[mathking]

OK, let me get up on my soapbox.

We all participate in FIRST, something that is designed to "raise awareness." Earth Hour serves the same purpose. It may be true that most people have heard of what is going on with the environment and our energy supply. It is also true that most people have heard we have a shortage of scientists and engineers, but we're all still doing FIRST. Events like Earth Hour, and FRC events, are supposed to help serve as motivation as well. Keeping those who believe in the goals excited and motivated to keep working toward them.

Whether you believe in global warming or not, we are currently using up a finite set of resources (fossil fuels) at an increasing rate. The measures that many scientists tell us are needed in order to combat global warming are the same ones we need to take in order to continue having enough affordable energy and to pollute our environment less. There is a reason this is one of Dean Kamen's areas of interest. Looking for sources of renewable energy, ways to conserve energy and ways to distribute energy is inherently going to be a matter of many solutions.

One of the ways entrenched interests argue against alternative energy sources is to point out that power sources like wind or solar could never supply all of our energy. They are correct. No single source can provide our energy. But many sources can supply a lot of our energy. Conservation efforts can save us a lot of energy. And every kilowatt hour saved or produced via renewable means is that much less pollution and that much less of a finite resource used up.