How did you celebrate Earth Hour on March 28th, 2015?
Billed as the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment, Earth Hour was organized by the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) and launched in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Earth Hour encourages individuals, households, businesses and communities to turn out the lights for one hour, in order to symbolize joint willingness and commitment to saving the planet.
The main goal of this initiative isn’t to save energy by turning out the lights, but to raise awareness and engage people on the issue of climate change. Understandably, turning out the lights for an hour isn’t enough to cause any significant change, but what can and has caused change are the insurmountable media stories that Earth Hour has produced and the massive public attention and backing it has received worldwide.
Why Did Blue Osa Get Involved with Earth Hour?
Here at Blue Osa, as an eco-friendly resort, we are committed to promoting and encouraging positive environmental change.
Built from the ground up with the guidance of local renewable energy company Poderco in 2009, Blue Osa’s buildings and the grounds themselves are green in design. We are a grid-neutral site that generates at least as much electricity as we consume in a year. The property is designed to use the least amount of power possible.
Being off-the-grid, Blue Osa is not dependent on any external power lines and sewage system. We are a self-sustainable micro-grid.
We seek to leave the smallest carbon footprint as possible, services 30 guests and 20 staff at maximum capacity and uses about the same amount of energy that a US household of 4 people use per month.
Blue Osa Celebrates Earth Hour
In honor of our first annual Earth Hour involvement, gardeners Fillo and Alex planted a baby tree on the property of Blue Osa.
At 6:30 pm, here in the Osa Peninsula, Michael turned out the lights for dinner. We normally encourage our guests to use flashlights around our jungle property as a good practice, and tonight was no different from any other. With the sound of the dinner gong, guests made their way along the stone pathways lit with the soft glow.
We then lit candles around the tables and bar area, which created a lovely atmosphere to gather our guests on the first evening of their yoga retreat. Below our two volunteers, Jaime (Massachusetts) and Beth (Michigan), lit candles in the dining room filled with sand from our beach, Playa Tamales.
Traditionally every night we gather our guests to discuss the dinner and the day’s events. Volunteer Azahar (Minnesota) discussed the history and background of Earth Hour, and owners Aaron and Adam encouraged the guests to take the tradition of Earth Hour home.
Aaron also enjoyed the memory of Blue Osa’s first year, when they frequently dined by candlelight due to regular power outages of the new eco-resort in the jungle.
Guests dined on farm-to-table salad and fresh Mahi Mahi dinner by candlelight. The evening concluded with many requests for future dinners to be presented in the same manner!
When was Earth Hour?
Earth Hour 2015 was on Saturday, March 28, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. during participants’ local time.
Developed by the WWF through their engagement with advertising agency Leo Burnett, Earth Hour initially targeted an Australian audience. Originally titled ‘the Big Flick’, the large scale ‘switch off’ was held on 31 March in Sydney, Australia at 7:30 pm, local time and received significant attention and marked as a critical success, with 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses participating in the ‘lights off’ event.
However, this was just the beginning of what was to become an international phenomenon. Earth Hour 2008 was held internationally on March 29, 2008 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time, marking the first anniversary of the event. With 35 countries around the world participating as official flagship cities and over 400 cities also supporting, Earth Hour 2008 was celebrated on all seven continents.
Did You Miss Earth Hour?
Check out the Earth Hour website to see how you can join an event near you next year, and get involved with Earth Day on April 22nd. Check out the events near you here.
“Earth Hour isn’t just about saving energy, it’s a moment to think about what we can achieve. On this momentous day, take time out to switch off. During Earth Hour your lights are your voice, and may they scream to our leaders that this planet is our only planet and we want to keep it.”
About the Author
Azahar Aguilar was born in Mexico and raised in Minnesota. She’s a culture-holic wanderer, international yoga instructor, writer, and content marketing consultant for creatives and healers.
She worked with online branding, marketing, social media, writing, and taught yoga during her time at Blue Osa. Find out more at AzaharAguilar.com.
