Vote Earth this March 28
It might seem a bit early to think about voting and elections, but
this one is for a good cause. On March 28, everyone can choose between
Earth and global warming.
If you leave your lights on this March 28, 8:30-9:30pm local time,
then you're voting for global warming. If you turn it off, you vote for
Earth.
Touted as the world's first global election, the Earth Hour is
already going to be participated in by 80 countries and 750 cities, all
hopefully amounting to that targeted one billion votes for Earth.
Whatever the result of the election, it will be presented at the Global
Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009 where official government
policies against global warming will be passed.
History
Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, through the climate
change initiative of World Wildlife Fund. Back then, they had about 2.2
million participants, homes and businesses alike, switching off their
lights for one hour. The next year, word has spread to 50 million
people switching off their lights. Even landmarks like the Golden Gate
Bridge in San Francisco, the Colosseum in Rome, the Sydney Opera House
and the Coca-Cola billboard in New York's Time Square all went dark.
This year, landmarks turning off their lights for Earth Hour 2009
include Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro), Merlion (Singapore), Burj
al Arab (Dubai) and Taipei 101.
Why Earth Hour
First and foremost, it's to unite with
the rest of the world in sending a message to individuals, businesses,
politicians and governments that climate change is a responsibility of
the community. The more people know about carbon-emitting energy
sources and do something about it, the better the chances of the environment.
And second, climate change is caused by carbon emissions (they pose
the greatest threat to life on Earth). In that one Earth Hour, with the
number of countries and cities participating, that's already a lot of
electricity saved.
From South America, to Europe, to Asia, to the South Pacific,
including national capitals Beijing in China, Edinburgh in Scotland,
Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Kiev in the Ukraine, Bogota in Columbia and
Wellington in New Zealand, the lights out initiative is fulfilling its
purpose.
Support
It is quite obvious that
there has been a wellspring of support. For example, the Scouts, the
world's largest youth movement with more than 28 million members in 160
countries, are mobilizing supporters for Earth Hour.
According to Luc Panissod, the Acting Secretary General of the Scout
Movement, and WWF Director General James Leape in a joint letter, it is
very possible to take action against global warming. Earth Hour is one
opportunity to raise this subject to a friend or family member and do
small tasks that can help alleviate it.
Earth Hour in itself is driven by citizens and grassroots groups who
work in their own localities for a global stand. Other organizations
that have pledged support is the Church of Sweden, Sydney Ferries, the
National Education Association (3.2 million teachers), and the American
Federation of Teachers (1.4 million members).
So vote Earth by switching off your lights and telling people about
it. Tell your students and make it an awareness campaign. Join the
world for Earth Hour on March 28.
Sources:
“28 Million Scouts to Mobilise for Earth Hour.” Retrieved March 1, 2009 from
http://www.earthhour.org/news/default:en/article?id=eh7434689393301003318
“Cities Sign Up To Switch Off For Earth Hour 2009.” Retrieved March 1, 2009 from
http://www.earthhour.org/news/default:en/article?id=eh496383943273025185
“Earth Hour 2009- Background Information.” Retrieved March 1, 2009 from
http://www.earthhour.org/mediacentre/default:en/article?id=eh1770702859152709136
“Why.” Retrieved March 1, 2009 from http://www.voteearth2009.org/why/
(Published 16 March 2009, Smart Communications, Inc.)
