Earth Hour, the largest effort on our planet to fight global warming

Four years ago,  2.2 million  people and more than 2,000 businesses in the city of Sydney Australia decided to make a stand for global sustainability and against climate change. Three years later in 2010, Earth Hour was observed by no less than 1.3 billion people in 128 countries across the globe. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off all non essential lights. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Of course Earth Hour is not about turning the light off for an hour and count how much electricity we saved. Earth Hour is about awareness; awareness that we people as a whole have a strong tendency to abuse our planet’s resources. Earth Hour is about becoming aware that we have simple, often healthy and less expensive alternatives available, yet continue on the road of waste. I have written on more than one occasion about the benefits in both health and wealth of riding a bike on here island for example. I have written about the absurdity of driving a 6 or 8 cylinder 4-wheel drive gas guzzler on the Florida flat roads, or soaking our lawns with potable water (just because we think we can). We have written and published an internet book on How to Save Energy and Money in more than 150 Ways, with tips gathered from around the world. Yes I can honestly state that sustainability and climate is high on our list of priorities here at SearchAmelia.   Therefor our total support for this initiative of carbon footprint awareness that now is supported by more than one billion on our planet.

At 8.30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011, about 1.3 billion people across the globe will switch off the lights of homes and businesses for one hour – Earth Hour,  the world’s largest public action for the environment – acknowledging a commitment to go beyond the hour with actions that benefit the planet in the year ahead.

As the movement is gaining recognition across the Planet with so far 4616 cities lining up in one way or another, we also entered our membership to the Earth Hour website for Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach, particularly encouraged by Ange Wallace of the Travel Agency who wrote the following as their agency’s initiative to GO BEYOND THE HOUR:

“I am reading more and more inspiring activities building around Earth Hour. This year theme is “Beyond the Hour” and it is meant to encourage everyone to think beyond the one symbolic gesture to the actions we can each take to help rebalance our home- Earth!  It reminds me of back to the future as I conjure up images of my mom patiently smoothing out tin foil to reuse it and scraping the last little bit of egg white from the shell so as not to waste it.  I am going to take recycling more seriously.  We already compost our veggie waste and throw seafood and meat waste to the crabs and fish.  I am going to install a better water filter at the office so we don’t use bottled water anymore.  I learned so much about minimizing our earthly footprints while traveling on white water rafting trips and expedition cruises in the Galapagos and Antarctica.  We tend to be so careless in our own environment!  I want to share with you a well written article by Lew Rood at the famous Singita Game Reserves in South Africa Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.  Enjoy the read!  Take it to heart!  This is one of very many great properties taking this opportunity to “WOW” clients with their creative celebrations to honor Earth! At THE TRAVEL AGENCY, our staff will be “going dark” for the hour and we are making a stronger commitment to recycling and adding a filter to our water system to cut down on plastic bottles. What about having some friends in for a candlelight dinner? Or take the kids outside for a picnic and look at the stars?  Please let us know what your plans are to join the move to LOVE our planet EARTH!!.”

I have come to appreciate Ange and her staff as truly committed people to a sustainable world, especially from the viewpoint of travel and its impact on exotic destinations.

At the Amelia Island Blues Festival’s planned “Taste of the Blues” this Saturday, the lights are going out and the music unplugged at 8:25pm – during the Karl Davis Band’s show – for about 15 minutes to create awareness for the cause with a couple of surprises regarding unnecessary footprints we humans leave behind, followed by a 30 minute unplugged Sing Along by Candle Light at 9pm to close the show.
For a complete line up of the Taste of the Blues check here.

http://youtu.be/4Mxjbip6y04