Sharan Burrow ITUC General Secretary inspires action
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary, Sharan Burrow, has challenged trade unions around the world to take action for the environment. As part of Earth Hour’s I Will If You Will campaign Burrow has created a trade union network challenge to further encourage the transition to a more sustainable and low carbon economy. “If 100 trade union federations reach out to their national governments and ask them to invest 2% of the value of their economy (GDP) in green jobs, then I will ask the top 100 CEOs to support unions to run environmental awareness initiatives and to invest in greening their supply chains and products to create new jobs." In addition to the challenge, the ITUC has also launched the ITUC Earth Hour Workplace Challenge. It encourages individual and workplace environmental changes from eating less meat and turning off computers at night to using technology to reduce travel to work meetings. The Workplace Challenge is open to workers, managers and union representatives, so take a look.
WAGGGS challenge girl guides and girl scouts to take action for Earth Hour
Chief Executive Mary McPhail and World Board Chairman Nadine El Achy of the World Association of the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), have challenged girl guides and girl scouts around the world for Earth Hour's I Will If You Will campaign. The Chief Executive Mary McPhail pledges to hold an environmental action parade at the United Nations Rio+20 sustainability conference in June 2012, if girl guides and scouts around the world take up the challenge and learn more about environmental issues. "We want young people to be at the heart of efforts to save our planet. We would like girl guides and girl scouts to help us to show the United Nations how important young peoples views on the environment are." See the WAGGGS challenge here
Everest bike challenge for Earth Hour
31-year old mountain bike freestyle rider and runway fashion model Vittoria Brumotti, will pedal his bicycle as far as he can up the slopes of Everest, the world’s highest mountain, for Earth Hour. The Italian and his bike have already made it into the Guinness Book of Records for making 71 jumps on the peak of Punta Coroddi in Sardinia. But aiming for the 8,839 metre Everest will be in another league altogether. Brumotti will be recording a video message in the midst of the ride, where he will wear a panda cap in honour of WWF’s Earth Hour. “When I was a child I was a great fan of WWF, and now that I’m a grown up man I’m all the more convinced about that,” he said. “I appreciate the commitment of Earth Hour, which is as strong as the commitment devoted to my endeavours. I am proud to offer my contribution. WWF Earth Hour forever!”
The National Hockey League switching off for Earth Hour
Twenty National Hockey League (NHL) arenas will be switching-off non-essential lighting for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM local time. All facilities have pledged to scale back the energy used in their operations during the hour. NHL Green is further supporting this initiative by reducing energy usage at NHL headquarters in New York City at that time.
"For the NHL, the success of this event is about more than turning the lights off for one hour. It is about changing the way our sport approaches energy consumption," said Bernadette Mansur, SVP of NHL Green. "Our facilities are challenging themselves to operate more efficiently, and we are encouraging our employees to observe Earth Hour at home and reduce their energy”. consumption throughout the day."
Siemens Poland launches energy saving challenge for Earth Hour
For Earth Hour 2012, Siemens Home Appliances Division Poland has announced the “The Energy Is Inside Us” challenge. For every 10,000 supporters of the energy saving action on Siemens Poland facebook page, Siemens Home Appliances company will provide three energy efficient Siemens home appliances to a foster home. The campaign will take place over the next 12 months with a series of events being hosted by promising Polish actors, Borys Szyc. To save energy with Siemens and WWF, all you need is to fill in the application at energyinsideus.org/register
Siemens Home Appliances Division develops water and energy solutions for washing machines, tumble dryers, ovens, fridges, freezers, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, among others. The Siemens Home Appliances eco-friendly solutions and resource saving policies in logistics, production and service cooperates with WWF on multiple projects as part of their social and natural responsibility actions.
Hitting the high notes in support of Earth Hour
Italian singer-songwriter Elisa Toffoli, and musician Niccolò Fabi, will be headline acts at a pedal-powered concert by roman band Tetes de Bois to celebrate Earth Hour on March 31. The show will take place at the beautiful Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, with large crowds expected to turn up to show their support for the environment. As ambassadors for Earth Hour, Elisa and Niccolò will be singing together as the castle lights are turned out. “By turning off the lights we will create light and life” Elisa says. Both artists truly believe in the importance of awareness and how Earth Hour encourages that. "By turning off the lights, we can increase our awareness" says Niccolo. “Now is the time not to give up the fight. Earth Hour can reach even new generations, who should learn right from the start about the importance of protecting and preserving their planet and its treasures.” Elisa adds.
HSBC supports Earth Hour from the United Kingdom to the UAE
HSBC colleagues in 58 offices around the world will be switching off their lights, at the workplace and at home, at 8:30pm (local time) this Saturday 31st March to support WWF's Earth Hour 2012. In taking further steps to reduce their carbon footprint and raise awareness for energy conservation, HSBC UAE branches are competing to see who can reduce their carbon footprint by the greatest amount between 1 April and 1 June and over 5000 staff will be making pledges to support the EWS-WWF call to action, as senior leaders and CEO's offer to cycle to their offices, work in the staff canteens and job swap in return for employees taking concrete and measurable action to reduce their energy consumption. Brenton Hush, HSBC Australia CTSO has challenged colleagues to reduce their energy consumption. The colleague making the best pledge will win a three-day visit to an Earthwatch exhibition in Queensland. HSBC Brunei is supporting a 15 km "Earth Hour" bike ride will take place to raise awareness of energy conservation and alternative transport.
Speaking about this year’s activity, Simon Martin Head of Group Corporate Sustainability commented “As a long term supporter of WWF’s Earth Hour, HSBC sees this campaign as an effective and symbolic way to raise awareness among our employees, customers and the wider public of the continued importance of consuming global resources responsibly and with an eye to the future. We understand the value of the world’s eco-systems to continued economic development and we want to play our part in protecting these resources.
Find out more about what is going on for Earth Hour at www.earthhour.org.
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