Earth Hour

 

Electricity has become so integral to our daily lives that it is hard to imagine functioning without it. Can you envision living without your mobile phone, TV, or fridge? Can you picture having to manually wash all your clothes, create fire to warm water, or sleep early because candlelight is inadequate for work? While electricity is taken for granted nowadays, not long ago, people worldwide lived in these circumstances. 

Nonetheless, every convenience comes at a cost, and it is increasingly evident that the price we pay for easier living is the planet's health. Consequently, initiatives such as Earth Hour were established to remind us to consider our planet's welfare from time to time.

The origin of Earth Hour can be traced back to 2004 when the World Wide Fund for Nature in Australia collaborated with an advertising agency in Sydney to brainstorm ways of engaging Australians in the issue of climate change. Together, they came up with the concept of a large-scale electricity switch-off, which they named "The Big Flick". The mayor of Sydney was convinced of the idea and the first Earth Hour was held on March 31, 2006, at 7:30 pm in Sydney. 

The aim was to raise awareness about the impact of electricity consumption on the environment. Following the success of the first event, the idea quickly spread, with San Francisco organizing a similar "Lights Out" initiative in October 2007. By 2008, the event had gained global attention, and 35 countries across all seven continents participated, with hundreds of cities turning off their lights between 8 and 9 pm.

Several renowned landmarks across the globe participated in Earth Hour, such as the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Empire State Building in New York City, the National Monument in Jakarta, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Table Mountain in Cape Town, the Colosseum in Rome, the Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv, the Royal Castle in Stockholm, the CN Tower in Toronto, the SM Science Discovery Center in Manila, the Petronas Towers and KL Tower in Kuala Lumpur, the Wat Arun Temple in Bangkok, and the London City Hall, among others. The event garnered support from celebrities, including Lionel Messi, Al Gore, Yoko Ono, and Nelson Mandela. The number of participating countries grew to 170 in 2016.

How to Celebrate Earth Hour

Participating in Earth Hour is the most effective way to celebrate it. However, it's crucial to realize that Earth Hour isn't just about one hour, but about our responsibility towards the planet every single day of the year. The substantial amount of energy saved during Earth Hour is pointless if we don't continue to take care of the environment afterward. Therefore, we must consider what we can do on a regular basis to conserve energy, and take action, even if it means something as small as replacing regular light bulbs with energy-efficient ones. Collective efforts can make a significant difference. Let Earth Hour serve as an inspiration to make the world a better place, not just for one hour but for the remaining 8,760 hours of the year.