Celebrate Human Achievement Hour
This weekend, enviro-zealots will celebrate “Earth Hour” by turning off their lights. They’ve pulled this stunt for a few years now. But this time, they’ve added a new twist: “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.”
How about voting for human achievement? Michelle Minton at the Competitive Enterprise Institute has a good proposal:
This week CEI announced the creation of Human Achievement Hour (HAH) to be celebrated at 8:30pm on March 28th 2009 (the same time and date of Earth Hour).
Our press release described ways people might celebrate the achievements of humanity such as eating diner, seeing a film, driving around, keeping the heat on in your home—all things that Earth Hour celebrators, presumably, should be refraining from. In the cheekiest manner, we claimed that anyone not foregoing the use of electricity in that hour is, by default, celebrating the achievements of human beings. Needless to say, the enviros in the blogosphere didn’t take to kindly to our announcement.
Matthew Wheeland, an environmental journalist called the holiday “mind-blowingly strange” and pondered if Earth hour folks are including in their numbers people in countries that don’t have enough electricity to make the choice to turn out their lights. Of course, they don’t have the choice to acquire electricity whereas anyone can choose to stop using human technology if they wish…
…Green and private conservation are fine. We have no problem with an individual (or group) that wants to sit naked in the dark without heat, clothing, or light. Additionally, we’d have no problem with the group holding a pro-green technology rally. That’s their choice. But when this group stages a “global election” with the express purpose of influencing “government policies to take action against global warming,” we have every right as individuals to express our vote for the opposite
If our Human Achievement Hour is at all a dig against Earth Hour, it is so only by the fact that we are pointing out what Earth Hour truly is about: it isn’t pro-earth, it is anti-man and anti-innovation. So, on March 28th I plan to continue “voting” for humanity by enjoying the fruits of man’s mind.
Here’s CEI’s HAH announcement that irked the Greenies:
Washington, D.C., March 19, 2009—The Competitive Enterprise Institute, a leading free-market think tank, plans to recognize “Human Achievement Hour” between 8:30pm and 9:30pm on March 28, 2009. The new one-hour holiday coincides with Earth Hour, a period of time during which governments, individuals, and corporations have agreed to dim or shut off lights in an effort to draw attention to climate change.
“We are so proud that millions of people plan to show their appreciation for human achievement by doing things like eating dinner, watching television, going to the movies, and brushing their teeth,” says Human Achievement Hour Founder and CEI Policy Analyst Michelle Minton. “Never before has a new holiday caught on so quickly.”
The new one-hour holiday, unknown prior to this press release, has already received overwhelming support from many of Washington, D.C.’s leading institutions. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, for example, tells CEI that it does not plan to shut down all of the city’s bus and rail lines for the “Earth Hour.” The Kennedy Center, likewise, has scheduled a performance of the long-running play Sheer Madness, a jazz concert, and a dance performance to coincide with the Human Achievement Hour. Washington, D.C.’s Target store, furthermore, will remain open until 10:00pm on the evening of the 28th. The Smithsonian Institution also plans a film showing that will extend into Human Achievement Hour.
“We salute the people who keep the lights on and produce the energy that helps make human achievement possible,” says Myron Ebell, CEI’s Director of Energy and Global Warming Policy.
Other organizations around the world and the nation have planned events in support of the new holiday. For example, The United State Marine Corps will continue its combat and humanitarian operations around the world during Human Achievement Hour. The New York Times confirms that it intends to put out a paper on March 29th, 2009 (preparation and printing for that issue will take place during Human Achievement Hour). At least 30,000 movies will also be screened in celebration of Human Achievement Hour. Hospital emergency and operating rooms, likewise, will remain open in Washington and in the rest of the country. Nearly all of the nation’s Wal-Mart locations will also be open during Human Achievement Hour.
Those wishing to celebrate Earth Hour, however, do not need to take part in Human Achievement Hour. “Earth Hour is a viable alternative to human achievement hour,” says CEI Senior Fellow Eli Lehrer. “Those who wish to celebrate Earth Hour should sit in the dark, turn off the heat, and breathe as little as possible.”
