Let’s save the planet together
It seems an undeniable fact that the earth is changing. It’s important for us to do our part to protect our most treasured asset: the planet we all live on and share, from the climate challenges that we now face. Earth Hour takes place on 31 March 2012. Wherever you are in the world, at 20h30 flick the switch and turn off the lights for an hour.
How it all began
Earth hour started in Sydney in 2007, when WWF Australia asked all the people within that area to unite to actively assist climate change action, by switching off the lights. 2.2 million individuals and over 2000 businesses sat in darkness, taking a stand against climate change. In the following years the rest of the world got involved, and now it’s a global event, where everyone can do their part, and switch off the lights to make a difference and have a voice.
Earth Hour takes place on the last Saturday of every March, in order to coincide with the equinox to ensure that the majority of cities are in darkness as it rolls around the earth. In 2011, millions of people, across 35 countries played their part and chose to switch off the lights for an hour. “With the power of social networks behind the Earth Hour message, this year we hope to attract even more participation so we can build a truly global community committed to creating a more sustainable planet.” WWF
So what is climate change and why is it happening?
The Earth Hour website has a fantastic explanation, but a simplified account goes like this:
Greenhouse gases trap the sun’s heat, maintaining the Earth’s temperature at a constant 15 degree. CO2 is the most important gas in this process, which is kept at a perfect balance by the amount of gas naturally removed through photosynthesis and it’s disintegration in the ocean. Our overuse of fossil fuels has created an excess amount of CO2, upsetting the balance, meaning that more heat is trapped and the earth is becoming warmer. This causes extreme weather patterns, seen in the multitude of natural disasters we have been experiencing recently, and also, tragically, in the shrinking of the world’s ice shelves and glaciers due to the sea’s temperature increase. Ice is a powerful solar reflector, therefore if there’s less ice, the Earth is unable to reflect as much heat.
As much as we don’t want to accept the blame, a 2007 study by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that there is a 90% chance that human activities over the last 250 years have warmed the planet. WWF’s Living Planet Report also conclusively shows that our overconsumption of food, material goods, fossil fuels and non-renewable resources is putting an increasing strain on our planet’s resources, exceeding it’s ability to sustain us.
What can you do?
Switch off the lights! Let’s join together and do this simple act that has such significant consequences. There’s something thrilling about knowing that as you sit in darkness millions of other people are joining you, uniting against climate change and in support of a better, cleaner, more sustainable future.
You can also get your business, school or university involved, by downloading these easy How to guides, and then following the steps outlined. Join the community, and spread the word and share your stories of how you are going to make a difference, use these tools and downloads to spread the message, get actively involved through social networking, get your organisation to join the cause, become an Earth Hour Organiser, or pledge to be part of the ‘I will if you will’ campaign. The campaign works like this- you promise to do something if enough people pledge to follow the conditions you stipulate in return. For example one woman said that she will propose to her boyfriend, but only on condition that 10 000 people commit to recycling in 2012.
Create your own Earth Hour lantern– it’s fun and it’s a good way to share the message! You can also create your own light switch and share it to remind people to hit the lights!
Make long-lasting changes
It’s important to make some permanent changes to the way we live and interact with our planet, find out some key tips on how to do so with WWF South Africa’s Green living advice.
Try carpooling, use your oven more efficiently, switch to a gas stove, go solar, fix leaky taps and more ideas for how you can leave a smaller carbon footprint, and do your part to conserve our planet.
Images by Alice Popkorn and Furya.
