Silly Girls In Dresses

I was in the gym the other day, in an incredible amount of pain after trying a new level of difficulty on the stair step, when I was distracted by a rather interesting story on the television. The TV, of course, was turned to Fox News – I go to the gym at the Penn Club, and since that place seems, so far, to basically be a country club for investment bankers and Wall Streeters (thanks, Wharton!), I wasn’t really surprised someone had flipped the channel to Fox. 

Basically, the article focused on a website called “Climate Cops“, a British site that aims to teach children about energy waste. As the site says, “The children’s section of this site introduces them to the important concept of saving energy through three exciting, interactive games that are designed to teach: 1. What is energy waste? 2. How can you prevent energy waste? 3. Why are we saving energy?” The site also has a section for teachers to guide them in teaching children about global warming and energy waste. This site has lesson plans that teach the following (following is quote from the website):

• We use lots of electricity in our daily lives but how is it generated?
• What electricity can be generated in ways that do not produce carbon dioxide by using renewable energy such as wind, hydro and solar
• How we must all try to use electricity and energy in our daily lives more efficiently by trying not to waste it
• To have a wider appreciation of how our actions influence climate change

Overall, this approach will ensure that children use energy efficiently in their everyday lives, now and in the future, because the greenest energy is the energy we don’t use.”

Fox News viciously attacked this website. The commentators repeatedly claimed the site was an example of the “greenies” trying to “brainwash our children”. They said how much they “hate liberal tree-huggers” and claimed that teaching this in our school would be tantamount to the government trying to brainwash our children into “spying” on their parents. They claimed they did not was to be watched by their kids to make sure they turn off all the lights, and that since their taxpayer dollars were going to public schools, they didn’t want their kids being taught something that was the opposite of what they were being taught at home. 

Then, they took it further. The commentators claimed they, instead, want to teach their children that using energy is a good thing because it energy use promotes productivity and progress. Instead of learning about climate change, the kids should open up a lemonade stand to learn business skills.

At least I didn’t hear anyone claim global warming just didn’t exist.

Alright, first I’m gonna concede some points:

It is a little creepy that the Climate Cops website gives these kids “Climate Cards” that instruct them to go around their house, find energy violations, (like leaving the TV on or not drying clothes outside when its a nice day out), and then instruct them to write down the “person responsible”. The instructions also say “Grown-up are often just too busy to realise how much energy they are wasting and thats where you come in…”. I admit, its weird the site puts blame on adults and makes them seem like bad guys instead of encouraging kids to work with parents to cut down on energy waste. Instead of having kids accuse parents of not unplugging a cell phone after its done charging, maybe they could have encouraged kids to walk around WITH the parent to find ways the whole family can reduce energy waste.

Also, although I personally believe the phrase “the greenest energy is the energy we don’t use” is fine, I can see how it would put people on guard. Plus, solar energy use is pretty damn green, and I think that counts as “using” energy.

But seriously, viciously attacking this site for teaching kids values that are counterproductive to economic prosperity is taking it over the edge. I personally think that energy efficiency and diversification in the energy industry are the keys to economic growth! New industries in the fields of solar and wind energy will reduce our dependence on foreign imports of oil, as instead introduce a new industry with tons of growth potential into our domestic market. Using less energy in our homes will decrease waste, and put less pressure on energy production in general. 

Teaching kids to conserve energy also teaches them to have respect for others by helping them think about consequences of their actions on a national and global scale. Plus, having kids use less energy will probably reduce the parents’ monthly energy bills. Both good things, in my opinion.

And see? I didn’t even mention the environment once in the above paragraph.