LIHU‘E — Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. announced Thursday today his support for Earth Hour 2010, a global-climate event led by the World Wildlife Fund, and instructed county department heads to ensure that all nonessential lights, computers and printers are turned
LIHU‘E — Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. announced Thursday today his support for Earth Hour 2010, a global-climate event led by the World Wildlife Fund, and instructed county department heads to ensure that all nonessential lights, computers and printers are turned off in county facilities over the weekend.
Kaua‘i joins thousands of cities, towns and municipalities around the world that have officially committed thus far to go dark during Earth Hour, Saturday between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., according to a county press release.
The main goal of the event is to create awareness about climate-change issues and to demonstrate that individual action on a global scale can help change the planet for the better, the release states.
“I encourage everyone to participate in Earth Hour 2010 by turning off their non-essential lights and appliances during the designated hour, and have issued a directive to county offices regarding this,” said the mayor.
“Although the negative impacts of global warming from greenhouse-gas emissions have been well-documented, more needs to be done to heighten the awareness on this issue. If people around the world did their part, it would definitely help to slow climate change,” Carvalho said in the release.
Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and has since spread around the world.
This year organizers are hoping that people of all ages, nationalities, races and backgrounds will unite during Earth Hour and make a strong statement about their desire to find solutions to the escalating climate crisis through the simple act of turning off their lights for 60 minutes.
Some of the suggested activities for Earth Hour include:
— Organize an Earth Hour party with neighbors;
— Have a night picnic with friends and family and look at the stars;
— Enjoy a family dinner by candlelight;
— Have a scavenger hunt in the dark;
— Take pets for a night walk;
— Sit in the dark and share stories;
— Have a family night playing games by candlelight;
— Share a romantic night in with a loved one;
— Read a book by candle light.
Log on to www.myearthhour.org for more information on Earth Hour.
