ABOUT EARTH HOUR
Earth Hour is the act of turning off the lights for one hour to drive home the dangers of global warming.On March 31, 2007, for one hour, Sydney made a powerful statement about the greatest contributor to global warming - coal - by turning off its lights. Over 2.2 million residents and over 2,100 businesses switched off, leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming caught the world’s attention.
Purpose: "It's one hour, one day, one year. We're not saving the planet by turning the lights off for one hour." "What you are doing is adding your voice to a global call for action."
You wouldn’t realize turning off your lights at home sometimes, keeping the engine running at a traffic signal – waiting for it to go green or washing your vehicle on a weekend.
Well – all these are common things which we do in life. Above all – we forget the source.
My intranet page – had a constant message for the past 1 week for – “Earth Hour”. For few days, I completely ignored, but when I started reading articles on the movement and what is really going to happen in future – it left me in a shock.
You must have heard stories/headlines on Carbon Footprint and the Global Warming.
Well, we are living in a world and have realized what Global Warming is going to the “Earth”.
27th March, 2010
With a busy schedule on weekends (doing an MBA from NMIMS-Bangalore), I had to rush home after the classes got over at 6PM. Juggling in traffic took another hour – but managed to reach home.
I was all set for the “Earth Hour”. Me and Soma (my wife)had to do loads of planning in between so that we did not loose on time and miss out the necessary stuff – what you generally do on weekends – shopping.
We switched-off all our lights – in-fact the main switch at 7:30.
It was a different feeling altogether. Complete in darkness. I sensed a feeling of Darkness. Well – it’s a reality where everyone has to face. If we keep on abusing nature and carry on like this – Bangalore weather changing, New York’s Freezing winters, the Snow melting in the Himalayas !!! etc – the day is not far from chaos.
Me and Soma went to the terrace to have a look – whether people really got the message or not. Unfortunately – we stay in one of the remote locations in Bangalore – Gottigere in Banerghatta Road. All we could see and hear – was a busy Saturday.
We have done our bit for the “Earth Hour”.
At the end - It gives a sense of accomplishment.
Some Facts
Message - Earth Hour 2010
Earth Hour 2010 continues to be a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community. A call to stand up, to show leadership and be responsible for our future.
In what we hope will be the world’s largest mass participation event, Earth Hour 2010 will be the culmination of over one billion people around the globe, in more than 6000 cities, towns turning off lights for one hour on one night. Iconic buildings and landmarks across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and The Americas will go dark.
In India, we hope to make Earth Hour 2010 even bigger and better than last year. Besides Delhi & Mumbai , this year we are taking Earth Hour to Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, apart from several other cities where people will be encouraged to participate and turn-off the lights in their homes, offices and buildings from 8:30pm-9:30pm on Saturday, 27 March 2010. Our participation will go a long way in showing to the world that India is united on its stand against global warming and is demanding immediate action.
We want to let the world leaders know that the world is still watching, post the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen in 2009 and that we, the citizens of the planet, demand commitment to actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the benefit of the planet.
