earth-hour

Former Botswana President Mr Festus Mogae goes 'beyond the hour' in Gakuto

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:54:04 +0100

Former President of Botswana Festus Mogae was among members of the public who came in large numbers to plant trees in Gakuto to demonstrate one of the ways in which Botswana can go beyond the hour of switching electricity off on the March 26. Botswana is among countries of the world that will be commemorating Earth Hour with the theme ‘Go-Beyond the Hour’.

Speaking at the tree planting occasion, Mr Mogae who is also the Patron of Wena Environmental Education and News Trust noted that trees are important as they absorb carbon dioxide emissions- the gas largely blamed for causing climate change.

He called on members of the public to be careful not to cut down all the trees when they build houses. Mogae also made a plea with members of the public to desist from starting veldt fires as they also cause climate change.

For her part, the Executive director of Wena Environmental Education and News Trust Florah Mmereki reiterated Former President’s sentiments also adding that trees prevent soil erosion as well as act as wind breakers hence the need to plant them and conserve them.

Mmereki informed the gathering that Botswana has joined the rest of the world to commemorate Earth Hour a global climate change campaign which calls on members of the public to take action against climate change.

She said on the 26th of March, Botswana will take part in the switching off of electricity for one hour. ‘’We are therefore asking every Motswana to switch off power for one hour on the 26 of March from 8:30-9:30 pm for earth hour,’’ she said. Mmereki added that the big earth hour celebrations will take place in Gaborone at Gaborone Senior Secondary School sports grounds.

The event was also attended by Member of Parliament for Kweneng East Mr Moeng Pheto who is also the Parliament Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee chairperson as well as Gakuto councillors and Kgosi. Former President and members of the public planted 200 trees in total.

Earth Hour supporters build a platform to go ‘beyond the hour’

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:35:56 +0100

Currently in development for Earth Hour 2011, earthhour.org will host an online platform that will harness the stories, actions and programs of individuals and organizations around the world that are going beyond the hour with a commitment to an act that benefits the environment. In doing so, the platform will provide a channel for the exchange of resources and ideas that will continue to inspire others to join the global pursuit of a better, healthier world when the lights come back on.

Pivotal to the creation of the online platform dubbed ‘beyond the hour’, are the actions of you, the Earth Hour supporters. And when we asked you last week to contribute your positive acts for earth that go beyond the hour you inspirationally responded en masse.

From Macau to Montevideo, scores of original and inspiring anecdotes and images from all over the world have already been added to the development of the ‘beyond the hour’ platform, which is set to launch in February next year. Here is just a sample of the positive acts people are already doing for earth beyond the hour:

‘Continue to turn every inch of my yard into a productive, sustainable garden. The mission is not just to grow food with zero food miles, but to heal the soil where I can and leave it alive and humming.’ - Alciata from Christchurch, New Zealand

‘I am using less, wasting less, consuming less, and participating more in environmental actions to help support local organizations working towards a healthier climate.’ - Concernedcitizenoftheplanet from Surry, Canada

Earth Hour 2011: growing beyond the hour

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:53:09 +0100

Earth Hour’s global switch off to highlight momentous action for earth

100 days out from the annual ‘lights out’ event, Earth Hour 2011 prepares to showcase a growing global community committed to taking environmental actions that go beyond the hour.

From its inception as a single-city initiative in 2007, Earth Hour has grown into a global movement where hundreds of millions of people from every continent join together to acknowledge the importance of protecting our planet.

Inspired by thousands of stories of people going beyond the hour, Earth Hour 2011 will ask individuals, businesses and governments the world over to add more to the annual switch off by showcasing how they are taking action to preserve their environment.

Earth Hour 2011 will ask the world to:
• Switch off your lights for Earth Hour at 8.30pm, Saturday 26 March 2011 and celebrate your commitment to the planet with the people of the world
• Sign up and Share stories of your actions that benefit the planet on earthhour.org
• Sustain your actions beyond the hour

“Earth Hour’s rapid growth over four years has proven that hundreds of millions people want to do more to protect their planet.” said Andy Ridley, Co-founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour.

“Whether it’s a child changing a classroom or a president changing a country, people, organizations and governments everywhere are invited to switch off their lights for Earth Hour 2011 and commit to taking action beyond the hour,” Andy said.

In February, earthhour.org will launch a platform enabling participants to share stories of what they’re doing or plan to do to make a real difference to their environment in the year ahead, showing that, no matter how big or small, together our actions add up.

Earth Hour 2010 was the largest voluntary action for the environment in history with lights going out across 128 countries and over 4,500 cities worldwide.

Earth Hour 2011 will again see hundreds of millions of people across all continents come together to celebrate an unambiguous commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour.

The 100-day countdown to Earth Hour 2011 has begun, the iconic ‘lights out’ event that has seen some of the world’s most recognized landmarks, including the Forbidden City, Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, Golden Gate Bridge, Table Mountain, Christ the Redeemer statue and Sydney Opera House switch off in a global celebration of the one thing that unites us all – the planet.