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Environment and Conservation
March 24, 2011

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation:

People of Province Encouraged to Participate in Earth Hour 2011

Each of us has a responsibility for the sustainability of our planet and every action, big or small, collectively helps to make a difference. That is why I rise in this Honourable House today to draw attention to Earth Hour 2011 taking place this coming Saturday at 8:30 p.m. – when every resident in our province from every walk of life is asked to join together in solidarity for our Earth and turn off their lights for one hour.

Earth Hour is organized by the World Wildlife Fund, a leading conservation organization whose mandate is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature. Since Earth Hour first began as a single-city event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, it has grown to a global phenomenon, with a record 128 countries and territories participating in Earth Hour 2010. It has quickly carved its place in history as the largest ever voluntary action whereby people, businesses, and governments come together to celebrate a commitment to a common cause – the Earth.

While Earth Hour has helped raise the profile of sustainability issues since its inception, we must all pledge to do more than switch off our lights for one hour each year. That is why, this year, the organizers are asking all participants to go beyond this one act, take action for the planet, and share your planned activities beyond the hour with them at earthhour.org   

There are many sustainable practices we can adopt beyond this coming Saturday evening. We can ensure we turn off lights when not in use, recycle whenever possible, ensure vehicle tires are inflated properly, compost and install water-saving devices, to name a few. These actions, from a worldwide perspective, can positively affect the future of our planet. They can help us extend our commitment to our planet long after we turn the lights back on this Saturday evening.

I encourage every household throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to join the worldwide movement at 8:30 p.m. local time on March 26 and share in one hour of darkness for the Earth. Together, our actions really do make a difference for our environment.

2011 03 24             2:00 p.m.

 
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