"The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats and biodiversity... that's all there is. That's the whole economy. That's where all the economic activity and jobs come from. These biological systems are the sustaining wealth of the world."
I attended Earth Hour event for the past four (4) years already and every year I'm on it, I always love checking out the activities. Now let me share some of the happenings in SM City Cebu last Saturday (March 28, 2015). This year's Earth Hour global theme was "Change Climate Change" and the Cebu City officials led the observance of Earth Hour with its partner establishment, SM City Cebu, turned off 50 percent of its electrical usage.
Before the light was switched off, Mayor Michael Rama told the residents who attended the Earth Hour activity that extinction of mankind would be the consequence if people ignore the threat of global warming, climate change, and other environmental degradation. And he also added, "If we will not do it now, when? If not us, then who?". Councilor Ma. Nida Cabrera said that energy conservation can be backed by other initiatives like proper waste segregation and waste disposition. Miss Theresa Sederiosa said that information campaign was done and it was time to make it a habit and not just an hour to magnify the result of energy conservation.
Earth Hour was recognized as the world's largest voluntary action for environment and has reached 154 countries as of 2013, involving more or less 7,000 towns and cities all over the world. I also learned Earth Hour was started in Australia last 2007 and became a worldwide movement which uses the very simple act, turning off lights for 60 minutes. Philippines has been an active participant of Earth Hour since last 2008 and earned the status of being "Earth Hero Country". And I also took note that Cebu first participated in celebrating Earth Hour last 2009 and saved more or less 8 megawatts over the years.
After counting, a mega outlet where the huge plug was mounted has been unplugged to signal that it was time to switch off the lights. Candles inside a paper cups formed "60+ Earth Hour SM Cebu" viewed the area. The festive tribal music started together with the fire dancers who played the fire amazingly and it did entertain the attendees for how many minutes. The Knapsack Dancer performed a shadow dance that story tell how important our environment was and how are we going to improve it so that our future generations can taste the sweetness of Mother Nature.
While on the other side of the City, almost 5,000 bicycle enthusiasts gathered for the Earth Hour Night Ride at the Cebu Business Park to promote transportation sans carbon under the very bright moonlit and stars up in the sky. And in connection with the bicycling, SM City Cebu unveiled the newly bike racks located in the parking lot of the mall.
'Til the next year's Earth Hour fellow citizen and may we all achieve the goal to make Earth Hour a habit and not just annually executed. ^_^
