Earth Hour is just a day away – at 8.30pm on 29 March 2014, millions of people around the world will be switching off their lights for an hour as part of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) call for humankind to unite in honouring the Earth.
An hour of total darkness doesn’t have to be scary or inconvenient, though, as Flow writer and editor Willem Steenkamp explained to his six-year-old daughter, who’s a little afraid of the dark: “The lights will be off for just an hour to show how much you love and respect the Earth.”
But Earth Hour is about much more than turning off your lights for an hour once a year – it is about influencing a generation to preserve the Earth for future generations.
Besides observing Earth Hour this Saturday, you can also make a promise o honour the Earth, on www.earthhour.org.za, which will just take a few moments. Thus far, individuals, businesses, business leaders, schools and celebrities have made public pledges as to how they plan to be more environmentally conscious.
Flow has promised to use less electricity.
Flow chairman Bheki Shongwe pledged: “I promise to be faithful to Mother Earth by not littering and avoiding anything that can cause her harm. I will switch off all lights that are not needed in my house and teach my children to do the same at all times.”
TV personality Liezel van der Westhuizen pledged: “I promise to encourage those around me to protect the environment, to recycle, to remember to unplug appliances that aren't being used. What's your promise?”
Radio personality Azania Mosaka said: “I promise to only use what I need. From switching off lights, to not consuming in excess, to not letting the tap run unnecessarily, to investing in solar panels and rainwater catchment options for my vegetable garden. We can all do more.”
Flow and WWF-SA have also launched a Facebook campaign in which you take a selfie of yourself in the dark, upload it and caption it: “Post a selfie of yourself in the dark and then make your online Earth Hour promise – http://www.earthhour.org.za. Nominate three of your friends to do this too! I nominate ...”
Go on, make your pledge.
