Haven’t heard of Earth Hour? Perhaps you’re already living in the dark! We as humans can find a reason to celebrate just about anything, with days set aside for everything from the seemingly pointless to the just plain weird (Kazoo Day is January 28th in case you were wondering). But when do we find the time to celebrate our connection to the planet and creatures that provide for us? This March 30th marks another Earth Hour, and we’re here to explain exactly what that is and why it matters!
With global carbon emissions at an all time high and temperatures escalating each year, WWF’s initiative, Earth Hour, is less about setting aside 60 minutes without lights and more about raising awareness while engaging the world in change! Since its inception in 2007, Earth Hour has become an international event with 187 countries and territories participating in 2017 and thousands of landmarks and communities across the globe joining in. This is thanks to the power of sharing between our communities, both large and small, about the change that we are all capable of together.
So what is the WWF initiative hoping to achieve? Through over billions of impressions on posts relating to the event on social media, Earth Hour is helping us engage in thought and dialogue about the way we interact with the world and occupy space within it. Since starting Earth Hour, WWF has been able to make climate change a mainstream issue. Thanks in part to the event, advocating for the shift to renewable energy sources, promoting sustainable lifestyles, changing climate policies, and protecting forestry and biodiversity is no longer a far fetched idea. This year, the event starts at 8:30 pm, wherever you are in the world. Turn off your lights and spend an hour thinking about how you can be a force of change in the world, and help protect the planet!
The sooner we realize our connection to this planet, the better off all living things will be. It is undeniably human activity at the heart of climate and pollution problem, and it is our responsibility to turn things around. So this March 30, will you join us in setting aside an hour to turn off the lights before it’s officially lights out?
To learn more about Earth Hour, visit www.earthhour.org/.
[Image: World Wildlife Fund]