Earth Hour Follow-UP!
In a campaign initiated by World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), more than 1 billion people from over 1,000 cities in 125 countries and territories, around the world switched off their lights for one hour between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.
- Image via Wikipedia
It all began, with the one-hour switch-off, first held in Sydney in 2007. It was also organized by the WWF, expressing public concerns over climate change. “Such a simple act, yet a hugely powerful one. In going dark, billions wanted our leaders to see the light,” the WWF said on its Website.
At 8:30 p.m. local time Saturday , New Zealand, became the first of 125 countries and territories, across the world taking part in the global “lights out” event, setting in motion the 24-hour wave of both hope and action on climate change that swept the globe.
In Beijing at 8:30 p.m., the Forbidden City, went dark for the “Earth Hour” for the first time. Joining the ancient royal palace are the modern architectural marvels, the “Bird Nest” and the “Water Cube,” both Olympic venues. It was the second time the “Bird Nest,” went dark for the Earth Hour. Hundreds of people held out glowing sticks to form a head-down arrow and the English letters “CO2,” voicing their call to reduce carbon-dioxide.
In Nairobi, capital of Kenya, at the count of ten exactly 8:30 p.m., the lights on Kenyatta International Conference Center, the country’s iconic 28-floor building, were switched off to synchronize with the count down by event organizers and the public.
In Paris, at 8:30 p.m., volunteers, organizers and tourists hailed and applauded for the moment, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, where some 1,600 candles forming the number of 60, were lit for an hour to mark the greatest lights-off campaign, ever held there.
In Southern California, at 8:30 p.m., several major cities, unplugged many landmark structures. In downtown Los Angeles, the Staples Center, Nokia Plaza, and even, the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), went dark in the hour-long event.
At the Pacific Park, in Santa Monica Pier,on the shores of the Pacific, a gigantic Ferris wheel, also dimmed to give people, a taste of what it would look, and feel like if energy(electricity), around the globe was exhausted.
It was a quiet night, and even the internet, did not seem very active . I shut down, about 10 minutes before the start of the event.
This, the fourth Earth Hour, appears to have been the most successful, so far. Millions of people, world wide joined, in a force of solidarity, joined millions of others, in a growing movement, to urge governments to address climate change, and rising energy consumption. Each year,more and more people are becoming aware, and participating.
The hope is, that more people start taking some pro-active steps in their own lives, about turning off lights they don’t need. Maybe,don’t leave the television on when you go into town. Just, little mindless things make a difference.
Perhaps, people will also, start thinking more about the way they are heating their homes, and examining what is the most efficient ways to use electricity, and use it sparingly.
Just imagine, if we all thought more about conserving electricity. Perhaps,the mindset wouldn’t be on the need to build new electrical demand facilities, because we could actually create electricity, by conserving it.
I know, that might be wishful thinking, but it would be a huge step in the right direction. Reducing the consumption of anything, that can be considered wasteful, is a huge step in reducing our carbon footprint. Just being conscious of how much waste we are producing individually, can make a huge difference, in what winds up in the land fills or polluting our air.
By being kind to Mother Earth, we are working towards many better tomorrows!
