How much damage can we do in an hour?

From Reuters: Lights went out at Sydney's Opera House and Harbour Bridge on Saturday for Earth Hour 2009, a global event in which landmarks and homes go dark for an hour to highlight the threat from climate change. In Asia, lights at landmarks in China, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines also dimmed as people celebrated with candle-lit picnics and concerts.

"It's been a great success," Carine Seror, Singapore Earth Hour campaign manager for global environment group WWF, told Reuters.

Of course, burning a candle produces about 17 times more carbon emissions than burning a 60-watt lightbulb, but what the hey -- it's all about spreading the word, right?

(Actually, sometimes I think it's all about trying to overcome feelings of powerlessness by getting mobs of people to obey your suggestions, but of course I'm a cynic.)