Earth Hour 2009

NTU is participating in Earth Hour 2009 and Hall 5 has all its corridor lights switched off in support of this event!

The corridors are really dark, with only the fluorescent green EXIT signs lighting them faintly. It almost feels that people are going to start coming out of their rooms screaming and cheering (yes, university students have such tendencies), but as it is a Saturday night, most of Hall 5's residents are away at home.

Just a little background on Earth Hour from www.earthhour.org:

YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Hope that you're having fun with your lights off in support of Mother Earth too!

Living on the edges.

WORK. BUY. CONSUME. DIE. Is this what you really want?

7. Live on the edges.

This is probably the most important quality of the remarkable man. If you’re going to pay attention to anything, pay attention now. You can’t be remarkable by simply “doing what works,” following a pre-made template for life and keeping your head down and nose to the grindstone.

If you want to be more than just a pawn, you’re going to have to take control of the game. You’ll need to decide how your life is played, instead of living by default.

- Seven Traits of the Highly Remarkable Man - www.kinowear.com

But that seems to be what so many people are doing right now, here at university. I see so many following pre-written scripts on how to be successful and make it big at some prestigious firm, so many blindly grinding away at the grindstone just because they aren't sure of their dreams.

I myself am not totally exempt from all this. Sometimes I just wish that my hopes and dreams were just a little bit clearer, and that I have the discipline and courage to chase it.

We only have one life to live, and what a waste if we spend it just living out someone else's life.

Looking forward for the holidays where I'll probably get to live a life closer to my ideal one.

Rustic Ruminations

I feel like I am in a quaint little, rural village, perhaps far away in China, far removed from civilization.

The room is but only half lit by my florescent desk-light, which but casts a white light on the right-hand-most portion of my desk, while leaving the rest of the room in shadows.

The chirping of crickets, and all manner of nature's night-sounds are to be heard, reinforcing the illusion of the rustic countryside surrounding me.

The less than chilled beer tastes surprisingly refreshing, as it courses down my throat. The warm chicken noodles are surprisingly satisfying and make a perfect accompaniment to that one open can of Tiger on my desk.

Far removed from the world at large, away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, with the cold night for company, I find peace, and the most mundane of chicken noodles taste like the King's finest meal.