Support for Earth Hour growing in Singapore

More firms have signed up this year, with some going the extra mile
Victoria Vaughan Straits Times 24 Mar 10;

THE movement to turn off the lights for an hour this Saturday to raise awareness about climate change is gathering steam.

More than 500 companies have pledged to take part in Earth Hour, up from last year's total of 450 companies.

Individuals are also signing up to do their bit. The number of pledges is growing, and the Earth Hour organiser here, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), is hoping that it will top last year's 10,000.

Earth Hour, to be observed here for the second year in a row, requires its supporters to switch off their lights between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday.

Iconic buildings across the island - from Orchard Road's Ion to the Central Business District's HSBC Building and Maybank Tower to Changi Airport - will go dark during that time.

But some buildings are going beyond turning off their lights during that hour, noted Miss Carine Seror, who heads the WWF's Earth Hour project.

For example, property giant CapitaLand will switch off the lights on the facades of about 180 of its properties across Asia at the appointed time - and for the next nine hours after that.

Event sponsor SingTel will switch off the air-conditioning at its offices during lunch hour on Friday. Resorts World Sentosa, taking part for the first time, will switch off its facade lights, fountain lights and half of its lobby and carpark lights.

A bicycle convoy made up of 50 cyclists will make its way from the campus green of the Singapore Management University at 6pm to the Esplanade Park in time for the Earth Hour concert.

The Earth Hour Cycle, organised by Baik, a Singapore-based bike-touring company, drew only 10 cyclists last year. This year, the group is welcoming public participation. Ms Yvonne Lim, part owner of the business, said: 'I thought it was ironic that people used their cars to get to a green event last year, so we are hoping to encourage more people to cycle.'

The concert will feature a yoga lesson and performances by guitar duet Jack and Rai, a Michael Jackson impersonator, illusionist J.C. Sum and 'Magic Babe' Ning, youth drumming group Freedom Percussion and a cappella group Juz B. From the show venue, concert-goers will be able to see the city skyline in darkness for an hour.

Miss Seror said the WWF hopes the initiative will grow year on year, and that the evening's deliberate blackout will lead to more long-term action.

'We hope companies aren't using it for green-washing and that the message goes beyond this hour,' she said, referring to the practice of giving a misleading picture of environmental friendliness to cover up damaging activities.

Individuals may sign up online at earthhour.wwf.sg to pledge their participation in Earth Hour, a movement which began in 2007 in Sydney. That year, 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for an hour; today, the movement has more than five million supporters in over 100 countries.

Things to do when darkness descends
Today Online 24 Mar 10;

SINGAPORE - Orchard Road may be a little dim on Saturday but shoppers and visitors will not be shortchanged for want of things to do.

They can, for example, watch the inaugural Earth Hour concert at 313@Somerset, which will use used cooking oil converted into biodiesel to provide the power and lights for the show.

To date, more than 10 shopping malls belonging to the Orchard Road Business Association (Orba) have committed to switching off some of their lights to support this year's Earth Hour. Some have also planned activities and promotions for the time their lights are off.

Besides 313@Somerset, where the show starts at 8.30pm, ION Orchard will hold a Lights-Out party from 8pm, which will include an interactive mass drumming performance. It will also turn its facade lights off for 10 hours from 8.30pm on Saturday to 6.30am on Sunday to mark CapitaLand's 10th anniversary. More than 190 of CapitaLand's properties worldwide will do the same.

Wisma Atria will also mark the occasion with activities that include star-gazing on its rooftop gardent and a countdown to Earth Hour 2010.

Ms Amy Ho, managing director of World Wildlife Fund Singapore, said it hopes Orba's move "marks the first step towards longer term collaboration about educating shoppers on sustainable lifestyle and more environmentally friendly consumption practices".

Malls join Earth Hour
Reico Wong, Straits Times 24 Mar 10;

Mrs Sng Ngoi May, Chairman of the Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA), said that during Earth Hour, the malls, hotels, restaurants and other businesses on Orchard Road will switch off their facade and other non-essential lights for at least an hour starting from 8.30pm. -- PHOTO: ST

SHOPPING malls along Orchard Road will join global efforts to mark Earth Hour on Saturday.

More than 10 shopping centres, including new malls such as ION Orchard, 313@Orchard, Orchard Central and Mandarin Gallery, will switch off their facade and other non-essential lights for at least an hour starting from 8.30pm.

The move is an attempt to demonstrate that with concerted efforts, mankind can make a difference in the fight against carbon emissions and climate change. Earth Hour is organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), one of the world's largest and highly recognised conservation organisations with almost five million supporters globally.

Mrs Sng Ngoi May, Chairman of the Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA), said: 'Switching off our lights is a simple act which sends out a powerful message. During Earth Hour, our malls, hotels, restaurants and other businesses on Orchard Road will be united with millions around the globe to demonstrate that in our own little ways, we can all make changes to reduce our total energy consumption.'

Many of the malls will also hold a variety of related activities and promotions. Wisma Atria is organising a countdown to Earth Hour as well as star gazing and polaroid picture-pledging, while CapitaLand will hold an Earth Hour Lights-Out party with live performances at ION Orchard.

Ms Amy Ho, Managing Director of WWF Singapore, said: 'ORBA's pledge to join the Earth Hour switch-off is a resounding statement for Singapore staying true to its commitment in joining the fight against climate change.

'We hope that this marks the first step towards longer term collaboration about educating shoppers on sustainable lifestyle and more environmentally friendly consumption practices.'