Earth Hour 2012 is right around the corner. On March 31, millions of people from thousands of cities worldwide will unite and show love for Mother Earth by turning off their electricity for sixty minutes. This event began as a one-city campaign by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Sydney Australia, but is now celebrated annually in more than 130 countries. It has made an impact on every single one of its participants, including myself.
I first joined Earth Hour back in 2009 and have been doing it yearly ever since. I like it for several reasons. First, it costs no money to join—in fact, taking part allows you to save on energy expenses for a full hour. Second, since there’s usually not much to do when there’s no power, people become more creative in making that one “power down” hour fun. Third, the experience raises awareness. It makes the participants become more conscious about how they treat the environment. And lastly, it feels good knowing that millions worldwide are doing the same thing for the same cause. By spending one hour in darkness, we connect with countless strangers who love the Earth just as much as we do.
The Earth Hours from the past three years were very memorable, with the one in 2009 being the most unforgettable. My friends and I attended this one of a kind poetry-reading event called Lit-Orgy at a small bar in Davao City. The readers were accompanied by acoustic music, allowing them to sing or even rap a few lines. Original music scores were tailor-made for every piece.
By 8:30, the production team left only one green light on for the performers, and switched off all the house lights. Lamps were set up on tables and glow sticks were distributed to everyone.
The darkness created an intimate atmosphere felt by both the performers and the audience, and everyone insisted to leave it that way even after Earth Hour was over. The minimal lighting allowed the audience to focus on the beautiful poems presented by the writers.
There are many things we can do on Earth Hour. But should you decide to blend in with the crowd in a street celebration, be watchful of your belongings. It’s going to be dark and packed, making it good opportunity for pick pockets to steal. It might also be difficult to skim through your bag in search for small items like your phone or pen. A Spotlight pocket flashlight may come in handy in this occasion or during emergencies. It comes with a clip which you can attach on your belt loop, and a lanyard that you can wear around your neck.
Whatever your plans are for Earth Hour, remember to be careful while having fun. Above all, keep in mind that your participation will help in creating a significant change for the Earth.
Photo Credit: Lyan Villacorta
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