LAKE Macquarie City Counil is inviting locals to spice up their Saturday night this weekend by turning off the lights and dining by candlelight to celebrate Earth Hour.
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Launched in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour quickly became a global phenomenon with up to 100 million people worldwide switching off their lights and appliances for one hour to reduce global emissions and promote sustainable practices.
Council’s sustainability manager Dean Chapman said this year Earth Hour is celebrating 10 years of progress on responding to climate change.
“Climate change is a significant threat to our local environment and economy, and one way to slow the rate of global warming is for each person to make small adjustments to the way they live and work,” Mr Chapman said.
“Earth Hour is a great reminder for everyone to be mindful about how their daily habits can affect the climate.”
Council encourages all residents and businesses to switch off lights and non-essential equipment between 8.30pm and 9.30pm, this Saturday, March 25.
To register for Earth Hour and for tips on how you can live sustainably, go to earthour.org.au.
Switching off during Earth Hour provides a great opportunity to enjoy quality time with family and friends.
Here are a few suggestions from World Wildlife Fund on how to spend Earth Hour:
- Indoor picnic - Spread out a blanket on the living room floor and light a few candles. Serve traditional picnic treats such as finger sandwiches and brownies.
- Art in the dark – Try your luck at sketching in the dark. Don’t worry if you’re not much of an artist; the reveal of the masterpieces will surely be a laugh for everyone when the lights come back on.
- Guess the creature – Take turns emitting calls of the wild and guessing the animal. Take it to the next level by making creature shadows on a wall with a flashlight and your hands.
- Take in the sights - Take an evening stroll around the streets to see who has switched off the lights to show support for the planet.
- Look at the stars - Study up on the cosmos and then venture out to a dark, open spot near your home. See which constellations you can pick out in the night sky, and maybe even glimpse a shooting star.
- Snap pictures - Take some candlelit photos in your house or moonlit snapshots of darkened landmarks outside. Post to social media using #earthhour.
- Make a resolution - March 25 is as good a day as any to make a resolution to reduce your carbon footprint. Pick any one (or all) of these simple tips to help conserve the environment.