With the annual ‘Earth Hour’ just two days away, Delhiites appear all set for the global event that celebrates green activism and curb climate change.
“I strongly feel for the initiative as anyone and everyone can participate by simply switching off the non-essential lights for an hour,” says Aalia Hasan, an independent marketing professional.
’Earth Hour’, started in 2007, is celebrated on the last Saturday of March every year. People around the world express their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour.
India observed its first Earth Hour in 2009 with people in 56 cities switching off the lights.
This year, Delhi will join the world in the activity on Saturday between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm.
“I will definitely be a part of the event and will try to convince my friends to join me,” Sumaya Tazeen, an HR professional, said.
The last weekend of March is around the time of the Spring and Autumn equinoxes in the northern and southern hemispheres respectively, which allows for near coincidental sunset times in both hemispheres, thereby ensuring the greatest visual impact for a global lights out campaign, a statement on the campaign website reads.
According to data available on its website, over 1,700 landmarks, including the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris and India Gate in New Delhi, went dark for Earth Hour 2012.
The initiative by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is to encourage individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take accountability for their “ecological footprint and engage in dialogue and resource exchange that provides real solutions to our environmental challenges”, the statement reads.