It goes without saying that, except for CEI itself, the institutions listed above have not actually endorsed “Human Achievement Hour.” (All the quotes and facts, however, are real and may/should be used.)
See what others have said
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I’m talking about the origin, nothing else. We can see that evolution takes place. Does it explain everything? No.
What the hell did the platypus evolve from?
Why are mules sterile?
Why did early apes evolve into distinct species like chimpanzee, gorilla, etc. Shouldn’t there be a half chimp, half gorilla out there?
Where are those transitional species in the fossil record?
None of those can be answered with certainty. I don’t have a problem with teaching evolution because it is valid. It isn’t the perfect explanantion for the origins of life and the path from there to here.
Evolution should be taught because it is a valid theory and does explain some of the minor variations in species. However, I view reading and math ability as a better measurement of education quality than whether or not kids know evolution.
John:
Then you are talking about abiogenisis or cosmology, NOT evolution.
No, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
I am not sure, but I’ll willing to bet someone has an idea. Oh wait, here you go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus#Evolution
Either way, god certainly didn’t come out of the heavens just to create the platypus especially.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mule#Fertility
Because that is the way evolution works, things branch off. Gorillas and chimps share a common ancestor in the distant past, that doesn’t mean there should be a half-chimp, half-gorilla anymore then there should be a half-crocodile, half-duck. That is not how evolution works.
I more or less just did. You are welcome.
Absolutely.
Abiogenisis and cosmology, still ongoing areas of study.
It explains every variation. Unless you think god kept popping in from time to time to create certain paths along the tree and made it look like evolution happened.
Well, the US isn’t doing so hot in those areas either, but in any case, neglecting biology will put the US behind the power curve any way you slice it.
If you have anymore questions I will be happy to help, but please at least start off with a google search before you ask me.
OK, to be fair. I didn’t give you certain answers. However, the truth is, in science, NOTHING is ever 100% certain.
I can’t be 100% certain that you are another human being and not a super computer AI.
Some things are pretty darn sure. Evolution is every bit as sure as the idea that I am talking to another person. It is THAT well supported. It is much more supported than relativity, for example.
I am fully aware of attempted explanations for the things I presented. I guess I’m just a little more skeptical about what is presented as fact, but cannot be proved as thus. Take global warming for example. There are plenty who are certain that it’s real and man-made.
Science education as a whole needs to improve along with reading and math. However, there are those who would use that to further their own agenda, rather than teach students that the scientific method is only way to prove a theory.
That’s why the fossil record is littered with transitional species. Oh wait.
I’m smart enough to know that nobody will ever be able to say for certain how nature works, whether that’s evolution or weather patterns. Chaos theory backs me up in that. But then again, that’s just a theory too.
John:
Global Warming isn’t even in the same ballpark as evolution. There are more than a few reasons to suggest that warming is cyclic, rather than caused by man, the most obvious is the lack of data. Many reputable scientists have proposed counter ideas and written peer-reviewed papers on the matter, this is not true of ID or any “counter-evolution theory.”
Huh? What other method to you suggest in science? Evolution isn’t about an agenda anymore than relativity is. How often do I have to repeat this?
EVERY species is a transitional species. That is the whole point! That is how evolution works.
I already conceded this. However, there is such a thing as damn near certain, like for example, I am damn near certain you are another human.
That is not the point of Chaos theory at all. You don’t need Chaos theory to say “nothing is 100%.” Chaos theory approximates systems where a slight change in initial conditions will have drastic effects. These systems have so many variables that mathematical models are difficult. I am not saying you aren’t smart John, but you have demonstrated a willful ignorance of evolution. I am doing my best to explain these things to you. I am not trying to be argumentative.
PS. You can use Chaos Theory to describe things about evolution. It just doesn’t “back you up” when you say “nothing is certain;” something I am not argueing. You don’t need Chaos Theory to say that.
