Lets Join Hands Together to Make a Global Statement

Earth Hour was a great success around the world, so let us all join hands and contribute to save energy, only we can make a differnce its for our future

Earth Hour results around the world

London, Mar 29 With millions of people in over 2,800 cities across the world turning off lights for one hour in a symbolic gesture to highlight concerns over climate change, environmentalists say the global initiative was a huge success.Lights went off across the world yesterday as millions of homes and businesses went dark for one hour at 8:30 p.M. Local time for the third annual Earth Hour -- a day-long energy- saving marathon spanning 83 countries and 24 time zones.India participated enthusiastically in Earth Hour, with official activities taking place in the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Dehradun, Shimla, Chandigarh and Hyderabad as well as numerous smaller communities, according to Earth Hour's Web site.Mumbai's best known landmarks, the Reserve Bank and Air India buildings and the Indian Tourism Development Corporation's flagship Ashok Hotel, went dark along with hundreds of other buildings across the city. Indian IT giants such as WIPRO and Infosys also joined in, it said.In Washington, the lights went out at the Capitol dome at 8:30 p.M. The same time the Empire State Building, Central Park and the George Washington Bridge in New York went dark.The Philippines topped this year's participation for Asia, with more than 650 communities taking part in the event, Earth Hour's Web site said.In London, the light illuminating the face of the landmark Big Ben clock tower was switched off.

Earth Hour Reports Energy Savings

“It was a huge success,” says World Wildlife Fund spokesman Dan Forman. Twenty major cities and other municipalities participated, many of them soliciting corporations in their locales to turn off their lights as well. Lights at landmarks such as Niagara Falls and the Seoul Tower in South Korea also went dark.
In North America, cities including Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Francisco and Vancouver participated in the shutdown.
In Chicago, lights on more than 200 downtown buildings were dimmed Saturday night, including the stripe of white light around the top of the John Hancock Center. The red-and-white marquee outside Wrigley Field also went dark.
According to electric utility Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd), during the 8 pm to 9 pm duration, Chicago saved about 7 percent in energy. The 818 megawatt hours of electricity saved are equivalent to nearly 1.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions or taking two 400-megawatt coal plants offline for one hour.
Georgia Power customers in Atlanta reduced their electric load by about 4 percent, for an average reduction of 7.05 megawatt hours, or enough electricity to serve 1,750 homes. Ireland saved a reported 1.5 percent in energy the same evening.
Forman says results have been slow to come in because electric utilities aren’t geared to calculating energy savings and making those reports. That itself may be a damning commentary on our electric grid in a time when we need to focus on energy reduction.
The first Earth Hour was in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 and inspired 2.2 million people and 2,100 corporations to shut off non-essential lights and other electric loads. The city reported a 10.2 percent energy reduction during that one hour, the equivalent of taking about 48,000 cars off the road for an hour.
It seems like the United States and North America has some catching up to do. Though as Forman says, “The goal [of Earth Hour] was not energy reduction. The goal was to raise awareness and put [energy savings] on our national radar. It changes the way people think of how they can get involved.” Let’s hope so.
And although the WWF isn’t focused on the results, they are worth looking at just to see what we can do in one hour. Imagine what we could with more constant energy vigilance.

Protect our Forests

The world's ancient forests are truly diverse. They include boreal, temperate and tropical forests, coniferous and broadleaf forests, rainforests and mangroves. Together they maintain environmental systems that are essential for life on Earth. They influence weather by controlling rainfall and evaporation of water from soil. They help stabilise the world's climate by storing large amounts of carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change.These ancient forests are home to millions of forest people who depend on them for their survival - both physically and spiritually.These forests also house around two-thirds of the world's land-based species of plants and animals. That's hundreds of thousands of different plants and animals, and literally millions of insects - their futures also depend on the ancient forests.These magnificent ancient forests are under threat. More than 87 human cultures have been lost in Brazil alone; in the next 10 to 20 years, the world looks set to lose thousands of species of plants and animals. But there is a last chance to SAVE these forests and the people and species that depend on them.

EARTH DAY

Make Earth Day an everyday affair

The choices for recycled goods are extensive and the products are readily available. Earth Day is almost upon us and many people are focusing on what they can do to make the world a better place. But after Earth Day, sporadic environmentalists go back to their usual routine and the desire to protect the environment fades. An easy way to keep the spirit of Earth Day alive throughout the rest of the year is to buy recycled content products.

The Buy Recycled Business Alliance contends that most recycled products are equal in quality, appearance and performance to virgin products. In addition, recycled content products undergo stringent testing and exacting performance documentation, which take the guess work out of buying decisions. And, most are priced the same as virgin.

The choices are extensive, and the products are readily available. Items ranging from cars and appliances, to cereal boxes and bathroom tissue, or cabinets and tile flooring are available in recycled content, and most can be found right alongside virgin products. According to the Buy Recycled Business Alliance, the key to shopping wisely is to "Look, Ask and Persist." Here are some tips to help do this.

Look:

• Look on the product's packaging for information about recycled content. Although manufacturers are not required to label products which contain recycled content, many are doing so to make it easier for the consumer to make choices.
• Look for recycled content versus a product that is recyclable. Just because a product is labeled as recyclable does not mean that it is made from recycled materials. Recyclable products are good, but recycled content ones are even better.
• Look for the amount of recycled content in the product. There is no right or wrong amount, but the more, especially "post-consumer content," the better. So, compare the products you are considering to see which one has the most recycled content and select the one with the higher percentage.

