Earth Hour in Singapore

Turning darkness into a green torch
Local businesses to join global effort on March 28 for a lights-out hour
Esther Ng, Today Online 11 Dec 08;

ON THE night of March 28, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) hopes to get 1 million people in Singapore — not just individuals, but also businesses and even iconic buildings — to turn off the lights for an hour.

They would be joining a targeted 1 billion people, in 1,000 cities around the world, in flicking the switch for Earth Hour, which was first staged last year in Australia.

Earlier this year, a few businesses and scattered individuals in Singapore had joined in the voluntary blackout, but next year marks Singapore’s official participation, alongside more than 370 cities.

Already signed up for the big effort are organisations such as SingTel, Meritus Hotels and Resorts, Microsoft, the National Parks Board, the National University of Singapore and Weber Shandwick.

Marina Mandarin, for instance, will turn off the lights at its facade and all unoccupied rooms during the appointed hour which begins at 8.30pm. Guests will be invited to celebrate Earth Hour as well, with torches in their rooms that they can use.

Said marketing communications manager Rae Tang: “We’ll try to get our outlets, our restaurants and shops to observe as well. For the safety of our guests, the corridors will still be lit, but we’ll be dimming the lights in our atriums and lobbies.”

SingTel will reach out via SMS, Facebook and its MyBill portal to its subscribers and 11,000-odd employees.

WWF Singapore’s managing director Amy Ho said: “It’s a symbolic gesture to raise awareness on climate change among individuals and businesses, and it’s simple enough for everyone to participate.”

But with Earth Hour to fall during a prime time slot on Saturday — when many Singaporeans are expected to be out dining, shopping or partying — how much of an impact would the campaign have?

Earth Hour’s public relations manager Rachel Faulkner said: “All we’re asking is for people to change their behaviour just slightly — it’s only one hour of the whole year. Instead of going out, you can throw a candlelit dinner party at home. Or, you could go to a restaurant that is observing Earth Hour.”

The 8.30pm time slot was picked, she added, as it would be dark enough to make an impact when the lights go off, but not too late for children to participate.

“We hope these challenges will make people think about climate change and how small changes can make a huge difference on an on-going basis, like switching to energy saving appliances,” said Ms Faulkner.

The WWF will be speaking to restaurants, pubs, building owners and businesses to get them involved in Earth Hour.

Food #03, at Rowell Road, is one restaurant that will be taking part.

“We’re already observing Earth Hour. We do that once a month on a Saturday, from 9pm to midnight. And our customers love the ambience,” said director Mr Woon Tien Wee, 33.

First-year undergraduate Cindy Chng will also be participating. The 19-year-old worked with grassroots leaders in Keat Hong constituency to rally residents for a “Shanghai Nights” party held during Earth Hour earlier this year. “More than 500 people turned up and had a good time ... We’ll definitely do something next year,” said Cindy, who had spent this year’s Earth Hour star gazing with friends at the Chinese Gardens.