EARTH HOUR PHILIPPINES 2009 GOES NATIONWIDE

Filipinos urged to switch off lights 8:30-9:30pm on March 28

The lights will go off one hour on March 28, starting at 8:30 pm in key cities in the Philippines and all over the world. This is called Earth Hour. The lights-out initiative, which began in Sydney in 2007 as a one-city environmental campaign, has evolved into a grassroots that has attracted worldwide attention. In 2008 371 cities across 35 countries turned their lights out in a united call for action on climate change and energy conservation.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in joining hands the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Green Army Philippines Network to spread public awareness of the Earth Hour message to cities and communities all over the country.

2009 is a destiny year for the entire planet,declared Lory Tan, President and CEO of WWF-Philippines. This is the year that we decide the future of humanity. Earth Hour is a message of hope and action and we hope it sends a powerful message to both local and world leaders. It is a global movement that proves that each one of us can make a difference. Imagine what we can do if we act together.

Recognizing the vital role of the energy community- particularly in terms of sustainable electric power generation, clean transport fuels, and best energy practices across sectors â DOE Secretary Angelo T. Reyes expressed full support for Earth Hour. â This grassroots initiative is an opportunity for individuals from all corners of the globe to unite and, in a single voice, make it known that their collective action can correct the precarious trajectory of the planet,â he said. â This is a cause that should unite us as Filipinos and as a citizens of the world.

To build on the powerful symbolic value of Earth Hour, Secretary Reyes explained that top-tier corporate sponsorships by national partners will be linked to initiatives to the SWITCH Movement, the social mobilization platform or multi-sector energy stakeholders spawned by the 2008 Philippines Energy Summit. These initiatives cover community-level switches to efficient lighting; cleaner transport fuels and technologies for jeepneys and tricycles; and area-based renewable energy (RE) groundwork-setting and promotion.

âWe are positioning Earth Hour 2009 among potential national partners not as a one-time event but as window to longer-term involvement in climate change response and sustainable energy programs,â he said.â Through this alignment with SWITCH, we have the opportunity to use the switch-off as a springboard to highlight the urgent for dramatic lifestyle changes and best energy practices to save our planet.â

We fully support Earth Hour 2009. And urge companies, non-governmental organizations and communities in our network to take advantage of this opportunity to promote more efficient energy practices and technologies,â remarked Francis Chua, Chairman of the Green Army.

Last year, Earth Hour savings of 56 MWH of electric power in Luzon and 16 MWH in Metro Manila, equivalent to the output of a small coal-fired power plant. An estimated one million Filipinos were involved. Over 400 establishments participated by turning off their signs and non-essential lights. In Manila, Roxas Boulevard became the focal point of the celebration since it cuts across the cities of Manila, Pasay, and Paranaque, but Quezon City, Makati, and Mandaluyong also joined in the energy efficiency-promoting activity.

Earth Hour 2009 aims to reach one billion people in 1,000 cities all over the world. To help reach this goal, a global sign-up campaign and competition is again being launched worldwide. Last year, the Philippines ranked 9 th in terms of total sign-ups. All Filipinos are urged to sign up at Earth Hourâs global website: Earth Hour Philippines 2009 hopes to involve 10 million Filipinos and 500 businesses in key cities across the country.

To receive news updates and event schedules, one can register oneâs cellphone number by sending the following message to 5777 for both Smart and Globe users: green reg firstname lastname. Example: green reg Juan/C/De la Cruz.

WWF, the DOE, the Green Army, and the SWITCH movement are inviting all public and private sector groups to take part in this yearâs Earth Hour. âEfficiency in energy use in the light of global warming is as issue that cuts across all sectors,â Sec. Reyes stressed. He pointed out recent developments in the energy sector such as the passage of the Renewal Energy Act that should facilitate a shift to âgreenâ energy technologies. "This should encourage power companies to now use the wind, the sun, and the ocean waves to generate our electricity."

Though Earth Hour 2009, we hope to send a powerful message to world leaders in the lead-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009,â WWFâs Lory Tan said. âWe need a commitment to actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the short- and long term benefit of the planet in order to avert widespread disastrous impacts, especially in developing countries like the Philippines.

Taking the first step is as easy as turning off a light.

HOW CAN YOU BE A PART OF THE EARTH HOUR GLOBAL EVENT?

At 8:30 Pm on 28 March 2009, cities and towns all over the world will switch off their lights for one hour- EARTH HOUR- sending a powerful global message that is possible to take action on global warming.

You can help and participate in this global call to action on global warming by switching off your lights during EARTH HOUR, and do more getting more and more people to make a difference on climate change.

FOR Local Government Units:

• Switch off lights in major thoroughfares and landmarks in your areas of jurisdiction during Earth Hour, If and when possible.
  
• Mobilize your communities to switch off their lights in their households.
  
• Mobilize stakeholders in organizing Earth Hour events in your city or community.
  

For Business:

• Switch off your corporate signages and/or majority or all of the lights at your headquarters and facilities during Earth Hour.
  
• Encourage our employees to switch off lights in their households during Earth Hour.
  
• Place standard Earth Hour banners/streamers in your building façade and facilities that are seen or accessed by the public as part of awareness building.
  
Use your communication channels to promote Earth Hour.

For the Church/NGOs/Civil Society/ Academe:

Encourage your networks and communities to switch off the lights in their households during Earth Hour. Mobilize your networks and communities to participate at the Earth Hour Countdown Event to be held at SM Mall of Asia March 28, 2009, from 7:00PM to 10:00PM.

Organize your own Earth Hour event in your community or locally to widens the reach of the campaign, and relate this event with your own environmental programs and other advocacies.

Use various communication channels to promote Earth Hour.

Earth Hour is a major call to action for every individual, community, business, and government to act and ensure a sustainable future. Join us as we unite with the world in taking a stand on global warming.