Eight o’clock sharp is lights out at our home, though this Saturday we may be pushing bedtime back about 30 minutes.
My six-year-old will probably sleep through Earth Hour, but it certainly won’t go unnoticed by others in our home.
There’s nothing quite like spending Saturday night in the dark in order to support the fight against climate change.
For the fourth year in a row, large chunks of the world’s population will power down their tech-heavy lives to celebrate Earth Hour. For 60 minutes beginning at 8:30 p.m. local time the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) is asking that we all lend a hand to assist in the world’s largest global climate change initiative ever.
The event, which originated in Australia in 2007, included just over two million people. The following year more than 50 million people across the planet participated in Earth Hour, with major landmarks as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, and Rome’s Colosseum all shutting off their lights for 60 minutes. According to the WWF, in 2010, some 80 million people in cities across the world took part in the hour of darkness.
If you have kids who are old enough to understand the concept behind Earth Hour, then you might consider including them in the festivities. Yes, make going dark fun. Light a fire in the fireplace or illuminate your living room with candles, then discuss ways you can conserve energy on a daily basis instead of just 60 minutes on a Saturday night in March.
Teens may not appreciate having to turn off their laptops and joining the family for board games by candlelight, but once you get their attention, then you can brainstorm ways to preserve our planet without going cold turkey on electricity. Instead, consider biking or carpooling to school a few days a week. Another idea is to lower the thermostat during part of the winter or grow your own food in a backyard garden.
What are you planning to do with your kids during Earth Hour?
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