Earth Hour - Your every bit is precious !!!

“The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope."- Wendell Berry. This quote says all about the movement Earth Hour; it is a movement for the planet planned by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and observed over the entire world. Earth Hour engages a huge mainstream society on a broad range of environmental issues. This movement is also popularly called as the lights- off event which was at first started in Sydney, Australia in 2007. The movement encourages turning off their non-essential lights for the hour and many individuals, communities, households and businesses follow this as a mark for their contribution towards saving planet. And from then it has grown to connect more than 7000 cities and towns worldwide. The event is held world over and mostly in last week of March annually, Earth Hour 2014 is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, from 8:30 pm-9:30 pm, participants' local time.



Earth Hour



Why all of sudden in past few years this movement got popularity is because there has been how the drastic changes in all fields had its impact on the climatic conditions and natural beauty. The scenic beauty of nature which used to give a soothing effect to eyes and comfort to heart are now lost amid the mostly advancing world. But it’s our duty to protect it as we keep our home away from adverse effects of environment. What our ancestors enjoyed the benefits of atmosphere, is now lost in today’s generation because we are not able to protect our surroundings. It is well quoted by Buckminster Fuller that "We are on a spaceship; a beautiful one. It took billions of years to develop. We're not going to get another. Now, how do we make this spaceship work?" Though we are advancing in many commands & streams we need to pause, think for our planet home and protecting it from all sorts of risks is the duty of every individual living on it. One such moment to preserve our planet is an Earth Hour. We at times don’t realize that each small contribution from each and every one can save a lot of energy in turn saving our ecosystem.

Now a major question which pops in our mind is does this one hour of electricity saving can really bring any difference? 


If we look at the facts an hour of shutting down the non-essential appliances would drastically lower the harmful emissions from appliances and we can save a lot of electricity which can used in other important things. More over such movements can instill in all of us the need to save our ecosystem beyond an hour as all changes are not always reversible and if we implement it every day we could definitely make a difference. “I Will If You Will”(IWIYW) is an Earth Hour campaign to persuade optimistic act from every individual or group to bring about a little change and become an encouragement to others too.

Earth Hour could be exciting in many ways:

• Back in memory lane: All friends and family members can gather and can share some interesting stories
• Fun with Shadows: Add more life in candle lit room by making certain creatures with hands.
• Dark room game : We can ask all the kids to gather in a room with no lights on and ask one of them to recognize by hearing only their voices.But make sure the room is almost empty and there are no things in the vicinity which can harm the kids.
• Candle light dinner: It could be exciting and creative to organize such dinner at home or in your back yard.
• Relaxing: It will be good time to just sit in a couch and relax and give our brains some rest from all the routine activities by performing some meditation exercises .
• Knowledge sharing: We can engage the kids by taking them on the terrace and ask them to admire the beauty of the space and letting them know some facts about the stars and the galaxy.

Again reminding you all today 29 March 2014, Saturday, is Earth Hour from 20:30–21:30 local time; do your bit to contribute towards it. I will do my bit and hope you will also try. Do share with us what creative activities you will be doing during an Earth Hour.

Every bit from you is precious...save our planet thus, save life.

@ Meenal