Earth Hour 2009 - 28 March

Please support by turning off non-essential electronic and electrical equipment in your home and place of business. Better still on Friday, 27 March before going hom; turn off all non-essential equipment at work!

This is on this Saturday, 28 March 2009 between 8:30 to 9:30 PM.

Suggested things to do:

1. Have that romantic candle lit dinner with your partner and/or family and friends.

2. Have a game board bonding with the kids.

3. If you play any non electronic/electrical musical instrument, have a sing-along with family and friends.

4. Have your evening walk, jog or biking coincide with Earth Hour.

5. Have a conversation about anything and everything. When was the last time you had a decent conversation?

6. Meditate and do Yoga with your Zen master.

7. Have a social drink of your favourite wine or beer with friends.

8. I am running out of ideas, do nothing!

9. Sleep early.

10. And if you don't want to sleep early, do something else with your partner... [wink, wink].

But whatever you do, turn off those lights!

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"Earth Hour is an annual international event created by the World Wide Fund for Nature/World Wildlife Fund, held on the last Saturday of March, that asks households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. It was pioneered by WWF Australia and the Sydney Morning Herald in 2007 and achieved worldwide participation in 2008.

Currently, 80 countries and 750 cities are 'committed to Earth Hour 2009', a huge increase from people participating in 35 countries for Earth Hour 2008. 1 billion 'votes' is the stated aim for Earth Hour 2009 in the context of the pivotal 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The event focused on the reduction of carbon emissions. The United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Bali made clear that signatories to the Kyoto Protocol accept that greenhouse gas emissions reductions of from 25 to 40% are necessary by 2020 to reduce the impact of global warming which is causing sea level rise and numerous other problems. In that context Earth Hour is at best creating awareness to lead to further steps like switching to green power from sources such as wind power or solar power and away from electricity produced by burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and petroleum."

Forwarded by:

Jorgen L. Garcia
Nilad Lodge No. 12 F&AM
MWGLP