Every hour is Earth Hour when we put our minds into conserving energy by switching off appliances when not in need. Earth Hour event is held annually encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. On 25^th March 2017, millions of people came together to symbolize their gratitude to Mother Earth by actively taking part in this event.

I, along with my family participated in the Earth Hour event held at Bay Avenue Park, Dubai where the celebrations were on with full fervor. I volunteered at the event as a member of Emirates Environmental Group and contributed 14 kg of newspaper that I had collected over the weekend, at the venue. I also participated in the various game stalls and educational mini workshops. It was great to see my family alongside me supporting me with the same enthusiasm. After spending Earth Hour in Dubai, I moved to Al Majaz, Sharjah to support this noble cause over there as well.

 I made a poster at home and put it up on the wall to remind myself how one small action can create a chain reaction resulting in illuminating a million lives for many more years to come. At exactly 8:30, we turned off lights for an hour with a feeling of pleasure to be contributing this important hour. We could also witness Burj Khalifa switching off its lights to mark this important day yet it still looked beautiful as ever glistening in a ray of hope.

A small, fragile seed only transforms into a blooming rose when we water it and give it tender care. Imagine nature as the fragile seed and we, the people as the petals. When given nutrition and gentle care, the seed grows into a bud and petals leisurely bloom with it too which vividly illustrates that humanity flourishes only when its natural surrounding grows and bequeaths us with the necessary resources vital for our survival. 

Let's preserve these resources in order to create a safer future for the next generation.