Our Own Little Earth Hour

Inspired by Saturday's Earth Hour, our family observed our own Earth Hour at dinnertime on Sunday. We tuned off all the lights, and we ate dinner together by candlelight. The kids thought it was cool, so we did it again Monday. It was another big hit, and I think we'll try to do it each weekend. With the days longer, there's plenty of light, so there's no reason to have indoor lights on anyway. While the impact may be symbolic (we'll probably spend more on candles than we'll save on electricity), the kids really buy into it. I'm all for encouraging their good ideas, and environmentalism is something parents and chidren can get into together.

One Good Reason

One good reason to teach your children about the environment: Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez spill. While the article notes that it was only the 53rd worst spill in terms of volume, the impact on the wildlife and coastline was immeasurable. I still remember the pictures after the accident, and it is something to remember whenever the issue of drilling for more oil comes up.