An Hour Here, A Day There
Getting masses to move is not easy. Succeeding in getting politicians to agree is hard work. In both cases it takes a lot of lobbying, of meeting, of convincing, of debating. There is a lot of misinformation that is spread and many exaggerations that are made. Success means that you need to have enough people who are open-minded enough, accepting enough, to change their opinion and swallow their foolish pride to admit they may just have been wrong.
Today is World Water Day. Saturday at 8:30 PM Earth Hour will be celebrated. A mere day and hour to try and convince more of the masses that they need to make a difference. Does it really matter and do these events make a difference?
Of course, action for a day or an hour has no real direct impact on the issues being raised. By turning your lights off for an hour, tapping yourself on the back and then going back to having your 1000 watts of ceiling pot lights turned on at all times you are not going to make a difference.
Centuries ago it took much effort to convince the world that Earth was not at the centre of the universe. That particular fact did not change the way people walked, talked, breathed and ate. Most people had no idea what it meant and knew little about the science behind the assertion being made. If the message had made its way to and through the masses quickly and, more importantly, been understood by the masses quickly, it may have resulted in the end of Christianity as it would have caused such an uproar and resulted in the Pope and his Cardinals to alter their messages to their followers. Instead those in power took their time, did not change their message and continued to exert their influence by managing the message surrounding the subject of the universe and its structure. It took many, many sacrifices for those in power to accept the findings and only when they did, did the masses start accepting the new order.
We are facing a similar situation now with climate change and the environmental movement. For most people living on Earth today, the impact of climatic changes has not yet really made itself felt. Most continue to walk, talk, breathe and eat much like they have. The powers (not religious anymore but rather political and corporate) are hearing the modern day Copernicus and are trying to manage the communication. By doing this they are slowing down the acceptance of the new science. So it is hard to convince people to change their behaviour. Until those in power agree to the fact and change their communication the fight will be an uphill one.
There is however one major difference between the word in the 15th and 16th Century and the world in the 21st. Our ability to organize, to spread our own messages, to fight those in power has never been as powerful. Let's just say that democracy, technology, human rights and free speech have changed the playing field somewhat. We the people now have a much larger and louder voice. But, in the end, it will require those in power, those that hold the reigns of the financial and judiciary systems, to accept the new order. They continue to hold sway over millions of followers.
Today's event, and Saturday's, are therefore important...very important. They raise awareness and that is a big step forward in getting more and more people to lobby their politicians, a few to convince their friends and neighbours and others to change the way they behave as individuals on a daily basis. A day and an hour are both important because they are rallying points in the continuum of time. Moments when more and more people are coming together to let those in power know that more and more of the masses are starting to accept.
So reduce your water usage, turn your lights off and get involved in even the smallest way and, most importantly, be heard.
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