We'd love to hear from you! Share what you are doing to protect nature and shape a brighter future for people and the planet.
Nature is the only truth we can experience. It the imperfection that heals our egos and tells us that we are part of it, we can be imperfect and amazing at the same time.
Hackberry Tree first production line was hand-painted cards distributed as an in-kind donation to supports environmental and social global causes. The Black Iris collection consisted of 60 cards each card presents a minute of the 60 minutes we cut off lights and energy uses in support of Earth every 28th March.
The cards got sold in Wild Jordan Café. It was the first experience that had very kind support from all eco-friendly products fans. The Royal Society Conservation of Nature and World Wildlife Fund were super supportive. We used the three logos to raise awareness of three causes at once:
The earth hour event and WWF global efforts in saving nature
The Royal Society efforts at the local and regional levels
The need for more eco-products to replace commercial products and support local and international craftsmen
Years passed, I want to give a VERY BIG thank you to everyone who supported "Hackberry Tree" initiative we had many eco-products after this one, and more to come. Nature is our source of inspiration and wellbeing.
Nature is our home, the key to our survival and ours to protect!!
When you know what’s happening in the planet you can’t ignore it. This is what Sara thought seeing how plastic pollution is destroying entire ecosystems. She describes it as a heartbreaking situation and a point of no return. A few years ago she decided to transform her lifestyle. Then she realised there’s a lot she was able do from home such cooking with her mother with local ingredients, bringing her reusable bottle everywhere so won’t need to buy one, saying No to all single-use plastics such as cigarettes, cutlery and coffee cups, getting bar shampoo and conditioner. And of course, she said, using a menstrual cup which is a real revolution for women.
Esteban Álvarez and Jorge Arteta are the two Colombian students who demonstrated to the country that young people do care about biodiversity and want to act to conserve it. In November of 2019 they received the first place in the global biodiversity contest Wild Widsom Quiz in New Delhi, India, and since then they have led environmental initiatives from their schools to encourage more young people to act for nature
Daniel Meléndez is a young Mexican who decided to come to Colombia to carry out clime actions through We4ThePlanet, the volunteer initiative for climate change that is developed between AIESEC and WWF-Colombia. For 6 weeks, Daniel conducts workshops with children and youth and supports the construction of a community nursery that has the purpose of reforesting the Morro de Moravia in the city of Medellín.
Nature is what sustains us as we are ,even when we arrogantly and obliviously chose to not acknowledge this fact.
Nature has the power to nurture and the power destroy ,as is evident from the latest pandemic ,of how nature is capable of bringing the entire human race to its knees ,overnight !!
Nature has immense potential to bounce back ,whereas we as a race are rather fragile and will perish if we don't give nature the respect it deserves.
Nature is the only source that can make earth a better place.If people keep pollution,our hope-- the earth will be gone.I like to play around the beach,playground and attend marathon.I love visiting and hiking.I still remember we went to the Bewah and Taat Cave.It is amazing.inside the cave is dark.There are stalagmites and statutes..Lots of batngd on top of the cave.We saw a nature diamond rock (stalagmites) shaped like a lion.I was so excited.
I love nature.I meand lots to me.
