CBCP calls on Filipinos to observe Earth Hour

By Jimmyley I. Guzman

Monday 19th of March 2012

MANILA, March 18 (PIA) -- The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on Filipinos to take part in the global campaign to combat climate change and promote energy conservation.

In a release, CBCP’s Commission on Youth (ECY) executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta urged Filipinos, specially the youth to observe the Earth Hour on March 31, 2012 (Saturday).

“Let us join millions in our country and around the world in switching off non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM, and using this time to engage in activities which promote care for our planet,” Garganta said.

Meanwhile, the cleric also urged young Filipinos to join the “I Will If You Will” campaign, wherein ECY will change its office light bulbs to compact fluorescent lights if others will switch off their lights on March 31.

“This campaign empowers people to share to the world their own personal contribution on how they can willingly do ways to save Mother Earth,” added Garganta.

Earth Hour is a global initiative showing how individuals, communities, businesses and governments can address the threat of global warming.

The campaign began in 2007 when more than two million individuals and two thousand businesses in Sydney, Australia turned off their lights for one hour on March 31, 2007, Saturday.

In 2011, the Earth Hour campaign has spread and grown 5,251 cities in over 135 countries. And in the Philippines, a record-breaking 1,661 Filipino cities and municipalities went dark and joined in the campaign.

Earth Hour asks everyone to take personal accountability for their climate impact and make behavioral changes to facilitate a low-carbon lifestyle, and taking the first step is as easy as turning off your lights. (CBCP/WWF/RJB/JEG-PIA-NCR)