THE Earth Hour® is a symbolic act, organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which seeks to alert people to the importance of protecting the planet against our environmental impacts negative. The movement, which started in 2007 in Australia, has more than 10 years and has been gaining more adherents every year.
Last year (2020), the pandemic in çovid-19 made the traditional face-to-face events not happen. With this, Earth Hour reinvented itself and brought a series of activities and online demonstrations that discussed issues such as the climate crisis and social inequality. This edition took place in over 190 countries and territories, leading to 3.1 billion impressions on social media, being one of the most talked about issues in 37 countries. On the social networks of WWF-Brasil and Earth Hour alone, WWF recorded 3.1 million interactions in our territory.
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What is Earth Hour?
Earth Hour emerged in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, and soon the initiative spread around the world. It is a symbolic act, which
takes place annually at the end of March.The date was chosen by proximity to the equinox spring, in the Northern Hemisphere, and the autumn, in the Southern Hemisphere. This allows the visual impact, when turning off the lights, to be greater, since the end of the day happens at close moments in both hemispheres.
By turning off the lights, it is evident that a large number of people are concerned about the environmental issues of the world and asks for concrete and efficient actions in the fight against theclimate changes and other environmental problems. By joining the movement, each person, company and public agency demonstrates their concern and love for the planet on which we live.
It is worth noting that Earth Hour it's not a "blackout", and yes of a voluntary action. Therefore, not all the lights in a city will be turned off, keeping mainly those necessary for safety, such as traffic lights and street and avenue lights.
According to Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International: “Biodiversity and nature sustain our lives, our economies, our health, our well-being, our happiness. It is the foundation of our living planet. We are pushing the planet and its natural systems to the limit. Earth Hour is our chance to use our power, as individuals and as a collective, to demand and act for the protection of this planet as a reward for all that it gives us.”
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We must emphasize that there is no intention to save energy with Earth Hour, the goal goes far beyond reducing consumption in just one hour. The act symbolizes the commitment to the planet and the constant need for everyone's participation in environmental struggles, as he stated barack obama, in the official video, in the 2015 campaign: “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last that can do something about it”.
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Earth Hour 2021
Earth Hour 2021 will take place on the day 27 March (Saturday), from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. At this point, we must turn off our lights for an hour, in order to show that we care about our planet. In addition to individual actions, several cities and private companies will participate in the act.
Earth Hour in the context of Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic started in 2020, and, in 2021, we still suffer from the devastating action of the disease. In this context, face-to-face events can put many people at risk, so the solution was to invest in online actions. In 2021, the WWF highlights that there will be more than seven hours of Earth Hour Digital Festival, and on March 27, the day of action, a special video will be released on social networks so that sharing can be done by everyone.
The internet has made it possible for us to be heard around the world, so use your voice and show your power to positively influence other people, making them realize how important it is to preserve the nature.
How can I participate in Earth Hour?
Participate in Earth Hour it's quite simple, enough turn off the lights in your house for an hour. You can also use the materials available on the WWF website and help publicize the event. In addition, you can record a video of up to one minute telling why nature and our planet are important to you, post it on your social networks and tag WWF Brasil. When posting about Earth Hour on your social networks, be sure to use the hashtags#Planet Time or #ConnectedOnPlanet. If you prefer, use the hashtags global #EarthHour and #Connect2Earth. With this, a greater number of people will be able to know about this movement.
Also be sure to fill in the Earth Hour membership form and let you know how you will participate in the event. Take the opportunity and subscribe to online petition which calls for urgent action by world leaders with regard to nature conservation.
What to do during Earth Hour?
Many people think that turning off the lights can be very unpleasant, but be aware that it can be a lot of fun as many activities can be done at this time. The WWF has separated some super cool tips:
Follow the Digital Festival;
Play card and board games with people who live in the same house as you;
Choose a fun movie or series and have a movie night full of popcorn;
Have a candlelit dinner or snack;
Take advantage of the dark to take a photo by candlelight or try the “light painting” technique—using a tripod and camera, where you can adjust the aperture and exposure time.
Make a list of the things you can do for the planet and put it into practice the next day;
Play with the kids (shadow play or treasure hunt, for example);
Set up a tent using sheets, pillows and pillows and pretend to be at a camp;
Live with friends and address relevant issues such as climate change and social inequalities.
Heads up: Be sure to visit the official Earth Hour website clicking here! |
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher
