5 Ways to Take Part in Earth Hour
Mark your calendars. This Saturday, March 30th between 8:30-9:30pm, lights will go out around the world.
Earth Hour, organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), started as a grassroots movement in 2007. Today, it is a global phenomenon that unites millions of people worldwide in a common goal: to preserve and protect our beautiful planet.
On Saturday, the Eiffel Tower will go dark. So will the Empire State Building and the CN Tower. Countless households will shut their lights in a show of solidarity. This one-hour lights out event symbolizes our commitment to our planet.
But the event itself is not what matters most. What matters is the message it sends! That as a society, we need to take better care of the world we live in. It's about doing your part, not just for an hour, but every hour of every day, to reduce waste and preserve the environment.
To that end, here are five ways that you can take part in Earth Hour!
1.Eliminate or reduce your use of plastic
Plastic is one of the most damaging materials ever created. Every year, over 100,000 marine animals and 1 million birds die from eating or choking on plastic. This needs to stop. Make a promise to eliminate plastic from your life. Invest in a reusable water bottle, coffee mug, and cloth grocery bags. If you do one thing for the environment, this should be it.
2. Conserve energy
Turning the lights off for an hour is great, but it’s even more important to address your everyday energy consumption. Make sure you turn off all the lights before leaving your house. Walk, ride your bike, take transit or carpool to work. Don’t leave the water running when you’re doing the dishes or brushing your teeth. In the long run, these actions add up to a lot of energy saved.
3.Eat sustainable, organic food
The food industry is one of the worst culprits when it comes to damaging environmental practices. Thousands of animals are endangered because of human appetite. Food processing factories spew fumes into the atmosphere. Crops are sprayed with toxic pesticides. You get the point. Instead of shopping at big grocery chains, support your local farmer’s market. Choose organic, sustainable products. The planet (and your health!) will thank you.
4. Host or participate in clean up events
Clean up events are becoming more and more popular as environmental awareness grows. Just Google clean ups in your area and chances are you can find an event to participate in! Better yet, host your own. Get some friends together on the weekend and clean up your local park, school playground, or neighborhood. Get your kids involved and teach them about the environment while you’re at it!
5. Go paperless
How much physical junk mail do you still get in your mailbox every week? How many catalogues and letters from your bank go straight into the recycling? Opting out of these communications or choosing email instead is an easy way to save trees! Set up an internet banking account. Contact the retailers sending you direct mail and ask them to stop. Encourage all your friends and family to do the same!
At VanGo, we have a deep appreciation for this beautiful planet of ours. We believe that together, we can do better by the Earth and all the living creatures that call it home. We’ll be sharing this message with our team members, retailers and customers this Earth Hour.
What are you doing to support Earth Hour? Share with us on social by tagging @vangovapes!