Ok here is the one idea I came up with on my drive into work this AM:

"No Lights - Family Nights"

The public service announcement shows a man strolling along on a beautiful starry night and you see in all the windows pictures of families sitting together doing things by candle / lantern light - one family is gathered around a piano singing songs togehter, the next family is playing charades in front of a fireplace with a roaring fire, the next family is at their dining room table playing cards or some other game, etc. There is no narration during this part.

Then, the end of the commercial there is a tag line about how "No Lights - Family Nights" are good for the environment and great for family togetherness.

The only problem is don't you need light to see the cards? Or to read the piano music?
I am always so paranoid of having lit candles around kids (and clumsy people like myself)...
But I really like this idea. I would like the city to turn off the streetlights, too, but ours are automatic; they go on and off depending on the available natural light.
We have a "take back the night" night in August, and people turn their outdoor light on and go outside and walk and mingle.
It could be set up similarly...

Moi, I didn't read your thread--sorry--got things to do tonight (like clean dog hair from floors right now)---

BUT.....

You made me BREAK OUT IN SONG!!! OH I LUV Monty Python!!



DAD:
There are Jews in the world.
There are Buddhists.
There are Hindus and Mormons, and then
There are those that follow Mohammed, but
I've never been one of them.

I'm a Roman Catholic,
And have been since before I was born,
And the one thing they say about Catholics is:
They'll take you as soon as you're warm.

You don't have to be a six-footer.
You don't have to have a great brain.
You don't have to have any clothes on. You're
A Catholic the moment Dad came,

Because

Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite irate.

CHILDREN:
Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite irate.

GIRL:
Let the heathen spill theirs
On the dusty ground.
God shall make them pay for
Each sperm that can't be found.

CHILDREN:
Every sperm is wanted.
Every sperm is good.
Every sperm is needed
In your neighbourhood.

MUM:
Hindu, Taoist, Mormon,
Spill theirs just anywhere,
But God loves those who treat their
Semen with more care.

MEN:
Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
WOMEN:
If a sperm is wasted,...
CHILDREN:
...God get quite irate.

PRIEST:
Every sperm is sacred.
BRIDE and GROOM:
Every sperm is good.
NANNIES:
Every sperm is needed...
CARDINALS:
...In your neighbourhood!

CHILDREN:
Every sperm is useful.
Every sperm is fine.
FUNERAL CORTEGE:
God needs everybody's.
MOURNER #1:
Mine!
MOURNER #2:
And mine!
CORPSE:
And mine!

NUN:
Let the Pagan spill theirs
O'er mountain, hill, and plain.
HOLY STATUES:
God shall strike them down for
Each sperm that's spilt in vain.

EVERYONE:
Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is good.
Every sperm is needed
In your neighbourhood.

Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite iraaaaaate!

holly, I love this idea...I am not sure about a commercial in the beginning stage but will definitely mention it...and will definitely credit you if this comes to fruition.

thanks for the support, Deb!

Gauze Pad, *smack (but you've made me smile)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

thanks for all the inputs. We have our grandkids here and we have been very busy....so I haven't really looked into anything yet.

This is what I've come up with so far:

1) find out exactly how much energy is wasted in a one hour period and how much energy IS wasted transferred.

2) come up with a possible percentage of the possible households that are willing to participate. Take that percentage and come up with possible savings for the city.

3) We have town meetings every Tues evening so that would help if I can go at least twice a month to help push this idea.

well, my brain can't think too straight right now...but thanks for the inputs and helping me keeping the dream alive...