John:
Sorry, I have to comment on this:
If you are as fully aware as you say you are then why do you even ask about half-gorillas and half-chimps? Why even make a statement indicating that there are no transitional fossils?
It demonstrates you fully DO NOT understand. You might as well be saying:
I fully understand the moon is a big massive rock orbiting the Earth; that doesn’t mean it isn’t made of cheese and inhabited by a space man!
Well. It looks like the thread-jack is over.
That said. I fully support Human Achievement Hour. I’ll be watching TV AND playing video games. Maybe we will go out to dinner and really splurge.
Because there aren’t any. Evolution as a theory requires us to believe that there are leaps in evolution, not a smooth transition as the theory suggests. Neanderthals were the step between homo erectus and homo sapiens, now they say the two lived at the same time. My point is that there is enough doubt to question whether evolution explains everything. However, evolution does take place because people are, on average, getting taller and have smaller jaws than a few centuries ago. Evolution explains that nicely.
You state that evolution is the most likely answer. Remember that in 1491, the Earth being flat was the most likely answer.
All I’m saying is that evolution is not THE answer.
John:
You are wrong. I have already explained this. ALL species that ever lived are transitional from some ancestor to some descendant. ALL fossils are transitional fossils.
If you are looking for a very obvious “half-way” from things we are familiar with I already pointed out Tiktaalik in #127 for CWinNY.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiktaalik
No, it does not, and if you are thinking of punctuated equilibrium that is a common misconception of the idea. It is STILL gradualism.
I do not know of anyone that says Neanderthals and Homo Erectus lived at the same time. IIRC, Homo erectus is now thought to be the ancestor of both Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis. While it is true that at one point Neanderthals were thought to be our ancestors, that doesn’t mean new data suggesting otherwise says that all evolution is wrong.
The problem with this ridiculous “missing link” argument is that every time scientists find a “missing link” the creationists just say now there are two gaps and not one!
That idea was based on little to no evidence, and even at that time the educated knew it to be false; indeed the idea that the Earth was round was many centuries old by that time. In any case, science and understanding builds on the past. You can’t say “well, we might one day find out evolution is false” based on the idea that we found out the earth wasn’t flat.
You might as well be saying, “well, who knows, in 300 years we might discover that the moon really is made of cheese!” No, we won’t, and it’s every bit a fact that the moon is not made of cheese as evolution is true.
What we do find though is that theories become refined. Recently, “New Scientist” put out an issue with a deceptive front cover stating “Darwin was wrong.” the implication being that evolution is untrue. That is false, what was discussed was that evolution might not be so much a “tree” as a “web.” Basically, that creatures may overlap and things might not be so clean cut. This doesn’t mean evolution as a whole is wrong, it just refines the idea.
Evolution is the answer for the evolution of species. Now, maybe god planned it that way; maybe he guides everything behind the scenes using the laws of physics; maybe he is purposely deceitful and popped in every so often to “create” new species so as to appear that evolution happened (I sincerely doubt it). However, the fact remains, evolution is the answer for the origin of species.
Now, are you going tell us what you think might have happened if not evolution? Please describe in detail what a “counter-theory” to evolution might be.
How do you not walk a mile one step at a time?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_transitional_fossils
Honestly! How willfully ignorant do you have to be? The answers are literally at your fingertips! I cannot imagine you are so incredibly lazy. It must amount to covering your ears and humming!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australopithecus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_habilis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenyanthropus_platyops
How narrow minded do you have to be? You are putting all of your faith in a theory dreamed up a hundred and fifty years ago by a guy on a cruise.
I haven’t insulted you or called you ignorant or lazy. You are willing to accept these explanations and ignore the holes in the theory. I have an explanation for those holes that you can’t accept. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with you because you can’t see things my way.
This is the fundamental difference between left and right. I have my beliefs and respect that yours might differ. You have your beliefs and feel the need to force them on me.
John:
…and refined many times over; supported by massive ammounts of evidence; and more or less accepted by every reputable scientist on Earth. The idea that the Earth is round was also likely “dreamed up by some guy,” (many more than 150 years ago) it doesn’t make it any less true.
