Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia 9 Mar 09;
SINGAPORE: It is just a few weeks before Earth Hour on March 28, when households and businesses are encouraged to switch off their electricity usage for one hour.
It is the first time Singapore is taking part in the initiative to raise awareness on climate issues. While the number of people registered for the event seems dismal in Singapore, the organisers are not worried.
They have a target of one million participants, but so far, only about 2,000 people and 250 companies have registered on the event's website to do their part for the environment.
Organisers believe there will be thousands out there taking part in Earth Hour in their own way, and tracking numbers can only be done after the event is over.
Take the first Earth Hour in Sydney in 2007 for example. Director of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Singapore, Carine Seror, said: "There were just a few hundred companies, just a few thousand participants registered on the website, but actually the real figure of participation was 2.2 million."
And to encourage more people to get involved, there will be a candlelight picnic at the Esplanade Park on the big day.
Ms Seror said: "You bring down your picnic mat and your candles and just join us for a big party. We start at 5pm with the green carnival and by 7pm, we will have some entertainment before the blackout at 8.30pm."
And giving their support to Earth Hour is MediaCorp's radio station Class 95FM. The station has been promoting the event on-air and it has other plans lined up on the day itself.
Senior programme director of Class 95FM, MediaCorp, Erina Cook, said: "We're going to run reminders to our listeners so that they can be reminded that it's not too late to take part in Earth Hour, and to switch off all their lights to support Earth Hour."
So if you are at home or out and about on March 28, don't be in the dark when the lights go out for Earth Hour at 8.30pm.
- CNA/yt
Man with a message
Agatha Koh Brazil, Today Online 10 Mar 09;
WILD fires, snow in unlikely regions and even Singapore’s own spate of bush fires have helped to turn Singapore’s corporate conscience a little bit greener.
Around this time last year, Craig Law Smith (picture) was knocking on doors trying to interest decision-makers into taking part in Singapore’s inaugural Earth Hour event.
This year, Craig, one of the prime movers of the WWF campaign here, is chuffed that — at last count — about250 organisations have already signed on to the event on March 28.
“Last year’s effort was a very grass roots effort with myself and one other person from the World Wildlife Foundation literally knocking on doors and spreading awareness of Earth Hour,” says the 41-year-old.
About 15 corporations took part in the pioneering effort last year. This year, the event has secured the participation of: “icons” such as the Singapore Flyer, the National Museum of Singapore, the Singapore Management University as well as the Singapore Tourism Board. They will switch off non-essential lights for an hour from 8.30 pm.
Such commitment could not have been possible though, if not for the lessons learnt from last year’s maiden effort.
“To get something done, you need to be very organised, start early and use a model that will scale. You also have to communicate the same message, again and again, and continue to reiterate that message.” says Craig, who got involved last year because of his job. He is the marketing director for South-east Asia, for Micrsoft’s Online Services Group.
“In Singapore alone, we have 1.5 million Windows Live Messenger users that we will be reaching out to. This will be done by promoting Earth Hour on our network through banners which link to the Earth Hour site and on the MSN home page where we can tell people about Earth Hour.
“This makes it an ideal way to pass the message along and get more people in the community involved.”
But he believes technology cannot replace passion. “I strongly believe that nothing truly great can be accomplished without passion. Last year, we only had two passionate people doing things,we started late and weren’t that organised.
“This year, we started at least six months ahead with a very passionate organising committee ... We stronglybelieve that Earth Hour this year will have a massive impact.”
About 1 million people in Singapore are expected to take part in the event which started in Sydney in 2007.
Craig walks or rather, cycles the talk. The British citizen was born in Kenya but has lived in Asia for the past 20 years. Now a Singapore Permanent Resident, he cycles from his home in Siglap to his office at Marina Boulevard.
“It’s good for the environment and great for my health,” he says.
Many companies, he says, are happy to be told how they can contribute.
“Where things get more difficult is getting individuals on the street aware of Earth Hour, and that’s where the early planning takes fruit.
“Here, we need to scale. One way of doing this is having corporations spread the word to their employees through posters ... and an email reminder on the day to switch off the lights.”
SingTel will be sending SMS messages to its mobile subscribers on that day. There will also be Earth Hour commercials on TV channels and before movies are screened at Golden Village cinemas. There will also be billboards at bus stops and trailers on buses.
“So, the main hurdle to overcome is awareness, and from there, with a helping hand, participation is the next step.
“In the initial stages when we approached people, we would get a reaction such as there’s no way we can turn off all the lights. But then, you explain they can just turn the lights off outside of their building or (if we are talking to restaurants) they can keep their kitchens running but just serve a candle light dinner.”
“Keep saying things over and over again,” says Craig. This is something he is good at too, because of his 18-month-old son, he quips.
“But, if someone doesn’t understand you, then it’s your fault.”
The MSN and Windows Live team got involved because it felt that it was one initiative “we thought we could definitely make a significant difference with,” says Craig. “It is the right thing to do.”
On March 28, An Inconvenient Truth will be screened at the Botanic Gardens from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Reserve your seat at www.wwf.org. From 5pm to 10 pm, there will be an Earth Hour blackout event at the Esplanade Park where a candle light picnic will be held.
More about the effort on the Earth Hour Singapore site
