While most other cities and suburbs around the world decided to switch off their lights for the purpose of participating in the 2009 Earth Hour, my very own city of Subotica did squat to show that they actually care, even though the city council specifically announced and confirmed there would be a 1hr dark-out on all major city monuments, and anywhere else if possible. Well, that’s a load of bullshit since I can see some major monuments from my window, and even at 21h (earth hour starts at 20:30) the whole city was lit up as always… nobody gave a damn… not to mention the residents, they are probably more informed about the weekly nominations inside the BigBrother house than about Earth Hour…
Now, I’m surely not some annoying Greenpeace hippie, and I know Earth Hour will do absolutely nothing for our planet in it’s tiny 1hr of power preservation, but it’s the thought that counts, like in every gift. If I turn off my lights, I still probably have the air conditioning, heating, TV, PC etc. turned on, which probably nullifies the saved energy from all the switched off light bulbs (and I even use CFLs), but it still counts – seeing that I’m letting others know that I give a damn and that I am aware of my surroundings.
It’s not just about the environment, it’s about the inclusion in major world events. If pretty much nobody did anything to show their participation in this happening in my neighborhood, that’s the mirror of the regional awareness in any global topic – zero – nada - null.
Enjoy your lights, people… I’m still not sure how you evolved from candles in the first place…
March 28th, 2009
I’ve been flying around in Google Earth lately, usually just before bedtime, and I really don’t need to emphasize how much the combination of Google Earth and Panoramio can tell more bedtime stories then a smiling grandma, or a turned on TV set… What is weird here is my preference to browse remote areas, far away from the usual tourist attractions, far away from the city bright lights… Deserts in Utah, small towns in Alaska, Japan suburbs, small island nations, etc. – they all have a story to tell, and just by watching some of the nearby Panoramio photos (probably uploaded by their enthusiastic inhabitants) gives me the impression of how similar our lives are, and yet how exciting their overall simplicity can be. A while ago, I 
discovered a small island nation named Tuvalu. Nobody has probably heard of it, but here’s a hint: the .TV TLD was assigned to this country, but since it only has about 12,000 citizens, the government decided to lease it for use to the major domain registars, so that TV stations can get a piece of the action. (e.g. www.twit.tv)
This nation consists of a few islands, but the one with the main capitol on it (Funafuti) is what grabbed my attention. It’s surrounded by nothing but salt water, and yet a fully functioning city thrives within! Electricity, phone lines, the internet - the 
works. All that on a small speck of dust on the world map. The only means of travel to this little island is by boat, or by a small plane, which reminds me - Funafuti has an airport, and the runway takes a big chunk of it’s main territory for just being there. But it’s still a necessity, since all of the major supplies are usually transferred by air.
Moving outside the city, passing the police station, the local elementary school, the city hospital (take a look at the Panoramio pics, it’s *actually* a hospital, I kid you not), etc. is a narrow road, with a few houses surrounding it… What is the big deal about this? Well, the ocean is in everybody’s back yard! The narrow path in the Funafuti 
suburbs is so narrow, that on some parts, the water comes splashing down on the road pavement itself! “Hey neighbor, wanna do a barbecue and have a dip after work?” Now that’s a sweet neighborhood!
What’s even more interesting is that I could basically walk to the other parts of the island on foot during low tide! I can imagine that everybody feels as if they are about to sink, or that they are living on a boat, but that’s still living. In my humble opinion, that little dot on the face of the planet should be a main tourist attraction for anybody who literally wants to leave it all behind and enjoy him/herself, and also help out this small country take care of itself – it surely doesn’t need much to get it humming, as it has already proven. If I ever get a chance, I won’t hesitate to visit this oasis in the middle of the ocean.
Coordinates for Funafuti, Tuvalu: 8°31'29.66"S 179°11'46.98"E
March 2nd, 2009
While most other cities and suburbs around the world decided to switch off their lights for the purpose of participating in the 2009 Earth Hour, my very own city of Subotica did squat to show that they actually care, even though the city council specifically announced and confirmed there would be a 1hr dark-out on all major city monuments, and anywhere else if possible. Well, that’s a load of bullshit since I can see some major monuments from my window, and even at 21h (earth hour starts at 20:30) the whole city was lit up as always… nobody gave a damn… not to mention the residents, they are probably more informed about the weekly nominations inside the BigBrother house than about Earth Hour…
