MANILA — The Archdiocese of Manila has urged its parishes to participate in Earth Hour 2018 on Saturday.
“Yes. We are encouraged to observe the Earth Hour,” Fr. Reginald Malicdem, private secretary of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, said Thursday, adding that the cardinal is enjoining the parishes to join the annual event as it aims to protect the environment.
Radio Veritas president Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual said they are joining the event on March 24.
“By 8:30 p.m., the station will participate in the Earth Hour movement by means of switching off the lights that will last until 9:30 p.m.,” said the Catholic priest in a statement.
“As we get involved, we are also encouraging the public, not just to participate but to be aware of the effects of climate change on biodiversity. Let us take this as an opportunity to promote the habit of conserving and utilizing our natural resources,” Pascual said.
Earth Hour 2018 aims to bring together millions of individuals to shine a light on climate action, such as the transition to renewables, promoting sustainable food and agriculture, adopting climate-friendly legislation and business practices, supporting conservation projects and raising awareness on climate issues in schools and among the public.
The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature’s Earth Hour began as a symbolic switch-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and has become the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment, mobilizing hundreds of millions of people in more than 7,000 cities and 172 countries.
Since then, WWF and Earth Hour teams worldwide are using the movement to raise support and funds for access to renewable energy, protection of wildlife and their habitats, building sustainable livelihoods, and driving climate-friendly legislation and policy. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
