Lights on, nobody’s home

In a time of unprecedented climatic changes, with bushfires raging in three states and heat waves on their way in others it is surely a time to review our behaviours as a human race.  Some brave people have declared a climate emergency in their homes because the Australian Government will not. Globally we have seen action by the wonderful and inspiring Greta Thunberg.  Countries going plastic free and carbon neutral. This is leadership on a global scale.

Some of our papers report this leadership and other inspiring climate stories.  Media have a role to play in inspiring, educating and cajoling the populace into action on climate change.  I know our local newspaper is not doing enough to run the hard conversations about climate change and continues to publish letters to the editor from climate change deniers. Without a barrage of letters pointing out the fallacies of such a position.  Trying to remain impartial they say. Giving everyone a say, being democratic. No. I say being conservative and behind the times.

But there is one good thing from this.  Yes, always looking on the positive, that's me.  We know who the climate deniers in our town are and we know how they think. What their arguments are and how to respond to them.  Most of the time we do not respond because it’s a waste of our time. We know the evidence is there and how we should be responding as a community, as a country and as media.

Usually we know who in our town understands climate change and that they trust the science.  We know some who are taking action in their homes. You see the solar cells have gone up or increased. You see attendances at sustainability groups and events, and social media posts they like and share.  Seeing families back on bikes and seeing food gardens growing on nature strips. All indicators of people building resilience, and acknowledgement of climate change.

But the biggest demonstration of a households commitment to climate action is what is not hanging on their fence.  Or roof, or over their front lawn.

Festive season decorations.

Now you can call me a grinch.  I am happy to accept the title. But you may need to come up with a title for a climate change spoil sport.  Now we can talk about the irony of festive season decorations. Decorations that will end up in landfill are one environmental hazard - who looks at the decorations and thinks how can we recycle or repurpose these when they see their last days.  Is there even a recycle triangle on christmas decorations - the original pine tree maybe the only thing that is biodegradable or compostable. What do you do when blow up Santa perishes in the glare of a hot summer, when the Aldi lighting melts to the gutter on a scorcher or when the fairy lights are pruned by the garden gnome as Autumn closes off the last reminders of the earth cracking summer.  

Landfill.  Santa, his reindeers and a trail of green fairy light wire heading right to landfill.

Now let’s talk specifically about lighting.  More specifically, non-renewable festive season lighting.  Large commercial electricity consumers are being asked to shut down on days of peak demand.  I am asking all festive season light owners to do the same. To shut off the lights until we have beaten climate change and created reusable festive lights that run on renewable energy, or that run energy into the grid, that prevent CO2 escaping. Lights that spread environmental joy, are sustainable, bring people together and give hope to the youth in our communities.  

That would be a light bulb moment