Celebrating Earth Hour
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global environmental
movement of WWF. Headquartered in Singapore, Earth Hour is one of the first
opensourced environmental campaigns; it has grown from a symbolic event in one
city into a global movement, crowdsourcing actions from individuals,
businesses, organizations and governments to generate environmental outcomes.
In 2014, Earth Hour Blue sees the movement enter the most exciting stage of its
evolution, to be at the forefront of crowdfunding and crowdsourcing for causes,
innovation and creativity for the planet.
1.
What is Earth Hour?
Earth
Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement uniting people to protect the planet,
and is organised by WWF. Engaging a massive mainstream community on a broad
range of environmental issues, Earth Hour was famously started as a lights-off
event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since
then it has grown to engage more than 7000 cities and towns worldwide, and the
one-hour event continues to remain the key driver of the now larger movement.
2.
What is Earth Hour Blue?
Earth
Hour Blue is an all-new digital crowdfunding and crowdsourcing platform for the
planet launched in 2014 to capture the power of the crowd and engage people
around the world beyond the lights out event. The crowdfunding section of the platform
allows participants to financially support and deliver positive, tangible
changes to the environment and communities all over the world. Individuals can
also use Earth Hour Blue’s crowdsourcing platform, which will call for people
to add their voice to some of the biggest environmental campaigns across the
world.
3.
When does Earth Hour take place?
Earth Hour 2014 will
be held on Saturday 29 March between 8.30PM and 9.30PM in your local time zone. The event is held worldwide towards the end of March
annually, encouraging individuals, communities households and businesses to
turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol for their
commitment to the planet. Earth Hour 2015 will take place on Saturday, 28 of
March at 8:30PM to 9:30PM in your local timezone.
4.
What does Earth Hour aim to achieve?
Earth Hour aims to encourage an
interconnected global community to share the opportunities and challenges of
creating a sustainable world.
5.
What does Earth Hour ask people to
do?
The
first thing anyone can do to get involved is to turn off their lights on Saturday.
But there’s much, much more. But our full ambition is for people to take action
beyond the hour. Whether it’s supporting a crowdfunding or crowdsroucing
campaign on www.earthhour.org or getting
involved in Earth Hour campaigns in their own country, or starting the movement
in their own community. The vision is always to do more, so make the light
switch the beginning of your journey.
6.
How long has Earth Hour been going
for?
The first Earth Hour event was on March 31 2007. WWF-Australia
inspired Sydney-siders to show their support for climate change action. More
than 2.2 million individuals and 2,000 businesses turned their lights out for
one hour in the first Earth Hour event.
Earth
Hour 2014 will mark the eighth year of the campaign.
7.
Is Earth Hour an annual event?
Earth
Hour is more than annual event – it is a movement that culminates in an hour of
inspiration across the world held towards the end of March each year.
8.
What exactly has Earth Hour achieved
before launching Earth Hour Blue?
o WWF Uganda started the world’s first Earth Hour Forest
o More than 250,000 Russians voiced support for better
protection of their country’s seas and forests
o Argentina used its 2013 Earth Hour campaign to help pass a
Senate bill for a 3.4 million hectare Marine Protected Area in the country
o Thousands of wood-saving stoves were distributed to families
in Madagascar
o Solar-powered lights were installed in three villages
without electricity in India
o In Paraguay, WWF used the Earth Hour platform to build
public support to gain an extension of the logging moratorium, helping to
reduce deforestation
o Education programs for schools were launched in Thailand and
Taiwan
o Hundreds of thousands of LED lights were installed by girl
scouts in the USA
o More than 2123 mitigation actions submitted by Earth Hour
City Challenge 2014 participating cities
But
this is just the start, there’s so many more Earth Hour stories out there we’re
still discovering, and of course much more to do.
9.
Back to the event. Isn't switching
the lights off dangerous? What about public safety?
Earth Hour only asks
people to turn off the non-essential lights for one hour - not lights that
affect public safety. Earth Hour is also a celebration of the planet so it’s
important to enjoy the moment in a safe environment.
10.
What lights can be safely switched off?
That is a decision
that has to be made individually but usually the overhead lights in rooms
(whether it is your house or a business), outdoor lighting that does not impact
safety, decorative lights, neon signs for advertising, televisions, desk lamps,
the list goes on and on.
There are a few lights
we can say with certainty that should NOT be turned off, including safety
lights in public spaces, lights for aviation guidance, traffic lights, security
lights, just to name a few. We ask people to use common sense. Before you turn
off any lights for public spaces, Earth Hour recommends you check with local
officials or community centres.
