Starting 8pm tonight, for one hour, major cities in the world including Manila , will switch off lights as part of the global movement called Earth Hour

Launched in Australia on the 31st of March 2007, Earth Hour moved 2.2 million people and 2100 businesses in Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour. This massive collective effort reduced the city’s energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for an hour.

Why participate?

Just because your city may not have signed up for the Earth Hour means you will not be able to participate. Unless you have a space shuttle that will take you to Mars, or you’re an alien. We’re all in this together.

We don’t need an environmental catastrophe to feel the brunt of nature for all the neglect we brought upon her. Yesterday, Bacolod City experienced heavy rains which is very unusual in summer when temperature is even expected to reach 38 degrees. A few weeks ago, residents of Brgy. Mansilingan experienced hail. Hail is not an unusual phenomenon but it doesn’t usually happen in a tropical country much less in a lowland area such as Bacolod.

What to do?

For one hour tonight, starting 8pm, turn off all lights and all appliances using electricity. It will not end global warming but at least you have consciously exerted an effort to advocate energy conservation. It will not even be much of a bother. You will only miss miss your favorite weekend public affairs program. I’m sure Jessica Soho won’t mind if I miss her show in exchange for a special cause.

So at 8pm tonight, switch off electricity, go outside, enjoy the breeze and the summer sky. It’s a date.