Introduction and History of Earth Hour:

Earth Hour is an annual event and environmental campaign that is organized by WWF to unite all the people globally to take an urgent action on the environmental issues to protect this planet. It is the movement culminating in a hour of inspiration which is held around the world  at the end of the March every year. Question may arises why it is held at the last of the march? It has been clearly defined by WWF as, The second to last and last weekend of March is around the spring and Autumn equinoxes in the Northern and Southern hemisphere respectively, which allow for near coincidental sunset times in both the hemisphere, thereby ensuring the greatest visual impact for a global lights out event.

History explains that Earth hour is a joint idea and initiative of Andy Ridley, WWF Australia, Leo Burnett and Fairfax Media to address the global climate change issue. Thus involving a massive community, Earth Hour was famously started as a light out event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Afterward it has gain millions of support from more than 185 countries and territories, standing as an inspiration to every individuals and organization worldwide to take an action for the environment. Still there was a degree of skepticism about the climate change in 2007, but Earth hour stand like an inspiration and common platform for everyone to combat climate change and its issue. It is a symbolic action rather than a carbon reduction exercise. Participation of million of people for this event is a commitment that we all will take to change beyond the hour.

 

Earth hour is an initiative for minimizing the unnecessary power consumption, to encourage every businessman, government around the world to take accountability for the ecological footprint reducing their carbon footprint.

Similarly the standard  logo i.e ‘60’represents the 60 minutes of connection for the Earth where we focus on the consequences we are having on our planet, later on 2011 Earth hour 60+ logo was introduced with the commitment to add to the Earth Hour that goes beyond the hour. We have to carry out such an action that goes beyond the hour. Climate change is the earthshaking challenge, the staggering loss of biodiversity is the urgent threat that needs to be given more priority. Our prosperity, health, happiness and survival depends upon this earth so we have to preserve our plant and our earth.

 

Achievement of Earth Hour since the Movement Began

Ø         WWF Uganda created the world’s first Earth Hour Forest

Ø          Millions of Russians voiced support for better protection of their country’s seas and forests

Ø            During Earth Hour 2013, Argentina helps to pass a Senate bill for a 3.4       millions hectares Marine protected area in the country

Ø           Solar powered light were installed in three villages without electricity in India

Ø          In Paraguay, WWF used Earth Hour platform to build public support to     gain an extension of the logging, moratorium, helping to reduce              deforestation

Ø       Awareness campaign for school were launched in Thailand and Taiwan

Ø       Hundreds of thousand of LED lights were installed by girl scouts in the USA

 

Not only this there are still many more Earth Hour stories that had brought  a change in this planet. So lets everyone unite and work for this earth this planet for our prosperity and the future existence.

 

 

EARTH HOUR 2021

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The date for the Earth Hour was 27th March and time from 8:30-9:30 Pm Of Local Time.

 

My involvement for the Earth Hour 2021

During 2019 for the very first time I heard something like this on Social  Media I was unknown about this but the curiosity was still on my head, so I went google surfing and found the exact meaning of the earth hour, I was so much exhilarate for this event but had no idea how to take part in the event, 

I had celebrated this Earth Hour along with my friends this year. They were not aware of this Date and event, i am glad to make them aware about the date and symbolical meaning of Earth Hour. We turned off all the lights of our hostel and  light up the candles in our hostel. I am happy to share the story of my earth Hour and eager to listen from you all.

 

Let's not l celebrate one day as the Earth Day, celebrate everyday as Earth Day. Its we who had a responsibility for this planet, to welcome future generation on a sustained ecosystem, Don’t seek the change be the change, inspire the change and implement the change and I believe together we can make the huge change.

I hope everyone of you had an awesome hour. Please don’t forget to share your story with us.

 

#EarthHour2021

#Connect2earth

#ecogeneration

                  BY Sandhya Adhikari, Ambassador from Nepal