In your own home, use
common sense with respect to safety. Keep small night lights on for basic
safety especially in halls and on stairs. Make sure you have alternative light
sources handy before Earth Hour starts, like torches or flashlights. That way
if you need to see, you have a light source close at hand, and you can still
respect the spirit of Earth Hour and keep yourself and your family safe.
11.
What candles should I use for my
Earth Hour event?
If you plan on burning
candles during Earth Hour, make sure you use 100% beeswax candles or soy
candles, which are gentler on our planet - smoke free, non-toxic and
non-allergenic. They are also made of natural products, not petroleum-based
materials, so they are effectively carbon neutral (the CO2 they emit has
already been taken from the atmosphere to produce the wax). Many communities
are now replacing candles with LED lights for their event, as a way to promote
energy efficient lighting - a key for any sustainable future. If you're using
candles, though, make sure you take care. We suggest you carefully follow these
tips:
a.
Candles should only be
used under adult supervision
b.
Candles should never
be left unattended
c.
Candles should be kept
away from children and pets
d.
Extinguish candles
before going to sleep
e.
Keep candles away from
flammable liquids and gas-combustible materials
f.
Candles should be kept
clear of any combustible materials such as paper, curtains and clothing
g.
Candles should not be
placed in windows as they can be blown over. Blinds and curtains can also catch
alight
h.
Candles should be
placed on a stable, dry, heat-resistant surface away from drafts
12.
What is Earth Hour’s position on technology?
Earth Hour embraces
technology to spread the message of positive environmental action across the
world, and to replace more inefficient means of living our lives. Technology is
key to a sustainable future that is aspirational. From LED lights, to hybrid
vehicles, to developing replacements for unsustainable use of resources -
Earth Hour has thrived off the back of the development in digital technology.
13.
Will my city go completely black
during the event?
Earth Hour is not a
black out. It is a voluntary action by its participants to show their
commitment to an act of change that benefits the planet. For many businesses in
city skyscrapers or for many government buildings, the lights are turned off at
the end of the business day the Friday before Earth Hour. So Earth Hour is more
of a fade-out in some ways than a black out. There is usually no instant
dramatic difference, but rather a gradual dimming of lights starting the day
prior. Many major icons and neon signs are switched off for the hour and they
are extremely noticeable. You may be able to see dramatic changes in large
business districts or at iconic landmarks and buildings around the world and in
your city.
14.
If everyone turns their lights back
on at the same time will there be a power surge?
People
celebrate Earth Hour in a variety of ways for different lengths of time, with
many continuing to keep their lights off well beyond the designated hour. After
eight years, it’s clear everyone will not switch back on his or her lights
simultaneously.
15.
Why is Earth Hour the event held in late March?
The second-to-last and last weekend
of March is around the time of the Spring and Autumn equinoxes in the northern
and southern hemispheres respectively, which allows for near coincidental
sunset times in both hemispheres, thereby ensuring the greatest visual impact
for a global ‘lights out’ event. Earth Hour 2014 will be held on Saturday 29 March
between 8.30PM and 9.30PM in your local time zone.
16.
How many cities/countries/landmarks took part in Earth Hour
2013?
Earth Hour 2013 took
place in more than 7001 cities and towns in 154 countries and territories
across all seven continents. Hundreds of millions of people switched their
lights off for an hour, and the campaign experienced its biggest growth since
2009. There were around 3395 landmarks that participated.
17.
What does a commitment to Earth Hour
mean?
By
registering for Earth Hour 2014, individuals, communities and businesses are
making a commitment to turn their lights off for an hour at 8.30PM on Saturday
29 March in acknowledgement of an act they will undertake for the benefit of
the planet. We hope that these individuals, communities and businesses will
take action beyond the hour through Earth Hour Blue.
18.
Who can participate?
Earth Hour is a
campaign for anyone and everyone who wants to share a commitment to make this
planet better.
19.
How can I do more for Earth Hour
than just switching off my lights?
You
can fund a project or add your voice to support projects
anywhere around the world on Earth Hour Blue.
20.
What energy/carbon reductions have resulted
from Earth Hour in previous years?
Earth hour does not
claim that the event is an energy or carbon reduction exercise - it is a
symbolic action. Therefore, we do not engage in the measurement of energy or
carbon reduction levels. Earth Hour is an initiative to encourage individuals,
businesses and governments around the world to take accountability for their
ecological footprint and engage in dialogue and resource exchange that provides
real solutions to our environmental challenges. Participation in Earth Hour
symbolises a commitment to change beyond the hour.
21.
