The entire world witnessed the Earth Hour
phenomenon sweep across the planet in its eighth year, as WWF’s Earth Hour 2014
broke all records of mass participation mobilizing hundreds of millions of
people to become everyday Super Heroes for the planet.
Earth Hour
proved the movement is now stronger than ever, with the event observed in over
162 countries including Nigeria and territories and over 7000 cities and towns,
creating magical lights off moments in every continent of the world. The
symbolic hour has grown into the world’s largest grassroots movement for the
environment, with beyond the hour activities and initiatives happening
throughout the year.
In Nigeria, Earth Hour organised by
Connected Development [CODE] was observed in 5 cities – Abuja at the Transcorp
Hilton; Lagos at the “Earth Hour Garden” opposite the Lagos State House of
Assembly; Taraba at the Kwararafa University in Wukari; Portharcourt at the
LeMeridien Ogeyi Place and in Benin City at the Youth House.
“It’s always extraordinary to see cities
and landmarks involved in the ‘lights off’ event, but the most exciting thing
about Earth Hour this year is seeing the amount of projects and campaigns that
are taking action beyond the hour. From crowdfunding to campaigns that are
creating environmental awareness across the West Africa region, Earth Hour is
harnessing the power of the crowd far beyond the hour,” said Oludotun Babayemi,
Country Director for Earth Hour in Nigeria.
Last year alone saw thousands of Nigerians
petitioned the president to pass the climate change bill into law to create a
climate change commission to superintend over climate change activities in
Nigeria. In 2014, the bill has been reintroduced and passed to the Senate for
harmonisation. Likewise, the Walk to Mali campaign has started inspiring
different communities across the West Africa region with the Kwararafa
University pledging a 20km reserved forest for the flora and fauna.
WWF-Uganda began the fight against the
6,000 hectares of deforestation that occurs in the country every month by
creating the first “Earth Hour Forest.” In 2012, Russians also petitioned to
get legislative change protecting the country’s seas from oil pollution and now
are striving to protect an area of forest twice the size of France.
These Earth Hour success stories illustrate
the movement has become a global collaboration to show what can be achieved for
the planet.
In
Nigeria, the Earth Hour celebration 2014 began its journey in Wukari, Taraba
where community events were held all over the community and at Kwararafa
University. Moving across to Wukari town where hundreds of community members
joined the team and held a community sensitisation and advocacy on
environmental sustainability hosted by the Taraba state coordinator, Anthony
Agbor. The event within the community was grazed by the Boys Brigade Base Band
and the Skaters Club of Wukari
The hour of inspiration then went back to
its humble beginnings, as Earth Hour once again hit Abuja bringing to light the
plight of one of the memorable hotels in the country with an environmental
friendly atmosphere – The Transcorp Hilton. The Light out event anchored by Big
Mo of Wazobia FM in Abuja, kicked off with the greetings to Nigeria cities
taking part in Earth Hour, delivered by the FCT coordinator for Earth Hour,
Oladotun Fadeyiye, while TED style keynote speech was given by Baaki John of
the Women Environmental Programme (WEP) on environmental sustainability and
women.
To drive action and support, a new
exhibition waiting to be premiered as a movie “Walk to Mali” was screened
during the hour, and the campaign also engaged people around the world to use
their power and add their voice to protect vulnerable communities. "To witness
Earth Hour in Abuja for the third year in a row, the event makes a powerful
impression on me," said Hamzat Lawal, the Chief Executive of CODE.
"To see people united in a single purpose of making our lifestyles less
impactful on the planet inspires me immensely.”
Continuing to the second home of Earth
Hour, Lagos celebrated the event by empowering young school children with the
message that people are the true everyday Super Heroes for the planet. Using
none other than Spider-Man to join the global flagship event, the young stars
from the Vicsum Private School were educated on the value of efficient energy
use. “How to Take Action” speeches were delivered by Olumide Idowu; Halima Baba
- Lagos State coordinator for Earth Hour
and Babatunde Shodiyan from the department of Conservation and Ecology of the
Lagos state ministry of Environment.
“We hope the power of Spider-Man joining in
the largest movement for the planet – Earth Hour will inspire this future
generation in becoming super heroes for their various communities on
environmental sustainability” Halima Baba said.
Right now, Earth Hour is moving across the
globe, following the setting sun, sending billions of people around the world a
message that each of us has the power to make a difference. Each of us can be a
Super Hero for the planet," Reiterated Baba said.
In Portharcourt, the lights off event then
went to the Le Meridien Ogeyi Place at GRA. Hosted by Gift Godden, the city
coordinator for the event, Earth Hour drew attention to the “Black Gold,” and
the need to reduce air pollution and Oil Spills. The participants were
encouraged to collaborate on ideas in order to inspire change towards healthier
air and communities.
“It is pertinent to include every
stakeholder in the build up to this popular environmental movement, it will
help us in achieving our advocacy campaigns towards an oil spill free
environment” said Okoduwa Sylvester of the Ofure Center for Peace and
Development.
The management of the Le Meridien Ogeyi
place was quite excited to be part of this movement again, having won a
sustainability award for taking part during Earth Hour in 2013. “This movement
will forever live in our memory, as it inspires institutions like ours to join
in and do more to save our planet earth. Next year again, we will be part of
this movement” said Henry Orie, the Food and Beverage Manager at Le Meridien.
In tandem with the crowd’s enthusiasm at
events across the world has been Earth Hour’s massive digital presence,
including the recently launched Earth Hour Blue to drive digital engagement
beyond the hour. The revolutionary platform for the planet allows anyone in any
country to use their voice or their dollar to take action and support projects
of their choice across the globe, and further encourages participants to use
their favourite social platforms to engage in their favourite crowdfunding and
crowdsourcing projects.
As a newcomer to the crowdfunding scene,
Earth Hour Blue has launched with WWF projects from Australia, Indonesia,
Singapore, China, Nepal, India, Russia, Uganda, South Africa, Madagascar,
Canada and Columbia which are now all live on the crowdfunding platform powered
by Crowdonomic.
