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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 25, 2008 - 3 Cost of energy equals climate change Continued from page 1 "Our goal is to reduce our Town's consumption by five per cent," said Burton. "Oakville Hydro will measure the Town's contribution to this global campaign; we need everyone to participate to achieve this goal." While the shutting off of lights for one hour may seem like a mere symbolic act last year Sydney, Australia showed the world that it could be much more when their one-hour lights off initiative was measured at keeping 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the Earth's atmosphere. If Oakville achieves its goal of a five per cent reduction in power consumption, 5.6 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent will be eliminated. Cities and communities around the globe have similar hopes with the Earth Hour phenomenon stretching across six continents. Through a partnership between the Toronto Star and World Wildlife Fund Canada Toronto became the first Canadian city to join the Earth Hour movement with a goal of getting one million Torontonians and thousands of businesses and organizations to participate by turning off their lights. Here in Oakville the Town has partnered with local Metroland Media Group papers, including the Oakville Beaver, to promote Earth Hour in the community. "The Oakville Beaver is pleased to be partnering with The Town of Oakville to promote Earth Hour by issuing a challenge to ourselves, our readers and local businesses to commit our town to one hour of dark- ness," said Oakville Beaver General Manager David Harvey. "As a town that is justly proud of its environmental initiatives, it only makes sense that we join other communities in demonstrating our commitment to making our world a healthier place in which to live. Future generations depend on us to reduce our-much-talked-about ecological footprint. We can't afford to let them down. We encourage all Oakville residents to join us on March 29 by turning off the lights for one hour; a simple gesture that speaks volumes." Provincial government officials are also hoping for heavy resident and business participation at the appointed hour. "I'm assuming they're going to take some satellite pictures of the earth with all the lights out and it would be nice to see Oakville dark. It would be awful for Oakville to be the only community that still had the lights on," said Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn. "I think it's a great idea for Oakville to get on board. It's one of those things that I believe just makes people think. There will be the energy savings and it is going to help, but the symbolic value is also important. It's us saying that for one hour out of the year we can live without electric lights." Local environmental groups are enthusiastic about the prospect of getting so many people behind an energy conservation initiative. "I think it's a great idea to bring public awareness to global warming and to get citizens focused on something that we tend to take for granted, which is our energy supply," said Liz Benneian, President of Oakvillegreen. "It's good to get people thinking about the cost of energy, which is climate change among other things. So much of our energy comes from coalfire generation, so this is a good tool to get people thinking and who knows maybe we'll be able to see the stars again for an hour." Benneian went on to point out that light pollution is rampant in the GTA and while brightening the night sky is one result, the deaths of mil See No page 13 ® Kid's Stuff with Previous ExperienceTM We're stocking up for Spring and Summer! Sell Us Your Gently Used Kids' Stuff. We buy and sell new and gently used children's items and pay you on the spot! New products available include Robeez, Avent, Graco and Nursery Furniture January Furniture Event! 2 PACKAGE DEALS Java Convertible Crib + 5 Dresser + Matching Bed Rails OR JUST Java Combo Dresser + Della Convertible Crib with Matching Toddler Bed Rail JUST 799 .00 $ 699 .00 MISSISSAUGA 801 Matheson Blvd. W. (West of Mavis) $ HURRY LIMITED QUANTITY REMAINING! Available at these locations OAKVILLE 2423 Trafalgar Road (South of Dundas) 905-257-5775 905-270-4679 www.ouaccanada.com ? s? t? ges s? ? ? em PA? blconnect withdes parents sharing the same ool? por es hallen idea Now youro s? up tu otherblu t c p can h D h experiences ng ren ng in noug h atti PARENT FORUM @ arty at sc valry? e issue eeds s 24/7 p ini g e the PARENT-TO di it Tra tinand TVO are lookingtfee gle pa treward children s whog ri madelin cial n s w eas to recognize and hday oblem lin havescip a difference! City et ty Parent een Spe G Sin Sib T Bir Di Pot Br Pr Your families' best local resource! Sponsored by