Mumbai is all set to observe Earth Hour this Saturday by switching off lights at 8.30pm.
Mumbai is all set to observe Earth Hour this Saturday by switching off lights at 8.30pm. Landmarks such as the Gateway of India and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, five-star hotels, and other business and corporate houses in the city will be joining millions across the globe in the initiative.
Every year on March 26, cites across the world observe Earth Hour and take a pledge for commitment towards environment-friendly actions.
“Our job does not get over by just switching off lights for a prescribed amount of time. This campaign should go beyond an hour and each of us should make a pledge to do our bit for the environment,” says Bollywood actress Vidya Balan who has been roped in as brand ambassador for the event by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
According to WWF director general Jim Leape, Earth Hour has become a massive phenomenon in cyberspace.
“Around 2.25% tweets on the social networking website Twitter and 880 searches per second on Google were about Earth Hour last year,” he said, adding, “There were more than 5,94,000 hits for Earth Hour after Bollywood actor Vidya Balan pledged to support the movement on Tuesday.”
Meanwhile, environmentalists in the city are happy to note that hotels, businesses and housing societies are also eager to support the cause. “We all need to conserve energy and sustain our planet. Corporate houses and hotels need to switch off to conserve energy and in turn teach their colleagues and guests by example,” says Punish Sharma, general manager of Meluha The Fern Ecotel in Powai.
Other hotels who will also observe Earth Hour include Renaissance Hotel, Powai and Courtyard by Mariott, Andheri (East), where guests will be encouraged to dine by candlelight.
Meanwhile, environmentalists will be encouraging individuals and residential complexes to join the movement by holding candlelight marches and even offering awards to housing societies who participate wholeheartedly in the campaign.
“Earth Hour is a global call for each of us to work towards a sustainable environment. We should ensure that every hour of our lives is Earth Hour,” says Elsie Gabriel who runs the Youth Environmentalists Programme Trust. The NGO will be awarding trophies to buildings with the maximum participation.
(with inputs from Agencies)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}