I am not trying to insult you John. I am taking great pains not to insult you. However, you have demonstrated you are ignorant because you keep repeating the same false ideas. Ignorant doesn’t mean stupid. I am ignorant of many things in quantum physics for example. Furthermore, the fact that you don’t seem to be reading what I am writing is a bit frustrating. I am sincerely trying very hard to educate you.
What is your explanation? If it is “god did it” then it is NOT science. Please spell out your “counter-theory” to evolution. Do you honestly think that god popped in over the millennia to tinker here and there?
I don’t think there is anything “wrong” with you. I just think you are very tragically ignorant of this particular issue and I am earnestly trying to help you see the “world is not flat.”
Again, it’s not about “respecting beliefs” and this isn’t a “left” or “right” issue anymore than the idea the moon is not made of cheese is. It’s about my concern for our country and education in a general sense! Like I said, wouldn’t you be frustrated if we all were supposed to “respect” the idea that the Earth is flat?
John:
I am not trying to force atheism on you. By all means, feel free to believe that the Christian god is behind the scenes and planned evolution.
John:
I also put my
faithunderstanding of the universe in some theory dreamt up by some patent clerk.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein#Patent_office
John:
Sorry, one more thing.
It’s not about me not accepting it. It’s about a “god hypothesis” being; by it’s very nature; un-scientific.
You cannot devise an empirical test to “test” for god.
What false ideas? That evolution is a valid theory?
Then tell me something I don’t already know. Evolution doesn’t fill in all of the gaps. The explanations offered are attempts to explain them that may be acceptable to some, but I see a very simple solution that covers everything.
John:
-Lack of transitional fossils
-Misunderstanding of what a transitional form is
-Abiogenisis equals evolution
-Gaps in knowledge mean evolution can’t explain them (not fully understood is very different than “can’t”)
-Lack of certainty means any idea is equally valid
I already have corrected you on several things thus far. Your misunderstandings of transitional fossils and gradualism were particularly tragic and very important.
What is it exactly? Are you seriously suggesting that for every instance there is what you deem to be a very vast difference between certain species then that is where god intervened?
Are you actually saying that the creator of the universe is a tinkerer who pops in now and again to create something new? That his forms became more complex and more refined over time? That this creator appeared to “learn” how to make life?
You are willing to accept some of these, I am not. You are also misrepresenting my position on some of them.
You have failed to see my point. There is no explanation for the evolutional leaps, just as there is no explanantion for the extinction of Neanderthals.
That’s exactly the point. I’m saying I don’t know, but am willing to allow religion to fill the gaps. Your premise is that there must be some other solution and are willing to accept whatever suggestion comes up to avoid religion.
I am not an evolutional biologist, nor do I have any desire to become one. I have taken what I was taught and what I found out on my own and decided this was the model that made the most sense to me.
My four day weekend awaits. Take care.
John:
-Not only are there transitional fossils, ALL species are transitional.
-Abiogenisis is NOT evolution.
-Gaps in knowledge DO NOT disprove a theory.
-Lack of certainty doesn’t mean any hypothesis is equally valid.
These are all either logical or scientific facts.
You might as well be saying, “I do not accept that the Earth is round!”
What am I misrepresenting? You said very plainly that there are no transitional fossils!
I already explained evolutionary “leaps.” There isn’t such a thing. Gradualism is completely accepted.
Extinction of Neanderthals? What are you talking about? Evolution explains orgins, not extinction!
How exactly does religion fill these gaps for you? Do you believe that god is a tinkerer? I am not trying to avoid religion. You MUST avoid it in science. It has no place in science. Otherwise we would be still talking about a Sun God pulling a chariot of fire. That is the whole point.
Listen, again, I am not trying to force atheism on you. When I was still a “believer” I was of the opinion that a god that planned for and set evolution in motion is a much more intelligent and omnipotent god then a tinkerer who fashions various kinds of life only to discard them and only after countless millennia finally “get it right” with humans. Do you follow me?
what time zone is 8:30 in EDT? Could they be saying 8:30 pm in all time zones?
