Thanks for bringing up one idea out of many that will help our planet. Everyday is Earth day!

[GliderGuider]

8. Make the point of this Earth Day something besides "helping the planet."

We can't, and the planet doesn't need our help anyway. These ideas are monumental, self-deceptive conceits.

We need to help ourselves. We need to prepare for the coming changes, and get ready to live within the limits that the planet is going to prescribe for us (actually, "that the planet has already prescribed for us", but we've been to self-deceived to notice).

Use this Earth Day as an opportunity to contemplate what you take from the planet, what your real needs are, and whether those needs can be met in a world of Peak Oil, climate change, 200 extinctions a day, declining soil fertility and fresh water, and dead oceans. If your answer is "they can't", then it's time to ask yourself what you should be doing to prepare for the new physical realities that are coming into play right now.

You have been telling people it is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people this is THE HOUR.

There are many things to consider:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.

It is time to speak your truth.
Create your community. Be good to each other.
And do not look outside of yourself for a leader.

This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its own destination.
The Elders say:
We must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river,
keep our hearts open and our heads above water.
See who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves.
For the moment we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves.
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

For WE are the ONES we've been waiting for.

[phantom power]

9. If you do it, tell us how it went.

I'm working that day, and I work at home as a programmer. I won't be turning off my power.

But at least I won't be driving to work
:evilgrin:

[phantom power]

10. say, did anybody do this?