How You Can Do Your Part For Earth Hour

4 min read By eCompareMo on

Now on its 13th year, Earth Hour is considered the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment. Now that everyone’s forced to stay at their homes, it’s even a bigger imperative to participate on this year’s celebration of Earth Hour.

What started out as a campaign to engage people and create significant environmental action against climate change has evolved into a platform that aims to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity as a viable resource link that families, communities, nations, and future generations all depend upon.

With this year’s theme focusing on the urgent need for care of the earth’s biological diversity, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines is anchoring the celebration on addressing the issue regarding single-use plastics.

No plastics in nature

Last year, WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joe Palma reiterated the importance of working together to achieve a long-term solution to plastics, it being one of the worst environmental problems, significantly contributing to nature loss.

“The Philippines is the third major plastic polluter of oceans in the world and we, Filipinos, must unite and create concrete steps to stop this worsening situation. We have to realize how nature is vitally important in our daily lives and preventing single-use plastics from entering nature is a big step towards a greener, more sustainable planet,” Palma said.

Leveraging on the momentum of its #AyokoNgPlastik movement, WWF-Philippines hopes to further create awareness on the dangers of single-use plastics, spark conversations, change mindsets and habits of consumers, urge businesses to operate more sustainably, and influence policy.

Adopting the WWF network’s “No Plastics in Nature” Initiative, WWF-Philippines believes that Earth Hour 2019 is the best way to send out a clear message to take a stand against plastic pollution toward its ultimate goal of mobilizing public support for legislation on plastic waste management.

The actual switch-off

Everyone from all over the Philippines is also encouraged to switch off non-essential lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in solidarity with millions around the world who will do the same.

WWF-Philippines is also encouraging everyone who will be joining the celebration this Saturday to bring their own reusable items such as their eco bags, tumblers, and utensils making sure that they will be able to leave the venue 100% clean and green after the event.

The organization is asking everyone to participate and harness the power of social media and help share their commitment to start changing the planet for the better. You can do this by sharing stories and photos of their sustainable living actions, as well as their pledges to say no to single-use plastics, via Earth Hour Philippines’ Facebook page.

Of course, no event will not be complete without shopping. WWF-Philippines, in partnership with Old Manila, started Eco Market where joiners can visit the #EarthHour Eco Market for them to discover and find out new products that can support or even for those who haven’t established it yet, begin living a sustainable lifestyle.

(Read: Manila Bay Rehab Sees Over 5,000 Volunteers Clean Up ‘Ground Zero’)

Beyond the hour

Besides the actual switch off event, WWF-Philippines also established beyond the hour activities such as:

  • Deployment of portable solar lamps to replace dangerous and dirty kerosene lamps in Palawan and Mindoro.
  • The dissemination of climate change solutions via environmental education sessions, training modules, heavy media engagements, and talks.
  • Sharing of best practices for communities via the One Planet City Challenge.

You can celebrate Earth Hour in any way you want. It’s entirely in your hands.

Want to keep it simple? You could host a candle-lit dinner, go stargazing, or simply switch off your lights for an hour.

Thinking of going a little bigger? You could put on a gig or concert, screen a movie, or host an Earth Hour party! The possibilities are endless.

Whether you’re celebrating solo or getting hundreds of people involved, share the details, use the hashtags and let us all be one with nature.

Go digita

Philippine banks have become more reliable in terms of their online and mobile platforms. Using only their apps, you can transfer money, pay bills, or even enchash checks without the need to go to a bank. This significantly cuts travel time and in turn, emissions due to trips to the banks themselves.

How can you take advantage of this? To help you get started with your bank’s digital services, here are some comprehensive guides we’ve created depending on your bank:

But wait, there’s more. Not only that you can conduct most banking services through your smartphone, you can also apply for them online! Apply for financial products like credit cards and loans through eCompareMo and—and make a difference by making better choices.

Keep in mind that the more digital services you use, the smaller your carbon footprint is. It’s the little things that, when they all add up, that make a big difference.

Sources: Earthhour.org, WWF Philippines

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eCompareMo

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