The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Bhutan will join rest of the world today, in observing the Earth Hour, by switching off the lights. The day is observed on the last Saturday of March every year because it is a time of spring and fall equinoxes in the northern and southern hemispheres respectively.
The Earth Hour was celebrated for the first time in Bhutan in 2012 at Thimphu, and today other dzongkhags including the schools, organizations, business community and residents will observe the event.
This allows for near coincidental sunset times in both hemispheres, thereby ensuring the greatest visual impact for a global ‘lights out’ event. In honour of the Earth Hour today, the countries around the globe will go dark for an hour.
The day is originally done to raise awareness and inform the everyday citizens to be more aware on the use of energy as the global warming and climate change is escalating and this symbolic gesture is some ways to help the planet.
The theme for Earth Hour this year is, “USE YOUR POWER” and it stresses on making individuals release the power they have in driving positive change for a healthy environment.
WWF Bhutan on their awareness note to the public says that Thimphu city, being one of the fastest growing cities in the world, is already facing and will continue to face immense challenges in addressing urban environmental issues. Hence, the WWF Bhutan claims that to address such issues, one can make a difference by adopting a sustainable way of living.
The Earth Hour is a global campaign in over 5,000 cities in 185 countries with 1.8 billion people supporting to raise awareness on the need to take action on the climate change.
The capital of Australia, Sydney is the first to celebrate the darkness since Earth Hour began in the Australian capital in 2007 when the WWF inspired residents to show their commitment to the planet. The Earth Hour is more than switching off the lights for an hour once a year but it is also about giving people a voice and working together to create a better future for the planet.
The celebration by the world community symbolizes an effort to help contribute to a sustainable future in this age, when the earth is facing some of the most critical environment challenges in its history.
The number of countries and territories participating has grown to 147, up from 135 in 2011.
The event is organized by the National Environment Commission and World Wildlife Fund in Bhutan, Clean Bhutan, Department of Forest and Park Services, Royal Thimphu College and Thimphu Thromde to encourage people to do more to curb waste and think of the environment.
This year, WWF Bhutan Program, in collaboration with the National Environment Commission, Clean Bhutan, Department of Forest and Park Services, Royal Thimphu College and the Thimphu Thromde will observe the Global Earth Hour at the Clock Tower Square in Thimphu by switching off the lights and other non-essential lights in the city for an hour.
