Over 300 organisations, 3,000 people will switch off lights on March 28
Amresh Gunasingham, Straits Times 21 Mar 09;
THE world is marking the fight against climate change next week, and Singapore has caught the bug in a big way.
More than 300 organisations and 3,000 individuals here have pledged to switch off their lights for an hour next Saturday night to mark Earth Hour, a global initiative by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to raise awareness on climate change issues.
Famous local landmarks such as the Merlion, the Singapore Flyer and the Esplanade will 'go dark' to lend their support. The prime shopping district of Orchard Road will also be blanketed in darkness, with landmarks such as Wheelock Place, Paragon Shopping Centre and Wisma Atria switching off their facade lights and other external lighting.
The observance of Earth Hour, which was first initiated in Sydney two years ago, has spread around the world, and this year, 1,800 cities in 80 countries have committed to switch off their lights for an hour.
In Singapore, participation has also ballooned from last year, the first time Singapore took part, when only 'a few dozen organisations' had signed up, said the WWF.
A three-member team started making preparations last September in a concerted effort to target buildings in the business district and the prime shopping belts of Orchard Road and Marina Bay this year.
Said the campaign manager for the event here, Ms Carine Seror: 'It really is a snowball effect...One individual can make the difference by choosing to switch off the lights at home.
'Others might hear about it and this gets people to think and talk about the issues out there and take action.'
Earlier this year, Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar pledged his support for Earth Hour. 'Earth Hour is a laudable initiative...It is a reminder that each of us can make a difference by making small changes to our habits and lifestyles,' said Professor Jayakumar, who leads a ministerial committee to tackle climate change.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Development are two of the 13 government agencies slated to participate by switching off lights in their buildings.
This symbolic gesture will take place at 8.30pm - based on each participating country's local time - on March 28. It is a cumulative show of solidarity to demonstrate how working together can make a difference in the fight against climate change.
Said Ms Seror: 'The key message we want to get across is that climate change is an issue that goes beyond switching off your lights for an hour. It is about the small changes each individual can make in his everyday life, which can have an important effect.'
Other corporations such as software giant Microsoft and the National Geographic Channel are spreading the green message regionally.
Microsoft will display banners across its social media network - which reaches 1.5 million users in Singapore and approximately 13 million people in South-east Asia - in the run-up to the event.
'We believe in Earth Hour's central message - that one person can make the difference...The supreme example of this is Mahatma Gandhi,' said Mr Craig Law-Smith, Microsoft's South-east Asia marketing director, Online Services Group.
On March 28, National Geographic Channel will impose a 'channel blackout' of programmes and will instead run factoids on environmental issues across its South-east Asia and Hong Kong channels.
Developer CapitaLand has pledged that 106 of its properties in the region and Australia - 29 from Singapore, including Raffles City and Plaza Singapura - will switch off their facade lights.
The Hong Leong Group, which includes property giant City Developments, has taken the project a step further. Apart from 25 hotels, buildings and offices switching off their lights, 2,000 employees have even agreed to 'sleep naked' - that is with the air-conditioning switched off.
Individuals have been equally enthusiastic in their support for Earth Hour. More than 3,000 people here have signed up on the campaign's website to go 'lights off' at home.
One such individual is Mr Justin Chai, 22. 'What I found meaningful was the idea that although our impact as individuals is limited, the message is significant if we come together collectively,' said the third-year mass communication student at Nanyang Technological University.
The organisers have also adopted an official ambassador for Earth Hour Singapore, television presenter Nadya Hutagalung, to spread the message.
Climate Change is a topic she holds close to heart, said the former model who took on the role for free.
'Looking at the bigger picture, government legislation has been greatly effective as a medium of change,' she said. 'But for the man in the street, what is the point of making huge gestures when the little things that we do every day are not making a difference?'
Highlights of this year's Earth Hour
Straits Times 21 Mar 09;
EARTH Hour is a symbolic initiative of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
It is an annual event aimed at getting individuals, households and businesses around the world to turn off their lights and electrical appliances for one hour to increase awareness about climate change and conservation.
Next Saturday at 8.30pm local time, people around the world will be encouraged to turn off their lights for an hour. More than 1,800 cities in 80 countries have committed to switching off their lights during Earth Hour this year.
The WWF aims to reach 1 billion people to illustrate the world community's support for action on climate change.
Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights. Last year, 50 million people took part.
The Four Seasons Hotel Group will be pulling in its 35 hotels around the world to participate in the 'longest candlelight dinner' - entertaining dinner guests at its restaurants by candlelight.
A host of activities are planned at Wisma Atria along Orchard Road.
The Astrological Society of Singapore will be holding a star-gazing party, and shoppers can look through telescopes and learn about the stars. There will also be outdoor performances by Samba Masala, a youth percussion band from the Singapore Management University.
Ms Amy Lim, general manager of YTL Pacific Star, Wisma Atria's property manager, said: 'We will create a strong visual message when lights on Singapore's premier shopping street are turned off on a busy Late Night Shopping Saturday.'
AMRESH GUNASINGHAM
More links See the Earth Hour Singapore blog for a wide range of events organised by NGOs for Earth Hour.
