Celebrate Human Achievement Hour
Posted by Richard on March 30, 2012
A few years ago, the World Wildlife Fund came up with an annual event called Earth Hour, when Gaia-worshipping idiots around the world who think the planet would be better off if the Industrial Revolution had never occurred turn off their lights “to reduce energy consumption and draw attention to the dangers of climate change.”
For several years (when I’ve remembered it), I’ve marked Earth Hour by maximizing my energy consumption to celebrate the Industrial Revolution, progress, modernity, and technology. This year, Earth Hour starts at 8:30 PM (in whatever time zone you’re in) on Saturday, March 31st. I’ll turn on every light, appliance, and electronic device in the house.
The Competitive Enterprise Institute has a similar idea. Instead of Earth Hour, they’re going to celebrate Human Achievement Hour:
Human Achievement Hour (HAH) is a celebration of individual freedom and appreciation of the achievements and innovations that people have used to improve their lives throughout history. To celebrate Human Achievement Hour, participants need only to spend the hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on March 31 enjoying the benefits of capitalism and human innovation: Gather with friends in the warmth of a heated home, watch television, take a hot shower, drink a beer, call a loved one on the phone, or listen to music.
You can also utilize one of man’s greatest achievements, the Internet, to join CEI’s in-house party, which will live stream right here at CEI.org beginning at 8:00 pm EST. You can use the chat function to tell us how you are celebrating human achievement in your neighborhood
I hope you’ll join me and the fine folks at CEI in celebrating human achievement on Saturday night. As I’ve stated before, “My ancestors didn’t survive the Black Plague and Dark Ages, create the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution, and bring about the past two hundred years of astonishing scientific and technological progress so that we could huddle in the dark.”
Rick Shultz said
Hi Richard! Hope you have a great time tonight and although I was the one who chided you (Albeit MILDLY) last year for forgetting I hope you will forgive me and do me a small favor. In addition to using up every kilowatt hour possible, would you please crack open a Heineken,
for me or whatever beer you drink if you do not care for Heineken.
As you know I am diabetic, and my doctor (the scoundrel!) does not allow me to drink beer. So please if you would help to celebrate vicariously, and I promise to turn on an extra light bulb for you.
Happy Earth Hour my friend!
David Aitken said
This headline from mjperry.blogspot.com nails it: Earth Hour is Today: N. Korea is the Likely Winner.
Richard said
Rick, I’ll be happy to have a beer on your behalf in exchange for your turning on another light bulb. In fact, if you want to turn on several additional light bulbs, I’ll be happy to have multiple beers on your behalf. 🙂
David, thanks — I haven’t been by Carpe Diem in a few days. That’s a great line, and that picture of the Korean peninsula never fails to impress me.