Turn off your light, turn on the Earth! (This Saturday)

Earth Hour is quickly approaching and takes place this Saturday at 8:30 pm.  I will admit, I think that having Earth Hour a month before Earth Day is incredibly odd but this is a movement that benefits everyone.  My girls are in bed by 8:30 but I can definitely see my husband and I sitting out on the porch for a bit on Saturday night!

WHAT IS EARTH HOUR?

Earth Hour is driven by the global community’s will to protect the planet we share. Earth Hour’s exponential growth – from a single-city initiative in 2007 to a global movement across 128 countries in 2010 – is indicative of the growing desire for a cleaner, healthier world that is gathering momentum by the hour.  At 8.30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011, Earth Hour will mark a moment of global contemplation to go beyond the hour; a collective commitment by individuals throughout the world to be the ongoing change they want to see in it.

Earth Hour 2011 will ask the world to:

·      Switch off your lights for Earth Hour at 8.30pm, Saturday 26 March 2011 and celebrate your commitment to the planet with the people of the world

·      Sign up and Share stories of your actions that benefit the planet on earthhour.org

·      Sustain your actions beyond the hour – www.beyondthehour.org

HOW DO WE INVOLVE OUR CHILDREN?

In a bid to extend the message to young children and their caregivers, the Earth Hour organization has appointed the globally loved animated character Pocoyo as the first Global Kids’ Ambassador of Earth Hour, Beyond the Hour.  Pocoyo will reach out to millions of preschool-aged fans across the globe, fostering “Learning through Laughter,” to inform children about environmental issues.

Parent and their caregivers can find a fun activity book, promo, screensavers and wallpaper at http://www.pocoyo.com/earth_hour_2011.html

At the recent Beyond the Hour press conference in Singapore, Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley commented “Everyone has the power to make change: a CEO can change an organization, a 7-year-old can change a classroom, and a president can change a country. What we are announcing today is just the beginning.  It is through the collective action of individuals and organizations that we will be able to truly make a difference, which is why we are urging people across the planet to share how they will go beyond the hour this Earth Hour.”

Chloe Nicol, a 7-year-old girl from Australia, is guiding her school to increase recycling and reduce energy waste. The school now also shuts their blinds instead of using air-conditioning to cool the rooms.

Nathi Mzileni, a 15-year-old boy from Swaziland, was inspired to take action in 2010 when he realised his town did not participate in Earth Hour. He started a group at his High School called Green Enviro to educate people about climate change, and this year will single-handedly make Earth Hour a reality in his town of Shimunye, Swaziland.

Parrys Raines, a 15-year-old Australian girl, has convinced her school to install water filling stations and provide each student and teacher with a reusable stainless steel drinking bottle to reduce plastic bottle waste.

Parents, caregivers and their children EVERYWHERE can support the initiative by throwing an Earth Hour Party Celebration to help spread the word on saving our environment.  We’ve included some easy tips for the perfect party, enjoy!

·       Make invitations out of recycled paper or send an email invite.

·       Use organic and locally sustained food.

·       Serve finger foods to skip using plates and utensils, and use cloth napkins that can be washed and used again.

·       Make dishes that don’t require the oven or electricity to prepare.

·       Be creative with food, licorice ends can be cut off to make edible straws for the kids.

·       Family craft project – decorate canvas shopping totes with eco-friendly paint, old buttons, etc.

·       Have a nighttime, outdoor, eco friendly scavenger hunt by flashlight – hunt for garden tools, seeds, egg cartons, etc. Once the items are found, explain how they are used for recycling and to save our environment.

·       Have a recycled book exchange for the kids and adults, instead of favors.

·       Have fun and remember to have enough candles and flashlights for everyone to see!