Nature is me. I am part of Nature. We are all nature and part of the global ecosystem. We must act now. Not to save the planet. Planet doesn't need man. Life will continue with or without human beings. We can destroy the global ecosystem and biodiversity as we know it. We will die with it. But life will continue to evolve and thrive. So, we must act now to save ourselves. To save life of humans on the planet. I'm sad when I see hoe blind humans are. We believe we can manage nature. We believe we are upon it. And not part of it. What a big mistake. As human being and living beings we have the moral obligation to act, jump to action and work to restore nature, regenerate biodiversity and preserve what is left. So, when we will die, we will be able to watch our sons into the eyes and tell them: "I was part of the solutions, not of the causes of doom. I worked hard to leave you a planet where you can thrive and live. I worked hard to be worthy to be call a human being". Obviously the problems are enormous. But if each one of us just pledge to take care of a small piece of land, we can, we are able to heal the planet. I do practice permaculture. Since 2005 I work in the Peruvian cloud forest. Here I founded a small non profit org. THE SEVEN ELEMENTS and we teach and promote permaculture as a way to regenerate land and achieve human security. My work affects just a small, very tiny part of the earth. But I'm part of huge, growing army. I'm positive. I know that everywhere millions of people like me are getting in action, practicing permaculture and restoring the land. This is my suggestion. Start following the mainstream. Start producing your own food. At least some small pot on your terrace. Start reducing your footprint on earth. Find a piece of land. Get in love with it. Start restoring the landscape. It doesn't matter how big this piece of land is. Remember, millions of people like you are doing the same. And don't get discouraged if you watch tv and it seems that the world is going to end and capitalism ruling the planet. Nothing is forever. All human things are going to die soon or late. So, capitalism and consumerism, this inequitable, unsustainable society based on comsuption of fossil fuel derived stuff will end. Who today is on command, tomorrow will be just a dinosaur. I prefer to be the front line of a new generation and paradigm than the last of the dinosaurs. We gonna win this fight. And heal the planet.
Nature is a testament to the Awesomeness of my Creator. Who sent his only Son to die on the Cross so that we may all be saved. I fast and keep a vegan diet to maintain a solid Temple for the Holy Spirit and I see how nature is blessed with the Spirit which makes me feel transcendent.
2. Everything started when María Fernanda read an article that said the first toothbrush we use in our lives is still on the planet. And it will still be here when we die. Since then, she’s been involved in many different environmental causes, such as helping other people understand the impact of their actions. She uses social media to show how together, we have a great power. She plants trees, cleans beaches, informs about protected areas and most important, she changed her life to reduce her footprint, because as she says, “we don't need to wait for the future to change what we don’t like".
A few years ago, Yeison decided to reduce his consumption to a minimal point. He tells with pride that he hasn’t bought a plastic bottle in two years and he’s been doing compost in the small urban place he calls home. He teaches others to take responsibility for their waste and recycle as much as possible. There are plenty of options. His best choice is to collect plastic waste in a bottle and take it to a foundation where they build houses for people living in economical poverty. He says we all have the opportunity to help other live in harmony with nature.
Esteban Álvarez and Jorge Arteta are the two Colombian students who demonstrated to the country that young people do care about biodiversity and want to act to conserve it. In November of 2019 they received the first place in the global biodiversity contest Wild Widsom Quiz in New Delhi, India, and since then they have led environmental initiatives from their schools to encourage more young people to act for nature
The forest has been my greatest teacher. I spend time with her, listening to her, understanding her, and learning from her ❤.
That is why today, I'm co-creating Deciduous tree with her, crying for her destruction, recognizing her rights, and fighting for her life!
I focus on nurturing young environmental enthusiasts through greening schools, environmental education, addressing food insecurity by planting fruit trees and establishing food forests, as well as inculcating a tree growing culture for forest cover increment through adopting a tree campaign through Green Generation Initiative.
I came across a picture of a twig which spelt my name in Arabic. The picture was an affirmation that we are part of nature. I am a journalist and a news anchor one of the most fulfilling tasks is telling stories about mother nature and how people are sustainably benefiting from natural resources. Nature is a source of food, medicine and shelter. Nature provides clean water, the clean air we breathe and healthy soils. Nature inspires us. The best way to pay back is to inspire others and take action to protect it. They say if nature isn't kept healthy we will not survive. Ali Manzu
Nature produces life and life means above anything else to humans. Protecting and preserving the environment has been one of my greatest dreams since 2019 after I watched documentaries and reviews how people's actions destroy the Earth. Currently, as a Fine Arts student, as a woman, I have a lot of things that I should always keep in mind. These concepts include minimalism and zero-waste lifestyle. These have been definitely didficult for me to adjust since I lived almost 18 years of my life in single-use plastics and other activities that absolutely contributed to the pollution. I was not really fond of maximizing resources and I was always in the stage of "wants" for new things. However, I finally decided to make changes to how I live, I finally committed to be responsible of everything I consume step by step. Particularly, I learned to bring my own water tumbler, food storage and reusable bags in order to refuse single-use plastics. I learned to walk and experience the nature rather than getting into a vehicle. I also decided to have my washable menstrual pad, refillables containers for personal hygienes and I now buy to eco-friendly stores. In buying my art materials, I always check the packaging and decide if it will be worthy. It is also a good thing that I get to encourage my family and friends to do the same as I have done. This also reflects to arts that I made so that people will be much aware of the environmental crisis.