Ask:

• Don't hesitate to seek help when in doubt. The Buy Recycled Business Alliance at the National Recycling Coalition is one resource.
• Ask the seller, vendor or retailer to provide you with information about the manufacturer's program for a product that interests you. Usually a company with a successful recycling operation can provide details about its program.
• Ask for references from people who have used the product. This information should be available, especially for major purchases. Most people will be happy to share what they know. Then, ask how long they have used the product. Question how it is holding up. Ask if they are pleased with its performance. How was its price compared to what they used before?
• Ask about warranties, satisfaction guarantees and other proof-of- performance claims. Most manufacturers automatically back their products with these types of warranties.

Persist:

• Be persistent. Request that your favorite retailer or supplier carry recycled content products. Seek a supplier who knows the facts about recycled content products and request samples. Don't accept "it's not available." Suppliers usually have extensive networks, and recycled content products are available in most categories.(ENN)

Have a sound grounding Horn

Earth Day, which has its origins in the U.S., will be celebrated by thousands of Americans with great fanfare on April 22. Being a holiday for most of them, they will either go out on a picnic, visit a fair, or maybe even organise a rally to celebrate Earth Day, founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson. Most are well-meaning citizens. Asians and others (the middle-class and the elite), who have access to the Internet and who are environment-conscious, will find their own ways of celebrating this day. Otherwise, Earth Day will be just another day to strike off the calendar. Most people in Asia, especially from developing countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, would remain largely unaware. They would be busy about their daily chores. A majority of these would care less, even if told it is Earth Day, because they have to work to earn their daily bread.

However, even in the U.S., while Earth Day does serve to promote environmental values, it also reveals the environmental movement's limitations, according to a political science professor at the University of Maine. "A number of environmental groups consider the holiday's very popularity to be its own undoing as corporate and business groups use Earth Day as an opportunity to define themselves as supportive of the environment," says Amy Fried. "The holiday has proved to be a mixed legacy reflecting the schisms permeating American environmentalism."

Fried, who is interested in how events such as Earth Day shape our politics, culture and values, surveyed staff members at 18 major environmental organisations. She asked them to describe their Earth Day activities, to discuss the political or educational nature of Earth Day, and to consider how Earth Day influences the way people view the environment. Her paper on the results of the survey is currently under review by the journal "Environmental Politics."

Most of the respondents agreed that Earth Day reinforces the importance of environmental education, which has become the most successful and enduring part of the 28-year-old holiday. Agreement, however, ended there, reflecting the philosophical differences among environmental groups. Some survey respondents suggested Earth Day has become a "feel good" media story, lacking "political clout." They criticised the emphasis on individual action -- recycling, driving fuel-efficient cars, using cloth grocery bags -- over collective, political action.

However, sharp differences centered on corporate sponsorship. Some groups criticised corporate funding as "greenwashing," while others viewed the practice as a legitimate means of raising funds for the environmental movement. A supporter of sponsorship wrote that if a corporation was moving to be green, it was fine. Many of today's corporate leaders participated in the first Earth Day in college; it turned them into environmentalists. If they try to coopt Earth Day, they'll just help spread environmental propaganda."

But an opponent of sponsorship countered, "Many times waste companies sponsor family events with entertainment, commercial enterprise books and exhibits to promote the idea that polluters are really protectors of the environment."

What we can do

• Use public transport whenever possible
• Separate garbage at source
• Use plastic bags to a minimum
• Increase your awareness about your environment
• Avoid using chemical pesticides
• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Reduce your paper consumption
• Save water

Benefits to Conserve water :

• If you save water it can save your money bills.
• Reduction in interior water use cuts waste water flows, especially overflowing of gutters which contaminates the environment.
• Environment benefits include eco system and habitat protection.
• Water conservation helps in improving the quality of your drinking water.

Tips to save water :

• Avoid leakage of water from the taps.
• Turn the tap off when not in use especially when you brush your teeth or wash clothes.
• Rainwater harvesting is the another method to conserve water.
• The water supply should be limited in those areas which enjoys the unlimited water supplies.
• Check the leakage of water in the toilets. Also get check the hidden water leaks.
• Educate the mind of the people in the rural areas to save the water.
• Promote the conservation of water through media and wall posters.
• Never throw the water unnecessary on roads which can be used for gardening and cleaning.
• Avoid unnecessary flushing the toilets. Dispose off the tissues, cigarettes and other waste into the bin instead of toilets.
• Use minimum amount of water to bath.
• Water Waste restrictions.
• Improvement in the water distribution system.
• Water your lawn only when it is needed.
• Use a broom instead of hose to clean the sidewalks or to wash the car.
• Capture the water that is leaking and repair it as soon as possible.
• You can use washing machine to wash clothes that does not consume much water.
• Donot leave the tap running while washing the dishes in the kitchen.
• Install small shower heads to reduce the flow of water.

Water Conservation

A step to conserve water is the step to secure the future. The most essential among all the natural resources on earth is water. A drop of water is worth more than a sack of gold for the thirsty man. If each one of us make efforts to save water today , it will save us later. Water conservation is the most effective and environmentally sound method to fight global warming. Water conservation is what that can reduce the scarcity of water. It aims to improve the efficiency of use of water, and reduce losses and waste.

Support Conservation

Habitat destruction, pollution, and globalization threaten animals, plants, and natural wonders around the globe. In the face of these challenges National Geographic remains undaunted, working daily to safeguard endangered species and natural resources. Together we can make a difference by promoting the conservation and sustainable use of the Earth's biological, cultural, and historical resources.

Let Us all contribute

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF is urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.