MGEU Urges Everyone to Participate in Earth Hour
Mar 26, 2008
This March 29, Earth Hour will be observed for the second consecutive year. This year’s event will be recognized in dozens of cities around the world.
Everyone is invited to participate in personal activities to raise awareness of global warming between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. (local time) on that day.
Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 out of concern for the planet. On March 31, 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. The result was a 10.2% saving in energy. If the greenhouse reduction achieved in Sydney during Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.
The event demonstrates that, when citizens unite, small actions can make a difference on a global scale. Individual actions on a mass scale do help change the planet for the better.
The Government of Manitoba is encouraging its employees to take part, and will be shutting off lighting in several of its facilities as part of the program. The City of Winnipeg has also signed on as one of the participating cities. Civic buildings on Main Street will turn out their lights between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. CT that Saturday night. Lights in police headquarters, the civic and library parkades and the downtown skywalk will stay on for safety reasons, officials have stated.
This year Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver will be among participating Canadian cities. Some 10,000 Canadians have already registered as participants for Earth Hour 2008.
To take action all year round, act on any three of the suggestions below and you’ll make a difference. Do more and your impact will be even greater.
The MGEU urges as many individuals and businesses to participate as possible. Further information can be found at the Earth Hour website (www.earthhour.org).
Here are 10 of the most effective ways to help conserve energy and improve our environment:
1. Reduce home energy use by 10%.
2. Choose an energy-efficient home and appliances.
3. Don’t use pesticides.
4. Eat meat-free meals one day a week.
5. Buy locally grown and produced food.
6. Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle.
7. Walk, bike, carpool or take transit.
8. Choose a home close to work or school.
9. Support alternative transportation.
10. Learn more and share with others.
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Thank you for posting #4. Eating meat is hard on the environment. To make 1 pound of meat , takes over a dozen lbs of grain and hundreds of gallons of water. I am going to turn all my power off for a couple hours , and I encourage you to do the same.
jimcotton - 2008-03-27 16:05