I will turn on all my energy consuming devices at 8:30 pm CDT.
To overwhelm the power grid we need to ‘turn on’ at the same time, the time needs to be adjusted for the time zone.
I do not know who you are responding to or why, but I agree with you. Good post. However I must ask what it has to do with this thread?
allrsn:
Long story, you will really have to read all the comments from #38 on to understand how this thread morphed. It’s a lot to read, but at least one other commenter said he really enjoyed reading the exchange. You might as well.
In any case, thank you for your kind words.
Then where is the half homo erectus/half homo sapien? Evolutionary leaps are well documented. Here’s a link. Please notice that I wasn’t condescending or calling you lazy because this was a quick google search.
Evolution theory must start somewhere and abiogenesis is the most logical secular theory. Forgive my faux pas for not splitting hairs.
I never said they did. I said I have a belief system that fills those gaps.
Or invalid. Plenty of scientific theories generally accepted to be correct have been disproven.
Where you see an animal evolving to adapt to its habitat I see God’s hand providing a species with a method to ensure the survival of their descendents.
I will say I’ve enjoyed the discussion, even if you didn’t get my point a few times.
John:
You misunderstand what a “leap” is. It is still gradualism. It’s not a matter of a dinosaur giving birth to a chicken. Nor is it a matter of homo erectus giving birth to a homo sapiens sapiens. Anyhow, here is a good place to start for “half-h. erectus / half-h. sapien sapien” (although, as I said, that’s not an entirely accurate way to look at it):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._heidelbergensis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_cepranensis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_antecessor
I am not calling you stupid or trying to be mean to John. For all I know, you are a very hard worker, but when it comes to researching evolution you are incredibly lazy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_H._Schwartz
That is the author of your article. I guarantee you he will tell you that evolution is true and humans and apes share a common ancestor. All you had to do was just follow your quick google search with another search for the author’s name.
So are you contending that evolution is true and god just put the first cell on Earth and let it go from there? What are you saying exactly?
You have been constantly arguing that evolution doesn’t explain everything and pointing to those gaps. I have been trying to explain to you that pointing out “gaps” does not mean evolution doesn’t explain them. It just means we don’t understand how evolution explains them.
But you will be hard pressed to find theories that were completely disproved only to be found to be true. That is to say, we will never find out that the Earth is flat.
As I have said many, many, many times now, that’s fine. It still is not science and does not belong in a science classroom.
John, I have gotten your points at every single post. I have tried very hard to educate you. I have heard your arguments many times before. They are all wrong. There is a reason why evolution is universally accepted in the scientific community and it’s not because all scientists are atheists (they certainly aren’t).
I hope you do some more research and I recommend Jerry Coyne’s “Why Evolution is True.” If you are serious about “studying both sides” you should check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Evolution-True-Jerry-Coyne/dp/0670020532%3FSubscriptionId=0PZ7TM66EXQCXFVTMTR2&tag=greenflame01-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0670020532
Good luck.
Sorry for having to break this up, I couldn’t seem to post it otherwise.
Sorry, Jeffrey H. Schwartz was not the author but the scientist quoted.
One last thing, Dr. Schwartz’s ideas are extremely controversial and not “well documented” at all.
My college has made no mention of thsi “Earth Hour” as on Friday AM. Not even the MASSPIRG(Public Interest Research Group) whose answer to everythign seems to be Global Warming. Why is is record cold in City? Global Warming.
Anyway, Since I will be off campus Saturday, I will live my TV, PC(disbelieving the energy saver) and lights on in my dorm room from Friday afternoon to Sunday night when I return. At home I will be sure to turn on every light possible and maybe eve drive around aimlessly in my SVU.
Dexter:
I dont know if you are still reading, but my exchange here with you guys got me reading up on things a bit more. I remembered you brought this up earlier; I just read something about it now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_Eve#Mitochrondrial_Eve_was_the_only_woman_alive_at_that_time
Every light will be on tonight from 8:30 to 9:30!