Looking back over my blog I just realized that my family has participated in Earth Hour since 2008 when I first heard about the event. Every March organizers around the globe turn off their lights for one hour to unite people to protect the planet. With the help of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) this annual event now reaches more than 5 million supports around the world.
When is Earth Hour? March 31st at 8:30pm – 9:30pm local time.
What is Earth Hour? For one hour on one day can you commit to turning off the lights and electronics in your home (or wherever you happen to be at the time)? Around the world momuments like the Statue of Liberty, the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, and London Bridge turn off the lights for an entire hour. These are lights that are typically on for 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year. Combine that with the efforts of cities, companies, and families and the impact of that one hour is massive! It’s the ultimate representation that if everyone made one small, simple change that we could make one incredible statement of support.
Why do I participate in Earth Hour? Sure, it takes more than one hour in an entire year to make a difference but it’s a good reminder that we all play a role in making change. If we don’t take the responsibility to spend one hour a year without our precious electricity how can we expect change to happen? Should we just sit back and wait for the government to address our environmental problems – OR – should we do this ourselves?! For me it’s a time for my family to enjoy one another without the constant interruption of our televisions, computers, game systems, and cell phones. It’s a time for me to take a few minutes (or 60) to explain and teach my children the importance of being an environmental steward. It’s a time for our family to unplug and recharge! This will be the first year that my youngest daughter will be able to understand that we’re turning the lights out on purpose and NOT to go to bed. My son is my motivator, he absolutely LOVES the time with my husband and I. He thrives off our attention which we so easily neglect in the madness of our daily routines. It’s more than just an environmental movement for me – it’s a family movement!
Has your family ever participated in Earth Hour? Does your city organize a community-wide event? How do you spend your precious hour with no electricity?
Join me tomorrow as I share with you 5 Family Friendly Activities for Earth Hour.
To learn more about Earth Hour visit their web site, Facebook page, Twitter (#earthhour), and Pinterest.
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