Earth Hour : Embracing Darkness for a Greener World

Keeping on the tradition, this year too, the residents of RGSC, BHU celebrated the ninth edition of The Earth Hour with enthusiasm and vigor. On the moonlit evening of 28^th March 2015, on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, the Indian subcontinent joined the world in celebrating The Earth Hour by switching of electricity from 08:30pm – 09:30 pm. RGSC,BHU which has been actively celebrating Earth Hour for consecutively 4 years now, once again glowed the path by embracing darkness for the cause of better, cleaner and sustainable Environment.

If the readers be reminded then Earth Hour is a worldwide event started in the year 2007, in Sydney where 3000 office complexes switched off their electricity in order to express their solidarity for the cause of Climate Change. This event has now become a worldwide phenomenon which is currently seen not only as a tool for awareness but also as a dedication to prevailing climate change issues. Many metropolitan cities like New York, Sydney, Nairobi, London, Paris etc. (the list has now reached to more than hundred) have officially accepted the importance of this event and have been actively switching off light and organizing awareness programs. Worldwide 170 countries, 1200 landmarks and 40 UNESCO World Heritage have confirmed their participation in this year’s Earth Hour. India has been celebrating this Hour actively since 2009. Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar etc. have also celebrated the seventh edition of the event at official level.

Coming back to RGSC, BHU, the member of Eco1 made sure that all the denizens of the 6 hostels of RGSC got the news about Earth Hour. At sharp 08:30 pm, all the hostels switched off their light and came out of their respective hostels with candles to commemorate the Earth Hour. The whole process was supervised by Raj Maurya and his co- members of Eco1 who visited various hostels and made sure that the importance of the day is known to the students.  The starry sky and the moonlit night provided the perfect relaxing mood to appreciate the Nocturnal Beauty of RGSC. The gathering not only discussed about the various concerns regarding climate change, but also bonded over the recent calamity of Indian Team in Australia. Such was their enthusiasm some even suggested of celebrating Earth Hour every week!!! And truly so, a simple tip of the finger calculation shows that if the lights (fans excluded) of six hostels in RGSC is switched off for an hour then grossly 80kwh of electricity is saved, hence saving  5-6 quintals of coal. Thus is the impact of celebrating Earth Hour by just RGSC Campus. What really matters is the voluntary participation of the students which shows their solemn solidarity for the cause of larger issue of Climate Change.  

Once again the residents of RGSC have proved that if given a slight nudge, we are able to achieve much greater feats. Especially when it comes to Environmental issues.  Eco1, after its cleanliness drives, making the RGSC plastic free like etc. has added another remarkable feather to their hat by organizing Earth Hour consecutively for the 4^th time. This has proven the fact that we don’t only talk but also walk the talk. And that’s what’s actually required at this juncture to save our World. This year’s Earth Hour has and should show the politicians, bureaucrats and policymakers who are going to meet later this year at Paris to resolve a protocol based on The COP Lima 2014. Hopefully they show equal enthusiasm and genuine care in framing laws for our environment.

Awaiting the next Earth Hour….

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EARTH HOUR organised @ RGSC: Another landmark added by Eco One

It was 8.30 pm on clock. Occasion was Earth Hour Day. The worldwide campaign organized by WWF in partnership with other environmental groups across the world to spread awareness about saving energy to reduce our carbon footprint. We all must be aware of the fact that coal fired power plants are major source of our electricity which is also a chief source of green house gas CO2.  On every last Saturday of March, a global campaign to switch off lights was started in which one hour there should be complete black out. Slowly, this campaign is reaching every corner of the world. In Banaras Hindu University, a first campaign of this type was organized in its south campus situated in Mirzapur. It was also a first time in history of RGSC that a candle march was held. Approximately 150 students participated in the first ever Earth Hour Campaign organized in BHU by Eco One, the environmental activism group started by students which is now getting support from the entire faculty and recently got the Vice Chancellor’s patronship. The lights of almost every rooms could be seen switched off.

As Eco One has always followed... ‘Our action speaks more than our word’. Our tradition follows in every campaign. This campaign was another addition to the landmarks Eco One has been setting since its inception a couple months ago.

The Earth Hour campaign not only witnessed a great enthusiasm from the students but Dr. Ashish Singh, who is very active member of Eco One and also Hostel Coordinator for RGSC joined this global campaign with his family.. As he said, ‘ I came here not for myself but my 1.5 year old daughter  in whom I want that sensitivity towards environment in her growing years’. Warden of Shivalik hostel Mr. Vijai Krishna along with his friend joined the campaign and informed students the reason for this campaign. The campaign was huge success pertaining to the fact that it was totally voluntarily.

After the candle march was over we put the candles in front of Malviyaji’s Statue in front of Admin building showing our respect to the ideology of Mahamna which Eco One has been following in all its activities.

Our special thanks to the inmates of Vindhyachal Hostel and New Boys Hostel who made this effort a great success! Many many congratulations to the Vindhyavasini Girls Hostel who supported the campaign by doing their part by switching off the lights. It is a great experience to be a part of the landmarks coming every other weeks! Eco One is proud to have such responsible students as its foundation and our teaching staff who are pillars supporting our strong building which is adding a floor with each works. Congrats!

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