I believe, as we minimize our carbon footprint even as baby steps as I already do, if accummulated, these steps will be the carrier of change for every living things on Earth.
Its our valuable assets that can nurture us,Provides us, protect us, shelter us and heal us
Finding the right key to your song is one of the most important aspects of music. The same applies to many aspects of life. The key to success in any intervention is action because commitment alone will not bring change, for example, to increase Kenya's forest cover to 10% we have to plant and grow the trees. What’s in your hand? use it. My name is Nikita Kering. I am a Singer and Songwriter from Kenya. I use my music to influence and Inspire change. Happy Earth Hour 2020
Lo mas hermoso del mundo, los animales, las plantas, los oceanos, me encantaría vivir en una cabaña rodeado de animales y plantas, respirando aire puro y sano, lejos de la maldad de los seres humanos.
A moment of peace and best friend of mine when i am alone. It is also helped me in the recovery of my anger nature into a calm and crazy person. It is my life to stay after or before my loved ones.
Nature is a God gift for humanity and every living creatures means for survival.Human beings had a purpose live on earth, however the modern society, greediness, competition, aggressiveness, aesthetics needs and selfishness is a threat for both humanity and the nature.Today the holistic way of living which which was once a living culture by our ancestors by abiding with what nature has given to us....
Every living creature has been provided everything for their wellbeing, every living plant or even a weed has it's own reason to be on earth. Our traditional methods to cure people will be the future needs hence our new generation is not well grounded yet. We have to preserve and study more of these plants.I firmly believe that...same as nature has sent covid19 to to heal the earth...there must be somewhere a plants as a remedy to save humanity.
Time to preserve our nature and culture....there should be a miraculous plants somewhere on earth to save humanity...🙏
The forest has been my greatest teacher. I spend time with her, listening to her, understanding her, and learning from her ❤.
That is why today, I'm co-creating Deciduous tree with her, crying for her destruction, recognizing her rights, and fighting for her life!
I focus on nurturing young environmental enthusiasts through greening schools, environmental education, addressing food insecurity by planting fruit trees and establishing food forests, as well as inculcating a tree growing culture for forest cover increment through adopting a tree campaign through Green Generation Initiative.
Nature is athe very important to things on the earth included human.I love nature.I like toto explorer nature,like hiking,picnic at the beach,play at playground,visiting plantation,camping in the jungle..I still can remember the day my family and I explore the Cave Bewah and Cave Taat at our own country..its a natural cave,dark and full of bats flying at the top of the cave.there are also lots of stalagmites and stalacites..one of the stalamites shaped like a lion and its sparking.it's so amazing.I love nature much.it means lots to me..
Happy World Earth Hour Day
Growing up in Naivasha, Kenya, in the ‘80s I had an interest in watershed ecosystem structures, dynamics, anthropogenic influences and other forcing functions in relation to ecosystem stability and management, especially in freshwater management.
Community members would bear all the cost of conservation especially in the upper and middle catchment areas of Naivasha and yet the benefits would not necessarily be ploughed back to them but rather collected by duty bearers and investors who didn’t give much back to the community members.
I lead from the front first in the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), where we organize the investors in the Lake Naivasha basin, who voluntarily contribute funds to help support community members involved in the conservation of freshwater sources. I am currently in charge of twelve water resources users’ associations under the Lake Naivasha Basin Umbrella Water Resources Users Association (LANABWRUA) and we are leading efforts in amplifying the voices of all community members.
“I am a teacher by training, but a conservationist at heart. I grew up in Mkokoni in Lamu on the shores of the Indian Ocean. A lot has changed, there is more trash than fish and other ocean animals like sea turtles.
