Don鈥檛 worry about needing your eyes checked if things seem a little dim this Saturday evening鈥攜ou鈥檝e probably just happened upon a no-lights-allowed Earth Hour celebration.
Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007. In only a few years it has grown to a truly global event, with 128 countries and territories participating last year. Hundreds of millions of people have pledged their support to the event, which is organized by the World Wildlife Fund.
The basic premise of Earth Hour is turning off your lights for 60 minutes, but other environmentally conscious actions are encouraged, even if it鈥檚 just taking the time to reflect on your own energy dependency and consumption.
Realistically, Earth Hour is more of a symbolic gesture than a practical act of conservation. Brittany Maguire, a third-year student majoring in environmental science and international development studies, is Dalhousie鈥檚 WWF campus outreach assistant. She sees Earth Hour as an opportunity to send a global message of 鈥渃ommitment and hope for a sustainable future and clean energy.鈥�
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鈥淐anada could be a leader in clean energy if we wanted to be,鈥� says Ms. Maguire. 鈥淏ut the longer we wait, the harder it will be.鈥� She hopes Canadians will take this year鈥檚 Earth Hour as an opportunity to consider 鈥渨here our energy comes from, how we use it, and how we could reduce doing so.鈥�
Ms. Maguire understands that even an hour-long commitment can be difficult on a student schedule. Last year, she spent her Earth Hour finishing a paper鈥攊n the dark of course. But this year, something more fun is planned. Ms. Maguire is working with Dalhousie鈥檚 Office of Sustainability to organize the Earth Hour Murder Mystery which takes place at the University Club.
鈥淲e鈥檙e having an Earth Hour party, but when we turn out the lights someone gets murdered in the dark,鈥� explains Ms. Maguire. 鈥淭hen we鈥檒l all have to interrogate the suspects to figure out what happened.鈥� Whoa, Earth Hour just got a whole lot more sinister.
鈥淓veryone is encouraged to dress up as their favourite Clue character and really get into it!鈥� adds Ms. Maguire. There will also be a bar at the event, and participants are welcome to stay after the game ends and mingle with fellow players.
If you are planning to celebrate Earth Hour in any fashion this year, make sure you check out this special post written by Ms. Maguire on the There, you can make a public pledge to turn off your lights and do your part, plus there are two great prizes up for grabs!
Remember, darkness descends this Saturday, March 26 from 8:30 p.m.听 to 9:30 p.m.
If you go
What: Earth Hour Murder Mystery
Who: All welcome! (free admission)
Where:
When: Saturday March 26, 8 p.m.
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=206107899399560