"Earth Hour" a Chance for Kooky TDSB to Display Its "Green" Bona Fides

Personally, I bristle at compulsory exercises in illusory virtue such as Earth Hour. But, hey, that's just me. The Toronto District School Board, which has "green" up the wazoo and the ying-yang, is ga-ga for it, and has found a way to take part even though it occurs outside school hours:

On March 30, the TDSB will celebrate its own Earth Hour from 2 to 3 p.m. at all schools and offices. The official global Earth Hour is on Saturday, March 31 between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. 

Earth Hour is a very inclusive event—even the youngest child can take part!

Again this year, schools and offices will use as little electricity as possible between 2 and 3 p.m. on Earth Hour Friday. Many schools go well beyond the single hour, and even start “warming up” by holding an Earth Hour once a week. Some schools focus indoors and seek out every possible way to unplug (with permission) — teachers manage regular classes without electricity-powered aids, administrative staff leave their computers and turn to organizing their files. Others go outside for student-run schoolground activities or neighourhood walks — using the Earth and the sun as free “teaching resources” that connect students’ learning to the world outside the classroom!

Earth Hour is an especially good candidate for a student-run environmental campaign about energy conservation and slowing climate change. Its sharp focus allows schools to undertake as little or as much awareness and action building as they are ready for...

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