I have read and learned a lot about sea turtles. Sea turtles confuse plastics for food, so I try to reduce the number of plastics by turning them into useful things. A lot of flip flops end up on the shore, we sort them by colour, clean them up, punch them and turn what could have ‘poisoned’ the living things in the water we depend on into cash. We earn a living as well as clean the ocean from plastic.
I am a member of the Kiunga turtle conservation group comprising of 20 youth from Kiunga protected area who volunteer by working with WWF-Kenya on marine turtle conservation and other green initiatives like mangrove conservation. Through the WWF-Kenya funded Trash to Cash Program women and youth collect flip flops and mould them into toys and other handicrafts, thus, cleaning up the beaches to ease sea turtle nesting. From their sales, they earn an income.”
Nature to me is the symbol of hope, unity and is the strongest super power. No matter what you are as an individual or the secondary things like, capitalism, technology, economy or currency, there are few things in the world which can’t be changed or controlled.
Nature doesn’t need us, but we need Nature every moment in our life!
An ability to do something for the planet and and the planet repays back in its own form.
A place that loves me because it makes me comfortable in this universe Happy earth hour
The most beautiful thing in the world is Mother Nature. I have organized tree plantation drives. Conducted nature connect programs. Experienced nature first hand with treks and hikes. We have come up with a documentary on Vulture Conservation and a book on snake conservation.Supported forests and zoos by indirectly supporting the forest department. We have also adopted a panther named Apsara in Bannerghatta Zoo and provided bags , metal water bottles and first aid boxes to help forest guards in their day to day rounds to prevent poaching. All efforts going towards conserving wildlife and it's habitats in turn saving Mother Nature.
Its our valuable assets that can nurture us,Provides us, protect us, shelter us and heal us.
I've always been a person that enjoyed the outdoors more than indoors. I love running, skiing, and adventuring in nature. Years ago, I started seeing changes in nature - different weather patterns, snow for skiing, pollution of the air, water, and land. Since, I've learned what I can do to help, and worked as an advocate. I wrote this poem to reflect my opinion about nature, and human impact on it. Enjoy!
Midheaven
By: Lisa A. Durant
There is a force to trust amidst thundering torrents of life
The wind moves it; the earth grounds it, and reverberates the mighty sound
Humming…
All living things can feel it; few humans receive it
The pulse of earth and heaven are the same, and the mid place in between
Artists of all sorts, seers and wise ones, heed calls to wake others
Those unable to feel rudimentary sensation
Survival sensation…
Artful messages are sent through powers of attraction and beauty
Beauty today, pure and unadulterated, is stifled by a masquerade called progress
Betrayal of heart, land and mind is a game of devious deception
Human words, written, told or sung, are messengers akin to lyrics of wild birds
Hope, faith and optimism whilst warning signs borne of assessment
The wingspan to soar, the power to flap to fly, define a space called midheaven
The intersection of earth and air in complete synchronicity
Heed the call the winds inform, the birds harken, and intuition intact bring
The power of the natural world has, and will forever, reign supreme
For the edge of death is scarily near
Good, light and truth square domination of the dark, powerfully corrupt
Manmade systems gone awry, designed for consumption, greed and excess
This movement endeavors to silence the humming of the ages, and opposes the force of elemental nature
To have glanced the other side of darkness, of death in human form, reveals a pinpoint light that is hope
Dark tunnels revolve and resound at point; the everlasting gateway is true light and love
Beauty is Queen
King and Kingdom fall
Nature is an essential part in our planet and we need to protect it everyday by doing small things but deep meaning. I and my team encourage our friends and families to engage in Earth Hour event by sharing their potted plants pictures at home and hashtag our Instagram page @eco_planting2020 to the community. We hope this is an interesting activity to do at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nuture means human existance.
The Novel Corona virus Cuvid 19 means Nature must be restored, conserved and protected for humanity to thrive.
Our Future!! Nature is from we came, our survival and our future. So let's induce in the kid for new Generation. Let's celebrate with children like. Birthday, let's the Future generation believe in it. It's Important to drive it.
Nature means the world to me (no pun intended). Nature is what helps me reconnect, destress, and appreciate the beauty of an ecosystem. The smallest acts can have big impacts, and when we work together anything is possible. I look forward every year to Earth Hour and getting outside and enjoying all parts of nature!
