Reach Lesotho

89 Lights

Posted on 03. May, 2010 by Vanessa in Vanessa

89 lights.

Doesn’t quite make sense?  I’ll back track.  On March 27^th at 8:30pm, millions of people celebrated Earth Hour.  For those of you that don’t know, during Earth hour, people turn off their lights, televisions, computers, or anything that consumes energy. I celebrated this hour with two of my best friends Erin and Camilla, who took part in an environmental leadership program along with 21 others during first semester.  Together, we took about 5 minutes to turn off all the lights in my house, and light some candles instead.  Altogether, it took us 5 minutes to turn of 89 lights.  That’s it.  Then, at 8:30, we climbed outside the window and sat on my rooftop with blankets.  One by one, the houses on my street went dark.  Some families took their candles and sat outside as well.

Earth hour was supposed to end at 9:30pm.  So at 9:30, I stood up and looked out at my street, but I saw something I didn’t expect.  None of the lights turned on.  I checked my watch again.  9:35.  No lights.

9:50.  No lights.  I didn’t turn on my lights either.  I realized that I didn’t need them on.  If I could survive an hour without electricity, why couldn’t I survive 2?  3?  6?

The next night, I went to bed at 10.  Well…that’s half a lie.  I got into my bed at 10, but I heard a buzzing, so I couldn’t sleep.  I woke up and went downstairs.  I found a light left on.  I turned it off.  I thought I saw another light on in the attic, and walked upstairs to find 3 lights, a computer monitor and the television sound on.  Off, off, off, off and off.  I walked around the entire house and turned off any light, and unplugged any little light I saw shining.  Satisfied, I finally went to bed.  5 minutes was all it took to turn off all of the light in my house.

Every night since then, before bed I have gone around the house and done the same thing.  That’s my little pledge.  I think that I can afford to lose 5 minutes of sleep every night.  As much as I wish, I am not superman and I cannot fly around the world every night and turn off all the lights.   But I know that I can make a small difference.

A couple of weeks ago, I celebrated was Earth Day, so I felt the need to add more.  Now, before I leave the door for school, I go through my routine.  89 light bulbs are turned off every day, and every night.  Maybe sometimes I’ll be late for school, but maybe the teachers will thank me someday.

My hope?  I hope that 1 person reads this, and thinks to themselves, I can do that.  I can take 5 minutes at night to turn off a few lights.

---