Filipinos all set for Earth Hour 2012

Filipinos are all set to participate in this year's Earth Hour on Saturday, March 31. Whether by releasing biodegradable lanterns, attending a street party, or simply switching off the lights, the country is prepared to join the rest of the world in taking action against climate change.

 

In Davao, residents will send off 10,000 biodegradable wishing lanterns in time for the one-hour switch-off. According to a Philippine Information Agency report, the lanterns will be released at Magsaysay Park, Times Beach and Toril in Davao City; Sta. Cruz, Digos City, Malalag and Malita in Davao del Sur; Mati City, Lupon in Davao Oriental; Pantukan in Compostela Valley; and Tagum City, Panabo City, and Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte.

 

“No matter where you are, we can all make a statement by sending off these wishing lanterns. Wherever you plan to be, when the Earth Hour strikes, we can all simultaneously release the lanterns, with our wishes for a proactive business community, in light of present climate change realities,” Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) officer Bo Puentespina said.

 

The report also mentioned that the Department of Energy and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Philippines, in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency, will conduct a seminar on energy efficiency and conservation targeting a multi-sectoral participation from the local government, students, businesses, NGOs, and various consumers.

 

A global event

 

Since its inception in Sydney, Australia, Earth Hour has become a global event observed on the last Saturday of March. 

 

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was the first ever landmark to switch off for Earth Hour back in 2007. Earth Hour has grown to include famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Ancient Roman Colosseum, Beijing's Forbidden City and the Empire State Building in New York.

 

Organizers of the Earth Hour hope the initiative will spur people to be more aware of their energy usage and its effect on the environment. The hour-long event was created in order to give ordinary people the chance to take action on climate change, by simply turning off their lights for an hour to deliver a global message on the need for climate change solutions.

 

Last year, Malacañang directed all government agencies and offices to participate in the annual event. The main switch-off event was held at the Mall of Asia, but the Palace memorandum also urged government officials and employees to set up their own Earth Hour events in their homes and communities.

 

In support of the 2011 campaign, several establishments also held their own events, including lights-off parties and street concerts. 

 

“Everybody is urged to make this campaign a success, as we intend to make this campaign advance beyond the mere switching off of lights," said Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., noting the important role of government agencies in expanding the reach of the global campaign to address global warming and to ensure a sustainable future.

 

CBCP encourages youths to participate

 

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta has urged youths to urge family and friends to observe Earth Hour.

 

"Let us join millions in our country and around the world in switching off non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., and using this time to engage in activities which promote care for our planet," Garganta said in an article posted on the CBCP news site. 

 

Last year, the CBCP also showed support for the event through its Radio Veritas program “Banal na Oras para sa Inang Kalikasan" and a prayer service led by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales. 

 

'I Will If You Will'

 

Meanwhile, Garganta also urged youths to join the parallel “I Will If You Will” campaign, which was launched by Earth Hour lead advocates on February 14.

 

Meant to jumpstart preparations for this year's Earth Hour, the interactive campaign encourages individuals to document their personal pledges on YouTube. The pledges include recycling, switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, turning off your mobile charger, and signing up for paperless banking.   

 

The ECY joined the campaign with the statement “the ECY will change its office light bulbs to compact fluorescent lights if you will switch off your lights on March 31, join the ‘I Will If You Will’ campaign, and share these two with your community.”

 

“This campaign empowers people to share to the world their own personal contribution on how they can willingly do ways to save Mother Earth,” Garganta said.

 

The campaign was created to empower people to "share a personal dare with the world by asking everyone, 'what are you willing to do to save the planet?'"

 

It aims to connect individuals or groups to a ‘promise’, while posing a 'challenge' to their friends, family, customers or members. The goal is to unite them behind the common goal of creating a positive environmental outcome. The WWF gives examples like "I will stop using plastic bags if you will pledge to switch off your lights for an hour on March 31, 8:30 pm," but participants have gotten creative with the campaign, which has spread through social media.

 

IWIYW challenges include a promise from a Guinness World Record holder to play a streamed non-stop 8-hour piano concert if 5,000 people commit to recycling and reusing paper, a grandma's promise to get a tattoo if 10,000 people commit to start recycling, and some firefighters taking their shirts off in exchange for 5,000 people agreeing to leave their cars at home for a week.

 

PHL a global leader in Earth Hour participation

 

Last year, the Philippines was the global leader in Earth Hour participation for the third year in a row, with a record-breaking 1,661 cities and towns in the country joining the one-hour lights switch-off campaign. Earth Hour in 2011 was the biggest yet, with 135 countries and 5251 cities participating. The year 2010 had 126 countries and over 4,000 cities, and 2009 had 88 countries and 4,159 cities.

 

“We are elated to clinch the top spot for the third year in a row,” said Earth Hour National Director Atty. Gia Ibay on the Earth Hour Pilipinas website. “More than the numbers though, Earth Hour espouses the importance of our actions beyond the hour,” she said.

 

Going beyond the hour is the real goal, agreed many eco groups including 350.org, a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis. Named for the goal of reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 392 parts per million (ppm) to the ideal below 350 ppm, the group released last year a list of actions that will help build "low-carbon, resource-efficient, and socially-inclusive economies." 

 

The actions include a moratorium on the construction of coal-fired power plants, as well as returning roads and public spaces to the people by prioritizing bike lanes, walk ways, and sustainable, low-carbon transportation. –KG, GMA News