NATURE to me is “God’s gift” to all humanity. As a token of gratitude and respect, we must “protect” it!
Nature is definitely a blessing from above that lm so thankful for it is my home and safe haven. It is my friend when l feel lonely and it has also been a place where l can find true peace. Nature is my way of seeing a glimpse of my creator .Looking deep ito it l will understand everything better because it works hard to protect us and to sustain our everyday lives, nature means many things to me.
I believe that we all have a huge responsibility to treat nature in the right way. We all depend on our planet. During my travels around the world, I witnessed enormous amounts of plastic waste that are thrown in the oceans and on the beaches. I couldn't help but wonder what I can do to help prevent ocean pollution.
As a passionate ultra-marathoner, I decided to launch a sports apparel brand without harming the planet and producing more waste. My solution is recycling in every step of the process. Our Rockay performance socks are made from 100% recycled fishing nets, ocean waste, and other recycled material. We don't compromise product quality or sustainability. Both can be achieved. We will donate 10% of all sales made on Earth Day to oceana.org, an organization that protects the world's oceans. Our marine life and ecosystem are endangered by human-made waste, and we all can do something about it. More info about our mission on www.rockay.com
Natural systems are vital for all our futures.Nature provides us food, water, clean air, and so on. Nature gives us life.
Nature provides us food, water, clean air and other resources. Nature is the central seed of the web of life, from which all kinds of lives can exist. Conservation should start by controlling our water footprints, carbon footprints, plastic footprints, pollution footprints, food footprints and garbage footprints. Conservation of energy is vital towards combating Climate Change.
I’m a high school student in Northeast Yucai School of Fine Arts, Shenyang, China. We have carried out many activities on environmental protection in our school. Last year, I participated in the Earth Hour and became a “panda” to save energy . Under the organization of my school, we planted flowers, trees, and vegetables on campus. Combined with mathematical knowledge, our classmates planted the school badge in the flowerbed. We joined in garbage sorting activities many times and made garbage sorting posters. What’s more, we had the opportunity to participate in an environmental painting competition and won awards.
At 8:30 pm on March 28 this year, the lights will be turned off for one hour. Our teachers and students will join the entire planet and take actions. I hope everyone could increase environmental awareness, consciously practice a low-carbon lifestyle, jointly promote energy conservation and emission reduction, and build a resource-saving and environment-friendly environment.
Ever since I was younger I knew I wanted to work with animals and I enjoyed being outside. It wasn’t until my freshman year in college that I started doing more research and learned about the plastic problem and climate change and I immediately started to change my life around. It was the same year that I learned about Earth Hour as well. I thought it was amazing that the whole world has an event to bring awareness about what’s really going on environmentally. Every year I participate and I usually watch a film about what I can do to help climate change and invite friends. I am a young environmentalist that has high hopes that I can help save/fix the environment through educating my peers. I personally want to work with animals but I cannot save animals until I help heal the earth.
Nature is Home. People spend several years of their youth to build a home for themselves. A home is a place of solace for many and so is Nature. Nature is home to diverse flora and fauna and different human beings. It is the only home where every species co-exists. All these species in one way or the other are guardians of Nature. I am committed to protecting my Mother Nature that is nurturing me. I
For most of our lives, we have depended on nature more than we realize it. We also may have taken advantage of that, simply through our actions. Catastrophic consequences have emerged from our actions, leaving nature to feel pressured and unbalanced. However, we forgot that as much as we depend on nature, it depends on us; we are one. Nature is calling out for us, it needs our help and it’s our responsibility to respond. Simple actions can result in great changes, for example by eliminating single-use plastics, you save the ocean from carrying hundreds of bottles, straws, bag, etc. I will do everything in my power to protect nature, I cannot live a life without nature and its beauty.
Nature is everything and I understand my role as part of this complex web of life that support us all. I also understand that even thought we are equally important as the rest of life to maintain our planet´s balance: we humans are a powerful specie. We have to take responsibility of our mistakes, reverse climate change and stop biodiversity loss. That´s why I raise my voice on Earth Hour and take my commitment further to a more sustainable day to day, a life in harmony with nature.
