The first Earth Hour was held in Sydney Australia as a symbolic lights-out event in 2007. It has since grown into a worldwide environmental movement which is celebrated annually. This year, Earth Hour falls on 30 March.
Besides just switching off your lights for one hour (which South Africans need to do anyway due to load-shedding) why not do something fun with family or friends to support the cause.
Earth Hour Adventure – South Africa
The World Wildlife Fund has hosted Earth Hour ‘dashes’ in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town twice before and this year it will once again host the Earth Hour Adventure event, along with an additional event it will be running for the first time, and adventure dash in the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Roodepoort, Johannesburg.
The family-friendly orienteering-style adventure dash will kick off at 6pm on 30 March 2019. Participants use headlamps and torches to navigate to hidden checkpoints across a 5km course in the gardens. After racing around in the dark, everyone is welcome to spread a picnic blanket on the lawns and enjoy entertainment under the stars while marking the actual Earth Hour.
Cost: R180 per adult and R100 per child, sold through Quicket. Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Earth Hour is a global initiative and here are some ways that people in other countries are celebrating Earth Hour (find more on the Earth Hour event map):
Litter pickup and stargazing – Dundonald Castle, Scotland
There will be a litter-pickup in Dundonald Woods from 7.30pm on the day. The public is invited to meet at the Visitor Centre to learn about Earth Hour and find out all about the environment and how to save energy from the Centre’s Crazy Castle Kids.
‘We will also be heading up the hill to do some stargazing (weather permitting), so bring your own stargazing equipment,’ says the event page.
Eco family camp – Melbourne, Australia
Camp under the stars on this kid-friendly eco family camp along the Plenty River in Plenty Gorge Park (20 km north of Melbourne). The park has an abundance of Australian wildlife and kangaroos ‘can be often seen in the park, as well as echidnas, lizards, and a huge variety of birds including cockatoos, galahs, eagles, kookaburras, magpies, rosellas, and ibis,’ according to the camp.
Lights Switch-Off – Makati, The Philippines
The main switch-off event will take place at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati from 5pm to 10pm, with the actual switch-off from 8:30-9:30pm. There will be at least 3,000 scouts in attendance and the public is invited to join in. There will be stands, activities, and performances honouring the planet.
Tea and Tunes by Tealight, Republic of Ireland
Westport Eco-Congregation will be hosting ‘Tea and Tunes by Tealight’ on Saturday, 30 March from 8:30pm to 9:30pm to support Earth Hour.
Image: World Wildlife Foundation
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