Plastics Ban, Energy Efficient Lights and Tree-Planting for Lord Buddha’s Birthplace
The Government of Nepal has made one of the largest ‘beyond the hour’ commitments for Earth Hour with an undertaking to put a complete stop to tree-felling in the 23,000 sq km Churiya Range. These striking hills are a key watershed for the rich Terai Arc landscape in southern Nepal – an area where WWF has long worked to improve the conditions of the people and the rich wildlife.
Earth Hour commemorations will also take place at the nearby birthplace of Lord Buddha in Lumbini, near the Indian border. Highlights of this event will include commitments to install compact fluorescent bulbs in all of the Lumbini Gardens monasteries and planting 108,000 trees in Lumbini Gardens this year (as an Earth Hour and International Year of Forests pledge) with an ultimate target of one million trees within a span of ten years. The World Heritage site is also to be declared a plastic free zone.
At celebrations at Bodhanath Stupa in capital Kathmandu, an Earth Hour logo drawn with 1000 traditional butter fat candles lit the sky, while Salil Subedi and EarthBeat engaged the audience in a performance of didgeridoo and drums.
Mr. Anil Manandhar, Country Representative of WWF-Nepal said, “Earth Hour is not just about the 60 minutes of solidarity for the environment. This year, Earth Hour will go beyond the hour, marking a moment where every individual, government and business can make their commitment to environmentally sustainable actions for the forthcoming year.”
Sustain Life: Pakistan Prime Minister
In Pakistan, Sindh has been declared an Earth Hour Province, with the provincial assembly building going dark and Karachi leading the list of 15 cities taking part.
Pakistan’s main Earth Hour celebration was held at the Tomb of Qiad-e-Azam, noted as the burial place of Muhammad al-Jinnah and others of Pakistan’s founding figures. “Our world is a global village with finite resources which must be used in a manner that brings maximum good to maximum number of people,” said Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, while Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said the event is meant to show the world our respect to the Earth, which sustains life for human as well as other living beings.”
Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram has made a personal commitment to stop using plastic bags, to recycle and reuse, and to use his high profile to promote and encourage the same behaviour throughout Pakistan and the rest of the world.
Going dark for the first time is Iran’s tallest tower, the 435 metre Milad Tower in Tehran. Iran’s first official participation in Earth Hour followed hard on the heels of celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the signing in the country of the first global environment agreement – the Ramsar International Convention for the protection of world wetlands crucial to migratory birds.
Rivalry was set aside in Kazakhstan, as capital city Astana and largest city Almaty led 86 cities and towns in 10 provinces taking part in Earth Hour in the Central Asian republic. President Nursultan Nazarbayez and Prime Minister Karim Massimov, along with the Ministries of Environment Protection, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Communication and Information joined in support for the global initiative.
World’s Tallest Building Going Dark in Dubai, Empire Statement in Support
The newly completed Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai – at 828 metres the world’s tallest building – led a list of many of the world’s tallest buildings going dark for Earth Hour when it turned off about half a million light-bulbs. Six of the world’s 10 tallest buildings had registered their participation before the event – Taipei 101 in Taiwan, at 508 metres the world’s second tallest building, the Shanghai World Financial Centre (3rd at 492 metres), the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia (5th and 6th at 492 metres) and the Chicago, US, Willis Tower (8th at 442 metres). Making an Empire Statement for the environment for the third time is the world’s most famous tall building – holder of the title for 40 years (1931-1971), New York’s 381 metre tall Empire State Building now still ranks 17th.
Burj Khalifa also leads an impressive roll call of buildings going dark in the United Arab Emirates, from the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace and bridges and beaches of Abu Dhabi to many of the landmarks of Dubai including city symbol the Burj al Arab.
Earth Hour in the United Arab Emirates is also going well beyond the hour, in Dubai under the patronage of Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. An unusual initiative is solar powered Earth Hour recycling bins on public streets.
The record number of United Arab Emirates participants in Earth Hour are also innovating beyond the hour, sharing pictures of themselves with their commitments for continuing environmental action.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, Kuwait celebrated its national day and Earth Hour by flicking the switch on the Twin Towers that are the country’s most noted landmark. At the Jeddah Hilton, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Environmental Forum (GEF) has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant 50 trees in Haiti for every speaker at its event.
Jordan’s enthusiastic participation will be marked with the lights going out on the Jabal al-Qal’a, the citadel occupying a site in use since Neolithic times and in a host of the buildings and businesses it looks down on in capital city Amman. There will be darkness in the desert as well, when the floodlights illuminating Saladin’s huge 12th century fortress at Aljoun are turned off.
Amman’s Intercontinental Hotel will also be leading a global environmental software programme called Green Engage to guide reductions in wastage and energy use by comparing performance and highlighting best practice in similar hotels. Early trials have shown potential savings of up to 25 per cent and the system allows guests to input suggestions on greener technologies and practices.
Also taking part further north is the World Heritage listed Maiden Tower in Baku Old City on the Caspian Sea, the most noted symbol of Azerbaijan, a first time participant in Earth Hour.
Israel marked its fourth Earth Hour early on Thursday 24 March to avoid conflict with Shabbat, with hundred of Tel Aviv students familiarizing themselves with nature in an urban environment, scouts commencing an environmental education program and promotions in community gardening fields. The main event was a green energy concert featuring leading Israeli bands operating off batteries powered by stationary bicycles and a bio-diesel fuel generator.
For more information, visit www.earthhour.org.
Source: Earth Hour.