Meet me Oliviah Tawarar, from a village called Ngonyek and originally from the minority community in Kenya called the Sabaot community. Growing up in my village very few people knew about environmental conservation. My mum was a teacher in the village and she knew 1 or 2 things about taking care of the environment. At that time I did not know that was environmental conservation, for me that was just doing the right thing and everyone is expected to do the right thing, right?
Since then I have worked towards educating young people on the importance of taking care of the environment.
My role Model the late Wangari Maathai said that you cannot protect the environment until you empower people, you inform them and make them understand that these resources are their own that they must protect them.I follow those words to date, and that is exactly what Nature means to me. I decided that I will just sit there and do nothing, I will do whatever it takes to save our planet no matter how small the action is, it will make a difference.
It's a saying in my religion; God resides in nature!
Celebrate 'Earth Hour' on every Sunday We are living in the Century Of Climate Crisis', 'Population Explosion' and 'Household Explosion'. World population is expected to be 10 billion by 2050. Such a growing size is causing a pressure on our ecology. Biodiversity and Ecosystems are under stress and depleting. Daily life of humans is not eco-friendly and is destroying their future to fulfill their current unsustainable needs and ambitions. The vector-borne infectious diseases that are usually confined to wildlife, have spillover to people in areas undergoing rapid forest clearing. About 60% of the new infectious diseases that emerge in people, including HIV, Ebola, Nipah, and Covid19 originated in forest-dwelling animals. Our expanding urbanization, industrialization, agriculture and developmental activities are not sustainable and largely dependent upon fossil fuels for energy needs. Fossil fuels are fueling in the 'global warming' and 'climate change' which in turn is resulting in the melting of polar ice, ocean acidification, coastal erosion, ocean warming, floods, droughts, sea level rise, depleting biodiversity and urban heat-island effect. According to the ‘Global Carbon Project' atmospheric CO2 concentration in 2019 is 47% above the pre-industrial levels. The use of fossil energy sources is continued to grow, despite rapid growth in renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources are not replacing fossil fuels but are rather expanding the overall amount of energy that is produced. Currently, crude oil is the largest fossil energy source, accounting for around 39 percent of fossil energy, followed by coal and natural gas at 33 and 28 percent, respectively. We cannot change our past but can change our future. Now, we have two primary choices at present: either to accept the conditions as they exist and wait for the end of the future or accept the responsibility to 'Change Climate Change' for the sake of a livable, better and sustainable future. It is upon 'current generation' to choose a future, better or worse. If we want to cherish every precious moment on earth, then we must have to take urgent 'Climate Action' for a 'sustainable future'. Every year we the world organise 'Earth Hour' in March month and switch-off electricity for one hour. But, just switching off electricity for one hour once in a year is not a sufficient step to reduce the impact of Climate Change. For this, we need a regular conservation of Energy resources. Celebrating 'Earth Hour' on every 'SunDay' may bring a change. On every Sunday, we may swear to say no to non-renewable forms of energy like thermal energy for at-least 'one hour'. We need this to save Earth from the lethal impact of Climate Change. The 'Future Developed Nations' will have high 'Green Governance', 'Carbon Negativity', 'Forest Cover', 'Sustainable Development', 'Household Size', 'Education' & 'Health'. So, transform your Sunday as 'Energy Conservation Day'. This will help in recovery of 'stressed ecosystems', biodiversity and mean normal Earth temperature of 14°C. Prabhat Misra Twitter- @PrabhatMisra
After our late Prime Minister, of Singapore embarked on a clean the rivers of our country, we have willd otters enjoying our clean waterways and plentiful of fish for their sustenance
Einstien once said Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better...Nature is important for me going into nature and being surrounded by the wisdom of the trees, the beauty of the grasses, the inspiration of the mountains, and the warmth of the sun I can feel the subtle peace enter my body, mind, and spirit. I am now home once again.
Nature is symbol of love, peace and happiness for me.
