Earth Hour was started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. It was created to bring awareness to and support climate change initiatives. The whole purpose and message behind Earth Hour is:
"By working together, we can all make a change. Earth Hour is a unique opportunity for you to become more sustainable and do something positive for the environment. It’s been the source of inspiration for millions of people taking steps towards a cleaner, safer future. It’s not just about saving energy for one hour, it’s about going Beyond the Hour with lasting, behaviour-changing actions for a sustainable planet." - Earth Hour Website
Governments, individuals, and businesses are asked to show leadership and support by turning off their lights from 8:30pm-9:30pm in their time zones. By switching off the lights, we all acknowledge our commitment do something more for the planet that goes beyond the hour. An hour may not sound like much, but consider this:
“Earth Hour 2012 took place in more than 7001 cities and towns in 152 countries and territories across all seven continents. Hundreds of millions of people switched their lights off for an hour, and the campaign experienced its biggest growth since 2009.”
If we all pull together, it’s amazing what we can accomplish!
Here are some Earth Hour Facts:
Earth Hour is a great time to continue the discussion with the kids about why it is important to take care of our earth. It can also be turned into a tradition each year to enjoy family time doing non-tech activities.
Here are a few ideas to fill the hour:
The Earth Hour website also lists ways to take part in the event.
Whatever you choose to do to fill the hour, know that by participating and continuing to be earth friendly beyond Earth Hour will make a difference:
For some inspiration, and to see how the rest of the world celebrates Earth Hour, take a look at this video:
What will you be doing during Earth Hour?
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