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You may have learnt of its existence through the grapevine.
Or, if you do take public transport, you would have seen the huge black posters with a mysterious number, 60, displayed at bus stops.
Better still, you may have been walking around the central business district around 8.30 pm on 27th March last year when suddenly, the lights of many buildings went out.
Yes, you do know it: Earth Hour is coming again. But do you care? More importantly, should you care? Surely, switching off the lights for an hour a year cannot actually stop climate change, or make any significant impact. Even if it was a symbolic act, what do we do next?
Thankfully, NUS Students Against Violation of the Earth (SAVE) has offered to address some of our concerns, as well as tell us more about what is planned for Earth Hour this year. SAVE is the main student environment organization in NUS. It aims to raise environmental awareness and activism in NUS and beyond.
One of the many environment-related projects which SAVE initiates and helms is Earth Hour. Last year’s Earth Hour was a simple, cozy affair at the SRC field. Besides the main ‘switch-off’ around the area, a movie, The Day the Earth stood still, was screened and participants helped to form the word ‘NUS’ by using candles. What can we expect this year? Hongyi, a representative from SAVE, answers our questions.
So, how will this year’s Earth Hour be different?
This year, we’re hoping to build on last year’s experience so that it is not just a switch-off but something more exciting, something that students can be a greater part of rather than just watch a movie with us. We’re still doing the switch off – after all, it’s the main Earth Hour message – but this year what we are looking at is getting concerted student efforts for this movement.
How are you doing that?
We have gotten many student groups on board to do something together for Earth Hour. The 6 halls of residences agreed to do a switch-off at their own halls. I think that’s a very significant change as we’re actually coordinating and getting different student groups to participate with us. We are also working with the other faculty clubs to launch certain environmental guidelines which they will adopt in their activities and operations from Earth Hour itself. Hopefully, once we have the network and platform with the student groups, we can have more meaningful environmental projects together.
So, Earth Hour is not a one-off event which people take part in and just forget about it?
Yes, our point is to engage the student groups so that they have a stake in Earth Hour, in the environment movement. By bringing them together, the students will have a united voice on the environment. Earth Hour is the platform to begin this collaboration.
How about students who do not belong to any student groups? Where do they fit in?
There is another major activity of ours: the folding of lilies. This is something simple and fun for everyone to participate in. Even if the students cannot come down, they can contribute to the movement. The lilies represent the students’ commitment against climate change and are a physical reminder that Earth Hour is coming. On the day of Earth Hour, we’ll be planting the lilies in the SRC field to form a mosaic of a tree, and to launch our campus tree planting program. We are also hoping to raise funds through the paper lilies. For every lily folded, we are trying to raise an equivalent amount for campus greening projects. In this sense, folding the origami lily is something that the students can really contribute; it’s not just for awareness.
There are many skeptics who feel that Earth Hour is useless. What do you say to them?
Well, there will always be people who say, why are you only switching off for one hour – what’s the point? But I think as long as there is something contributed, that is something good. The actual decrease in carbon emissions for that one hour is not significant. But if we can change someone’s attitude towards the environment – so that he starts to think more about energy conservation, or use less plastic bags – it will be useful. To be able to extend the impact beyond that one hour – that is what makes Earth Hour worthwhile.
Why should people be concerned about climate change?
Simply because it affects us; it affects everyone. Personally, I feel that even if there is no big threat to mankind, it is everyone’s responsibility to make sure that we use our resources in a responsible manner. Climate change just gives us a greater urgency and reason to relook the way we use our resources. It is not fair to the planet and future generations to squander away our resources. We are such a small part of the world; what is it that we have that makes us think we are the center of the universe? I’m not saying that we should deny ourselves the resources; we should just use it in a manner which is sustainable.
Finally, what actions would you like to see NUS students taking for Earth Hour?
I would say that whichever way you can contribute is good. We at SAVE highlight 3 things which students can contribute. Firstly, on the day itself, switch off your lights wherever you are, whether you are in the school or the hostel. Secondly, fold the lilies to show your support if you cannot come down. Thirdly, spread the word and make sustainability a part of your daily lives. This year’s WWF Earth Hour message is “Earth Hour, every hour”. So, we would like people to take the message of energy conservation, resource conservation, anything to do with the environment, and tell people about it so that it is not something which is restricted to them alone.
The global Earth Hour movement will be held on 27th March from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. You can help by switching off your lights wherever you are, and/or by folding an origami lily.
NUS SAVE will be holding an Earth Hour event at the SRC on that evening. Highlights include a switch-off of lights around the area, an attempt to create the largest paper lily display in Singapore, as well as the launching of environmentally friendly campus initiatives and a concert under the stars.
For more information, please visit the NUS Earth Hour website or send your questions to nussu.save@gmail.com .
