Everyone urged to join Earth Hour

ALL sectors are urged to join this year’s global celebration of Earth Hour on March 27 by putting off lights and other non-essential appliances for one hour starting 8:30 p.m.

More than 80 countries all over the world are expected to join the celebration.

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Climate Change Commissioner Naderev Saño said the experts have diagnosed the planet as having a fever with symptoms of global warming, coastal bleaching, melting polar ice caps, and unpredictable weather occurrences like the El Niño phenomenon.

“Climate change is upon us and we must act now. Earth Hour is only a symbolism but it does not mean that we already have done our part. We should be wary because it entails climate impacts, environmental destruction, economic disruption and other social problems,” Saño said.

He said the adverse effect of climate change may change the way we live on Earth.

“We should be concerned about climate change because changes are happening at a faster rate than ever,” Saño said.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and its non-government partners World Wildlife Fund and Green Movement want to surpass the record of having 10 million participants last year to 15 million this year.

DOE Undersecretary Lorraine Ayson is asking the help of the youth and the local government units to join the celebration.

“This year we are aiming for the number 1 spot with the most number of participants with our goal of 15 million participants,” Ayson said.

The energy department reported that the nationwide energy conserved last year because of Earth Hour all was 6,011 megawatts. That is equivalent to the amount of power generated by the biggest power plant in the country in Sual, Pangasinan.

Ayson added the department is also requesting the participants to register their participation by texting green (space) reg (space) firstname/middle initial/last name/earthhour to 5777 or through e-mail by sending their personal details to ehp2010 secretariat@gmail.com.

Registration for the international participation may also be done through the official website of the project www.earthour.org. (JM Agreda)