Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh is challenging Manitobans to join others around the world to celebrate International Earth Hour today, March 29, by turning off their lights at 8:30pm for one hour.
“The simple act of turning the lights off for one hour may not seem like much but when millions of people take that one step, we can really make a difference,” said Minister Mackintosh. “This action symbolizes the importance of working together on the global level to save the planet from the damaging consequences of climate change.”
Earth Hour is a global campaign encouraging people to turn off their lights for one hour to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and raise awareness about environmental issues.
The Manitoba government will participate in this campaign by turning off non-essential lights in government-owned buildings. All provincial employees have been asked to turn off computers, monitors and lights in workplaces before leaving at the end of the week and are invited to participate at home as well.
The province is committed to demonstrating green leadership in government as outlined in TomorrowNow – Manitoba’s strategic green plan for protecting the environment while striving for a strong and sustainable economy.
“Earth Hour is a chance to demonstrate that relatively small individual actions can add up to make a big difference,” said Minister Mackintosh. “The goal is to remind people that every day we have the chance to reduce our carbon footprint. Actions like joining a car pool, taking the bus or riding a bike to work all have an impact.”
First observed in Sydney, Australia in 2007, Earth Hour has become an annual international event. More information on how this event is being celebrated all over the world can be found at www.earthhour.org where individuals can register their participation.