Aren't you using a lot of
electricity and resources to promote this event?
Earth
Hour takes every effort to minimise our footprint, not just for the hour but
also all year round. Earth Hour Global has a core team of just nine people
based in Singapore and relies on a dispersed open-sourced model, meaning that
the movement is run locally through WWF and communities all over the world.
All
of Earth Hour Global’s emissions are offset and the campaign embraces digital
technology to minimise the usage of natural resources and to spread our
message.
22.
Earth Hour is advertised all over
the world. Does Earth Hour pay for this advertising?
Earth
Hour Global secures millions of dollars of free advertising space with the help
of partners such as Starcom, Discovery Networks International and many others.
Earth Hour Global does not spend any money on paid advertising space. Earth
Hour’s advice to teams around the world running local campaigns is to only seek
either pro-bono or if absolutely necessary, low-bono advertising space.
23.
Whose idea was Earth Hour?
Earth
Hour came from a think tank initiated by Earth Hour CEO and Co-Founder, Andy
Ridley, resulting in the formation of a partnership between WWF Australia, Leo
Burnett and Fairfax Media to address the climate change issue.
In
2007, there was still a degree of scepticism and denial about the issue of
climate change. Earth Hour came as the inspiration to rally people to the
reality of climate change and start a dialogue about what we as individuals can
do to help address the greatest problem facing our planet today. Leo Burnett
partnered with WWF to promote the idea and help make the campaign a reality in
Sydney, a campaign which has now gone beyond climate change to symbolise the
growing global pursuit of a better, healthier world.
24.
What is Earth Hour’s relationship
with WWF?
Earth
Hour is an initiative of WWF. In 2007, WWF initiated Earth Hour a way of
engaging a broad section of society in the environmental issues challenging
citizens across the world. WWF embraced the idea of an open sourced campaign
that would allow communities and organisations to become part of a global
movement to protect out planet.
25.
Do you have requirements or
regulations about who can or cannot partner with Earth Hour?
Any
partner must uphold and support the aims and principles of Earth Hour. These
include encouraging individual and community engagement on environmental
issues. Encouraging conscious decisions to change the way we live in order to
affect environmental reform, without the use of scare tactics or shaming. The
specific decisions about whether or not to partner with a group or corporation
are made at local level by Earth Hour country and city teams based on what
suits their needs and community in achieving the goals of Earth Hour.
26.
Does Earth Hour welcome the support
of other NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) and NFP's (Not for Profits)?
Absolutely.
In fact, the success of Earth Hour would not be possible without the support of
other NGOs and NFPs. Global organisations such as the World Organisation of the
Scout Movement and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts have
been pivotal in spreading the Earth Hour message, while in some countries where
there is no WWF presence, Earth Hour campaigns are orchestrated entirely by
other NGOs and NFPs.
27.
What does the Earth Hour logo mean?
The
standard Earth Hour '60' logo represents the 60 minutes of Earth Hour where we
focus on the impact we are having on our planet and take positive action to
address the environmental issues we face. For Earth Hour 2011 the ‘60+’ logo
was introduced representing a commitment to add to Earth Hour a positive act
for the planet that goes beyond the hour. Take up the ‘plus’ and get involved
with Earth Hour Blue.
28.
Why is Spider-Man Earth Hour’s
ambassador in 2014?
Earth
Hour and ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ (TASM2), distributed by Sony Pictures
Entertainment, are encouraging people across the world to become superheroes
for the planet with a simple call to action: “Use Your Power at earthhour.org”.
The
partnership will allow us to reach an even broader section of society to spread
the Earth Hour message, which is an approach that has allowed the movement to
grow to the position it is in today.
Key
to the partnership is that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the most eco-friendly
blockbuster produced by Sony Pictures.
Sony
Pictures will offset 4,000 tonnes of carbon through WWF-China’s Gold Standard
Verified ‘Energy Efficient Stoves To Protect The Giant Panda” project; and
these carbon offsets have rendered the entire physical production of the film,
as well as well as the appearance and activities of the film’s cast, producers
and director for Earth Hour events, completely carbon-neutral.
The
film’s stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx and director Marc Webb are
also each lending their support to a different crowdfunding project on Earth
Hour Blue, as a way to engage individuals to act beyond the hour.
Spider-Man
is Earth Hour’s first superhero ambassador, epitomising the power of the
individual and inspiring his fans to become superheroes for the planet.
We want every fan of
Spider-Man to walk away knowing they can do something to protect the planet.
Earth Hour is a movement for people illustrate their support, and Earth Hour
Blue is the place they can get involved.
No comments:
Post a Comment