Earth Hour is a yearly movement held in different parts of the globe that encourages people to turn off unnecessary lights and other electrical appliances for one hour. First held in 2007 and spearheaded by the World Wide Fund for Nature in Australia, it aims to raise awareness about why we need to take action against climate change. It’s scheduled from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time.
This year, Earth Hour falls on March 25. It is a perfect opportunity to consciously take a break from the hustle and bustle, while knowing full well that you are doing this to help save the planet.
If you’re planning to participate in this global movement, here are ideas on how you can spend this year’s Earth Hour.
Storytime with kids and kids at heart
When I was little back in the ‘90s, our place was plagued by regular power interruptions. I can’t imagine that happening today – with my heavy reliance on electronic devices and appliances. But back then, my mom would gather us in the same room for storytelling sessions that lasted until the power came back or we fell asleep, whichever came first. When our older cousins were there, we would collectively write stories – often horror – using “dugtungan” under the candlelight. Most times, we would have contests on who can make the best shadows using our hands.
For me, storytelling will always be a perfect way to spend Earth Hour. Gather a bunch of storybooks beforehand, preferably those with environmental themes, and practice your delivery for the kiddos at home. You can use sock puppets and makeshift props to make it even more engaging.
No kids in the house? No worries! You can share horror stories or write your own tales using dugtungan, like what we used to do.
Read more:
- 10 Reasons Why You Should Share Scary Stories to Kids
- The Perfect Tree – Children’s book talks about the environment for kids!
Attend a music festival
For music lovers out there, a music festival will be a perfect way to spend Earth Hour. Usually organized by environment enthusiasts, these fests feature mostly indie artists known for their support for the environment. These festivals can be held inside a mall or an open area surrounded by nature.
No music fest in your area and not keen on driving far to attend one? Why don’t you organize your own? Whether you hold it in a big venue, partnering with other like-minded businesses and artists in your place, or in your backyard with your small group of friends and family, jamming under the moon and stars is a great way to pass time.
Go camping
Camping is a fun way to spend time and reconnect with your family while enjoying the simplicity of nature. Here, you could cook, hike, share stories, and gaze at the stars.
Plus, you get to teach your kids and teens survival skills, like pitching a tent, starting a fire, cooking without a stove, and making sure to take your garbage when you leave the campsite. Just make sure to use mosquito repellent so no one gets sick. Also secure a fully charged phone and inform a trusted friend of your whereabouts before going for safety purposes.
Cook a sustainable meal
According to scientists, the simplest way to save the planet is to shift to a plant-based diet. There are thousands of scrumptious and easy vegan and vegetarian recipes available on the Internet to try.
(Personally, I love veganizing Filipino recipes and I find RG Enriquez-Diez (Astig Vegan) as a valuable resource. Vegan dinuguan, anyone?)
Or, you can host a no-waste cooking contest for your housemates. Here, competitors will have to make sure to use ingredients that are commonly discarded, like banana peel or vegetable trimmings.
Slow down wherever you are
Finally, remember that you don’t have to do anything special during these sixty minutes. You can just stay where you are, do things that do not require using electricity, or do nothing at all.
Why not use this one hour to reconnect with your loved ones? Watch a movie together, play board games, or simply catch up on each other’s lives. You can simply spend time together, which can be a luxury nowadays because of our busy lives.
If you are living alone, you can spend this time to meditate, write on your journal, do some inner child work, or read a few chapters of a book. You can even tidy up or declutter your space. Before you know it, the hour is over and you’re back to a world of bright lights.
But Earth Hour is more than an annual event participated by millions around the world. It serves as a reminder of our individual and collectively responsibility to protect the Earth. By simply turning off our lights for sixty minutes every year, we can show our commitment to helping to try to save our only home.
Yes, switching off your lights for Earth Hour is a simple act. But this is also a powerful way to demonstrate our willingness to take action in fighting climate change. Hopefully, we will try to do our best to choose sustainable practices in our daily lives for the rest of the year.
