As I wrote about earlier in the month, Earth Hour is an annual event to unite people globally to take action on environmental issues. Typically, it's the 4th Sunday in March, shutting off non-essential lights in your time zone from 8:30-9:30 pm... acting like a virtual wave around the planet of activism and momentum.
This year, as our lives and ability to move about seem to change daily in order to protect lives against the ever-moving Coronavirus, Earth Hour (just like everything else) seems topsy turvy and semi-upside down.
Some question why World Wildlife Fund doesn't just cancel it--especially in the middle of a global health crisis. On their FAQ page, they argue that now, more than ever, is a time to stand together:
"Earth Hour 2020 is more than a symbolic event, it is a global environmental movement to stop the destruction of nature on which our health, happiness and future prosperity depends. Nature is the planet’s life support system and gives us everything we need; from the air we breathe, the water we drink, to the food we eat. The link between nature and good health has been well documented. Even spending two hours a week in nature is known to lead to better health. Nature underpins our life, health and well-being but it is in a crisis! Now is not the time to pause our collective work, but a time to respond more creatively, work more collaboratively, and listen and adapt more effectively."
To counter the health risks of coming together for any kind of Earth Hour event, the global organizing team is promoting people to celebrate it either at home or digitally this year.
In truth, it started as a grassroots movement doing just this, so celebrating at home is not different to what most people have done in the past. Here are some things you can do at home:
- Definitely read Earth Hour's blog post about 20 things to do from the comfort of your own home. My favorites start with turning out those lights and doing things like playing board games by candlelights, embarking on some backyard camping, and diving into a glowstick scavenger hunt. There are lots of links inside the post and its a perfect place to get loads of ideas.
- Check out previous lists of GTG's to see even more brainstorms as to fill your lights-out hour.
- Order & read the new book out by Nanette Heffernan: "Earth Hour: A Lights-Out Event for Our Planet."
- Add your name to "Voice for the Planet" petition.
- Watch some of the Earth Hour livestreams.
- Spread the word on your social media platforms.
- Learn more about the issues by watching David Attenborough's "How to Save Our Planet."
- Make your voice heard via these hashtags: #Connect2Earth and #EarthHour.
Images from https://www.greenroofs.com/event/earth-hour-2020/ and https://parklife.birchwoodpark.co.uk/news/earth-hour-2020-connect-to-earth/ and screenshot from Screenshot from https://www.earthhour.org; book cover from Amazon.com
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