San Juan City, Metro Manila (24 March) — The Sangguniang Panlungsod of San Juan City, Metro Manila recently adopted a Resolution expressing its support to the observance of Earth Hour 2010 last March 27 at 8.30 o’clock in the evening as they joined the global call to action for every individual, every business and every community throughout the world to stand up, take responsibility and get involved the concerted effort towards a sustainable future.
Councilor Dante Santiago, main sponsor of the Resolution, said that the city council supported the call to switch off lights for one hour last March 27 and encouraged San Juaneños to adopt other measures to continuously save on power and at the same time work together to create a sustainable low carbon future.
The event coincides with the 103rd celebration of the Araw ng San Juan and programs has been proposed for all the 21 barangays to adopt on the said date.
“Experts say that the new economic modeling indicates the world has just five years to initiate a low carbon industrial revolution before runaway climate change becomes almost inevitable.” Santiago explained. “We must act now and the Sangguniang Panlungsod agreed to take the cudgels.”
Santiago, a three-term legislator, also gave tips on how to further support the aspirations of Earth Hour. Among these are:
1. For people to sign up as a supporter of Earth Hour at www.earthhour.org and invite friends and family to do the same.
2. Use compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), also known as a compact fluorescent light or energy saving light bulbs – which use less power and have a longer rated life. It will eliminate 300 lbs. of Carbon Dioxide or CO2 a year
3. For office workers to commit to car-pooling or take public transit one day a week. Car-pooling keeps 2.5 kg of greenhouse gases from billowing into the atmosphere.
4. To set one’s computer’s margin setting to.75″ on all sides of their documents to save 6,156,000 trees, or enough energy to power over 108,000 homes.
5. To set all computers to energy-saving settings and then shut them down completely at day’s end. Even “standby” settings will continue to waste power.
6. Keep drapes and shades open during the day to allow sunlight into your home.
For companies, the council proposed that they:
1. Support Earth Hour by hanging banners and posters.
2. Hold company-wide events or celebrations for employees the week preceding Earth Hour and serve “green-themed” refreshments.
3. Can host an Earth Hour “lights out” party for your staff, customers and vendors on the night of the event.
4. Create an Earth Hour section on the company intranet where employees can post ideas for celebrating Earth Hour and photos following up the event.
5. Hold a contest among employees with a prize for the best ideas for reducing waste and cutting energy consumption in your company’s daily operations.
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. A year later Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 100 countries participating.
It is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations whose mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.
In the Philippines, Earth Hour 2010 is promoted by WWF-Philippines also known as Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas Foundation Inc., a non-stock, non-profit organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC). (PIA)