EARTH HOUR: Celebrating Darkness for Future Brightness

                                                                                   

Now-a-days it has become quite a trend to discuss about Environmental issues. Be it technical, social, academic, and even commercial and economical, fraternity from all the above spheres and more are coerced not only to consider the issues of Environment, but to act towards solving those issues. Environment has now taken the centre stage amongst the masses. And it arouses both concern and a sense of responsibility amongst the public notion. Rightly so too, because our Environment has never been so gravely threatened as it is now. It’s not simply about air pollution, water pollution; Environmental issues have now crossed International boundaries. Be it Global Warming or frequent climate disparages. Threat to environment is now considered a threat to not only humans and animals but a threat to Life.

            
Many concerned people are actively participating in invoking steps to safeguard our Environment. People from all social strata and all hemispheres are joining hands against saving our Earth from destruction.  Many innovative steps are being taken to spread awareness amongst masses regarding environment. One such step is Earth Hour.

            
Earth Hour’s was first celebrated on 31^st March 2007 in Sydney Australia. It was started by WWF-Australia with the aim to spread a message amongst masses that even a small change in our day-to-day lifestyle may bring about a lot change in the environment. Many time, people are flabbergasted by the enormity of the issues related to environment, to some it may even sound almost impossible to follow measures to safeguard environment. In order to make the notion of safeguarding environment simpler, and to reach to maximum people to contribute, Earth Hour seems to be an effective step. And from its inception in 2007, Earth Hour has become a really successful annual event. In 2013 only, more than 154 countries and 7002 cities pledged to switch off as many unwanted lights. The list goes on if we actually keep a tab. Many may ask how switching off light for only one hour can can contribute to environment. In 2013 only, India switching off light in 54 cities in Earth Hour saved 1000MW of electricity. To produce 1000 MW electricity,   approximately 3000 ton of fuel is burnt to vaporize 5096 liters of water. This is just a gross estimate; the actual value can actually increase. So we can guess how a small step of switching off light for 60minute can be helpful for the environment.

            
Earth hour doesn’t mean complete black out. It’s more a symbolic step, which seeks to bring about awareness among the masses that even a small step like switching off the light of a room before exiting, can actually impact on the environment. This event’s all about the awareness amongst people which is much required because safeguarding our environment is not a mammoth task, all it requires is a genuine will and step by step action towards issues in micro level. It is as much the responsibility of individuals as it is the responsibility of big industries and corporate houses.

            
If you really want to contribute to safeguard the Environment, start from your own house or office. Save energy, save water, save papers, save trees. These small contributions do matter for our Environment. Earth Hour represents this philosophy. Let’s turn the inspiration of an hour to action for our every hour. Switch Off your lights and enjoy the darkness!!!

 By: Debasis Ray 

1^st Year M.Sc.(Tech)