MANILA, Philippines – Government agencies, local government units and community organizations, and corporations big and small will join environmentalists and celebrity advocates in today’s observance of Earth Hour, a global campaign involving a one-hour switch-off of lights to dramatize the urgency of saving the planet.
In the Philippines, all government agencies and local government units will participate in the annual Earth Hour campaign later today, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
In a memorandum order, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said there will be three simultaneous switch-off ceremonies in the cities of Makati, Cebu and Davao.
Ochoa also urged public servants nationwide to take an active role in the global campaign as he called on Filipinos to make a long-term commitment to environmental preservation.
“Everybody benefits from the vast resources that our planet gives us and so it is only appropriate that everybody takes responsibility and do our share, even in our own little ways, to help preserve Mother Earth,” Ochoa said.
“And this Earth Hour event is one of the many significant opportunities for us to show our appreciation and care for our environment,” the Executive Secretary added.
He also ordered all government agencies to utilize various communication channels to promote Earth Hour 2012 on their official websites, community newsletters and blogs.
“The government agencies and LGUs play an important role in the environmental conservation campaign since it has the resources to help expand the reach of the campaign and step up the battle against global warming and other forms of environmental degradation to ensure that effective actions are being undertaken towards a sustainable future for the next generations,” Ochoa said.
This is the fifth time that the Philippines is participating in Earth Hour which started in Australia in 2007.
Campaign reaches out to space
For the first time, the global 60-minute switch-off will extend to the International Space Station, where Earth Hour Astronaut-Ambassador Andre Kuipers shall stand vigil over the imperiled planet as the lights switch off at 8:30 p.m. March 31, sharing photos and live commentary.
Kuipers says he is thrilled to participate in Earth Hour to literally take the globally-significant movement to new heights. “There’s no better way to raise awareness for the future of the most beautiful planet in the whole universe!”
Back on Earth, from Angola to Zimbabwe, organizing teams from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and its growing roster of allies have been busy preparing for what is hoped to be the largest environmental celebration in human history.
Founder marking the Hour in PH
Earth Hour founder and Executive Director Andy Ridley said earlier everyone from citizens to businesses, school children to world leaders, need to believe they can make a difference.
“The state of our planet affects each and every one of us,” says Ridley. “Last year Earth Hour reached 1.8 billion people across the planet. This year through digital media we are offering a greater opportunity to connect people with the desire to take much needed action for the environment.”
Ridley - the founder of Earth Hour - is slated to celebrate Earth Hour 2012 in the Philippines, which has been rewarded for topping Earth Hour’s global town and city participation levels for three straight years by being declared a ‘Hero Country’.
Partners for Earth Hour
Philippine Media Champions include TV5, ABS-CBN, GMA-7, CLTV-36, Discovery Channel, Knowledge Channel, ZOE TV, Global News Network, Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, BusinessMirror, Philippine Daily Inquirer Online, Aftercall Magazine, Philippines Graphic, Radyo Veritas, DZIQ, DZAR, Globaltronics, QCreativs, Photoworld Manila, ASK and Illuminati Philippines.
Corporate partners include Arthaland, McDonald's, Globe Telecommunications, Primer Group of Companies, Core, York, Victory Liner, Aboitiz Group of Companies, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Ayala Land, SM Supermalls, Canon Marketing Philippines, the Makati Shangri-La Hotel plus Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila. The list of allies grows longer each day.
“More than anything, Earth Hour is a celebration of hope. When our planet plunges into darkness, we can look to the stars and dream of what can be. When the lights switch back on though - our real work begins,” according to Earth Hour Philippines National Director Atty. Gia Ibay.
Philippine preparations set
WWF-led switch-off ceremonies are slated for the cities of Makati, Cebu and Davao - though other cities and towns are expected to hold well-organized events to observe the switch-off.
Makati City’s Ayala Triangle Gardens shall be the central hub for Luzon. At 6:30 PM on 31 March, glow-in-the-dark dance troupe Bailes de Luces and the Caracol dancers shall form the vanguard of an Earth-themed parade which starts at the Makati fire station and ends at Ayala Tower One - where WWF-Philippines National Ambassador Rovilson Fernandez shall host a program with performances from El Gamma Penumbra, Brigada and other groups. Earth Hour founder Andy Ridley shall lead the country’s main switch-off event, hosted by WWF with the help of Ayala Land and the Makati City Government.
Cebu City’s Plaza Independencia shall be the chief switch-off site for the Visayas. A festive street parade led by local Sinulog Dancers shall start from Fuente Osmeña Circle from 5:30 PM onwards. The Cebu switch-off further features a candle lighting ceremony capped off by the release of biodegradable sky lanterns. Cebu’s event is in cooperation with the Aboitiz Group and the Cebu City Government.
SM Davao shall be the main switch-off site for Mindanao. WWF-Philippines National Ambassador Marc Nelson shall host the switch-off, which features a tribal-themed parade around SM Davao at 6:30 PM. Black-light and fire-dancers shall woo the crowd with specialized routines once the city plunges into darkness. The Davao event is in collaboration with SM Supermalls, the Green Alliance and the Davao City Government.
‘I Will If You Will’ pledges snowballing
Earth Hour 2012’s new ‘I Will If You Will’ handle empowers people to share a personal dare with the world by asking everyone what are you willing to do to save the planet?
The concept of ‘I Will If You Will’ centers around providing a social contract between two parties - connecting one person, business or organization to a ‘promise’ and their friends, family, customers or members to a ‘challenge’ - uniting them behind the common goal of creating a positive environmental outcome.
The campaign has taken hold and ‘I Will If You Will’ pledges are now snowballing across cyberspace.
Cynthia Dayco, a mother and WWF-Philippines Facebook fan, has promised to let her son Josh play Minecraft an hour longer over the summer break if Josh remembers to turn off the lights and fan whenever he leaves his room.
Lyjenunt Gonowon, another WWF-Philippines fan, has pledged to recycle if her friends promise to switch to energy-efficient CFL bulbs.
An enormous LED billboard along EDSA currently showcases pledges posted on the WWF-Philippines fanpage.
Famous faces around the world are speaking out to encourage participation and support for Earth Hour. Environmental activist and former US Vice-President Al Gore urged people to join the switch-off from a video message recorded from Antarctica. Pledges are coming in from a plethora of groups - ranging from top band Coldplay to global supermodel Miranda Kerr. As an open-sourced campaign, Earth Hour uses social media to connect a global community of people inspired to change the world we live in. With a report from Chichi Conde, InterAksyon.com
