Earth Hour-Save our Planet !

EARTH HOUR

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming. For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. Earth Hour 2009 is scheduled for March 28, 2009 from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time, and participants are encouraged to turn off all their lights for one hour. Over 74 countries and states have already publicly declared their support for Earth Hour.

Please visit Earthhour.org and sign the petition, and mark your calendars for March 28, 2009 to turn your lights out for one hour at 8:30 pm local time. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

‘“The act of switching non-essential lights is a simple and effortless step that every person can take that can trigger a huge positive impact against climate change. The message we are trying to give is that every person, by taking a small action such as turning off a light, can make a huge difference in the fight against climate change””, said WWF Malaysia Chief Executive Officer, Dato' Dr Dionysius Sharma.

The whole world is talking about Global Warming, Climate Change and Carbon Foot Print. We need the world to take action on Global Warming.

Thanks Google image

Global warming is the term applied to an increase in the overall temperature of the earth. Just a small rise in temperature ( 2° F or 1.1°C) can have serious effect on climatic conditions and weather changes. This could affect the frequency and severity of storms, hurricanes and tornados, distort seasons duration, increased cloud cover, change in precipitation level and wind pattern.

Global average temperatures have stayed fairly constant over that time as well, until recently. Through the burning of fossil fuels and other GHG emissions, humans are enhancing the greenhouse effect and warming Earth.

Scientists often use the term "climate change" instead of global warming. This is because as the Earth's average temperature climbs, winds and ocean currents move heat around the globe in ways that can cool some areas, warm others, and change the amount of rain and snow falling. As a result, the climate changes differently in different areas.

The average global temperature and concentrations of carbon dioxide (one of the major greenhouse gases) have fluctuated on a cycle of hundreds of thousands of years as the Earth's position relative to the sun has varied. As a result, ice ages have come and gone.However, for thousands of years now, emissions of GHGs to the atmosphere have been balanced out by GHGs that are naturally absorbed. As a result, GHG concentrations and temperature have been fairly stable. This stability has allowed human civilization to develop within a consistent climate.

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.

The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.(Information collected from carbonfootprint.)

1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). We have direct control of these.

2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply – the more we buy the more emissions will be caused on our behalf.For More information visit Here.

Electricity is one of the biggest producers of carbon emissions, so every time you make a coffee or turn the television on you are adding to global warming.

Excessive electricity demand is one of the biggest culprits in terms of carbon emissions. On the many simple ways you can reduce your electricity usage, starting with lighting. Earth Hour is all about turning the lights out, so how about using energy-efficient lighting? Replace power hungry incandescent bulbs with CFL (compact fluorescent) or LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. Energy-saving bulbs have come a long way in recent years. They now come in all shapes and sizes with more being introduced all the time.

They have several recommendations

Who will supply electricity from renewable sources (e.g. wind and hydroelectric power) - this will reduce your carbon footprint contribution from electricity to zero

Turn it off when not in use (lights, television, DVD player, , computer etc. etc. ...)

Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it has finished charging

Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly

Go for a run rather than drive to the gym. Do your weekly shopping in a single trip

Use the bus or a train rather than your car .For short journeys either walk or cycle

When on holiday - hire a bicycle to explore locally rather than a car

When staying in a hotel/home turn the lights and air-conditioning off when you leave your hotel /home.

Don't buy bottled water if your tap water is safe to drink

Buy local fruit and vegetables, or even try growing your own

Don't buy fresh fruit and vegetables which are out of season, they may have been flown in

Buy organic produce .Recycle as much as possible

Recycling uses less energy and produces less pollution than making things from scratch.

Another form of recycling is composting household and garden waste.

Compost helps fertilize soil, making plants and vegetables grow better

You can compost Garden waste (fallen leaves, grass cuttings and prunings)

Kitchen waste (such as raw vegetables, fruit, crushed egg shells, tea leaves and tea bags)

In addition try, shredded paper and cardboard.

Images from (Google Image)

A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour. Get involved and take action to save the planet. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations. It doesn't cost the Earth to save the planet.