What is Earth Hour, how it started?

EARTH Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement led by WWF, taking up the fight against climate change and uniting people to protect the planet. Engaging a massive mainstream community on a broad range of environmental issues, Earth Hour was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage more than 7000 cities and towns worldwide, and the one-hour event continues to remain the key driver of the now larger movement. The event is held worldwide towards the end of March annually, encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. Thousands of landmarks across the globe switch off their lights in the world's biggest annual environmental event to raise awareness about climate change. Skylines across the world go dark as millions of people turn off their lights. 

 

Glimpse of my previous years' Earth Hour celebrations

 

Years ago, I used to go to Business Bay at Dubai or Al Majaz at Sharjah to join the pomp and show of large public events organised by government bodies like DEWA (Dubai Electricity & Water Authority) or EPAA (Environment and Protected Areas Authority). For last few years, I have been celebrating Earth Hour in  different and meaningful ways.

 

In 2014, I had gathered around 40 students in my house (during my short vacation to India) and shared with them the meaning of Earth Hour, its significance and simple tips to save energy. Many of them din't know about the actual message it promotes.  We all assembled with lights OFF and only candles lit. We discussed various simple ways to save energy. At the end, we took an 'Earth Hour Pledge' to save energy. Later after few days, I was glad to hear feedback from their parents that many of those students had become energy conscious at their homes.

 

 In 2015, I celebrated Earth Hour by having candle light dinner with my family. We switched OFF all lights, TV and even our other gadgets like iPad, phones etc and had quality time while dining together. Then on, I requested my parents to have candle light dinner every alternate day and we have been following that till date. Every alternate day we have candle light dinner at our home. It's so much fun and a satisfaction that we are doing our bit to save energy and save Earth.

 

 In 2016, on the lines of my 'Energy Saving' campaign in my building community, I switched off all main/full intensity lights on all 11 floor/lobbies and switched ON low watt dimmers (consume lower watt/power) at 8.30 PM to save energy during Earth Hour and to make Earth Hour meaningful. I had informed watchman and had pasted a notice on ground floor/ near lift and the entrance that this is being done to celebrate Earth Hour.  Also, as President of group 'Students for the Earth', I had conducted an online event titled "Celebrate Earth, Celebrate Earth Hour". Through this event, I asked participants to post their picture on our FB page. Picture of them joining Earth Hour movement by being at any Earth Hour event or even by just switching OFF the lights even at home. They were also supposed to write an Earth Hour pledge on their picture. I conducted this online event mainly to support Eco Gen's monthly event. So I told all participants to  tag   #EarthHour #ChangeClimateChange #EcoGeneration

 

My Earth Hour 2017 celebration

 

Earth Hour 2017 was on Saturday 25th March between 8.30PM and 9.30PM. As I am in UAE these days for my vacation, so I celebrated Earth Hour here.

 

This year too, rather than travelling to large public events and being a part of gala, pomp and show, I decided to celebrate it in my own meaningful way. Because I truly believe that Earth Hour is a campaign that can be done anywhere. All you need to do is turn off the lights by 8:30pm and you've done your part in saving the environment. Below are the small ways in which I celebrated Earth Hour and made it memorable and meaningful.

 

Wrote a poem under candle-light : This Earth hour, under candle light I wrote a poem, dedicated to Earth Hour. I am not a poet but this is my token of love for Mother Earth.

Here goes the poem:

Clock struck 8.30, here comes Earth Hour

Switch off the lights and show your power.

Lights out at Burj Khalifa, lights out at Eiffel Tower

Enjoy 'Lights out', Celebrate Earth Hour.

 

Protect what's given for free

Sky, water, wildlife and tree.

Sun is free, use solar power

Water is scarce, take shorter shower.

 

Keep your surroundings neat & clean

So, there is no pollution seen.

Plant trees if you need bower

Save energy every hour.

 

Love animals, birds, love every creature

Enjoy and be in harmony with nature.

Don't cut trees, don't pluck flower

Celebrate Earth, beyond Earth Hour.

Earth Hour at Indian Association Sharjah: I was invited to give a talk/an awareness session and pledge at Indian Association Sharjah.

Environment Awareness Session and Environment Game with friends and neighbours : I organised an awareness session for my friends and neighbours. After that I played an interesting game with them, aiming to educate them on typical environment terms or basics. Game which is on the lines of popular Indian 'Antakshari' but with a twist. Game started with first person saying a word related to environment like Earth which ends with letter 'h' and the next person had to say a word starting with the ending letter of previous person's word (e.g. h in case of Earth) and it goes on. Whenever someone said words ending with 'y' like energy, biodiversity-the next person lost out because we all could not think of environment term starting with 'y'. It seemed as if the energy saved by switching off the lights, got transferred to us as we became even more energetic in 'lights out' while playing this game and having fun.

Lit up the entrance with candles: I also approached the security guard of neighbouring building and requested him to switch off the lights at entrance for 1 hour (8.30-9.30pm) and allow me to light up candles at the entrance. I am attaching a picture here. Entrance looked beautiful with candles lit in row. People who passed by during that time were curious why entrance was dark and candle lit, it gave me an opportunity to explain them about 'Earth Hour'. It was nice. It was funny when one resident of the building was wondering - why the candles are lit even when it is not Diwali. Usually candles are lit at the entrance like this on Indian festival 'Diwali'.

Recycled: No better day than 'Earth Hour' to recycle. I walked upto Reverse Vending machine by Bee'ah and recycled used /empty plastic bottles and aluminium cans.

Donated Social power: I donated my social feed/power to Earth hour and WWF by joining their movement 'Switch OFF your lights and switch ON your social Power'. This means I shared Earth Hour's, WWF's and my own Earth hour specific messages and video on my social media channels, between 22-25th March to shine a light on climate action.

Light up my FB profile: I lighted up my Facebook profile pic with a new Earth Hour filter to show my love for earth and support and promote Earth Hour. 

 

After Earth Hour: I shared my Earth Hour pics tagging Eco Gen (#EarthHour #ChangeClimateChange #EcoGeneration) on my own FB page, my page 'Ecoholics', on group page 'Green Dream Earth' and also on 'Save the Mother Earth'. I also joined '500px Earth Hour Photo Quest'and shared my pics on their social channels. I was pleased when I was informed that 2 of my pictures have reached `popular' category.

 

60+ (Save energy beyond Earth Hour) :

By participating in Earth Hour, one way or the other, we are showing our solidarity and supporting Earth. Earth Hour is just symbolic but we should go beyond Earth Hour and adopt such practices in our daily lives which contribute significantly to reducing energy and water wastage to secure a sustainable environment and protect natural resources for the coming generations. Every hour should be treated as Earth Hour and wastage should be minimized. Let us join hands and go beyond the hour...Our Earth deserves more than just 60 minutes a year. We must fulfill our responsibility to Planet Earth and try to save energy beyond Earth Hour and that's what Earth Hour Logo 60+ symbolizes. It represents a commitment to add to Earth Hour a positive act for the planet that goes beyond the hour. 

 

Earth Hour in nutshell:  Earth hour is a symbolic action to help inspire millions across the globe to take the urgent climate action needed to protect our planet.  🌍 ❤️ 💪🏻

 

This year saw a record-breaking 187 countries and territories shining a light on climate action with #EarthHour!  Over 3,100 iconic landmarks and monuments around the globe switched off in solidarity with the movement to #ChangeClimateChange! We've definitely come a long way from our very first Earth Hour, which took place in Sydney, Australia 10 years ago!