I’ve always lived in coastal cities - Mumbai, Los Angeles, Singapore - and that’s why the oceans have been so important to me. And why plastic pollution really frustrates me. It seems like such a giant problem - tonnes and tonnes of plastic that will stay in our oceans and lands forever, choking turtles, being ingested by fish whom we in turn eat, suffocating our lands, leaking microplastics into our food chain - with no easy solution. And I think that’s true to an extent. Living in an urban city, it’s hard to rid your life of single-use plastic. It’s everywhere from takeout boxes and coffee cups, to water bottles and shopping bags, wrappers and straws. I’ve wanted to do something about this for a while - change something about my lifestyle, make a difference in some way. It’s been easy to get a refillable water bottle, buy a reusable coffee cup, and stop using straws.
But I wanted to take a bigger step. So I decided to stop using disposable sanitary napkins and tampons. Instead, I use a menstrual cup. It’s made of silicone, is easy to use, is reusable for years and is even more hygienic and kinder to my body than disposable alternatives. This simple change helps keep a large amount of plastic waste out of landfills and oceans. I hope that more girls take up reusable alternatives and dispel any myths about them being harmful or difficult to use. It’s been over 15 months since I made the switch, and I’m happy to say I’m never going back!
I believe we are all on this planet to make an impact and to create a difference.Often we don't realize how fortunate we are to have water when we open our taps or to not spend our nights in darkness with no electricity. These are things that we sometimes take for granted. Having travelled around the world and being associated with WWF Nepal as the Young Conservative Ambassador in 2010, I realize that we need to own up to our actions and understand that the Earth is our home.
So how can we as individuals take a step to protect what is ours?
Here is my promise - to use wisely any resource that this earth provides. My family and I make sure we recycle and reuse as much as we can. My dad and I are very fond of gardening and we make our own compost from household waste; a means to #connect2earth in the literal sense! As simple as it may sound, I feel this creates our own small ecosystem to support insects and birds with whom we share our space. I also harvest rainwater in our house and use the collected water to water the plants and wash our clothes. By being mindful of less to zero waste, I feel I am able to inculcate the value of sustainable living.
My actions might not speak volumes but they can add up if we are in it together. Just like Earth Hour that harnesses the power of the individual.
I have always been inspired by the power that we have as individuals to make a change, and Earth Hour was just one great reason to channel that power into action.Organizing the largest collective environmental movement in my country helped me realize that the Earth is not only a home to us, humans, but to millions of other species and that we need to restore the balance between the biodiversity for the positive future of our shared home.
My story with Earth Hour starts with my passion for journalism - ever since I started writing about Earth Hour, I was thrilled with the idea of millions of people around the world, uniting for a cause and turning off the lights in one hour to send a visual, symbolic message of their commitment towards the planet. I never thought I could be a part of a global movement, but that is the uniqueness of Earth Hour, it is a movement that spreads across the world, yet, anyone, anywhere, can join, spark awareness and take action!
As editor-in-chief in the editorial desk I have been working on this years, many things have changed since we joined the Earth Hour. We have become a paperless company, meaning that paper is used only if is really needed. We have encouraged people to use public transportation to go to work, especially in those days when Skopje, our capital, has high level of air pollution (did you know that Skopje is one of the most polluted cities in the world?). Also, we have changed all our regular light bulbs with LED lights, making our office even more brighter, but in the same time using less electricity.
Together with the Earth Hour campaign in Macedonia, we were able to give educational institutions and individuals sets of LED light bulbs, we have planted thousands of trees, cleaned public spaces from garbage and spark awareness on climate change and biodiversity!
We connect to Earth everyday, that is why I am dedicating my hour to Earth, the one home we all share, because every action counts!
In 2014 I was brought on to help a large government department here in Australia to think about the future of transportation. For more than a year I was delving into the behaviours and technology that drive our movements and activities along roads and highways. It really changed how I thought about and engaged with transportation - and the environment.
With my research highlighting how quick driverless and electric vehicles were becoming a reality - and not being too in love with my car at the time, which, to be fair, was in not too great a shape - I decided to try a personal experiment. I sold my car and made a commitment to public transport.
It helps that in my home city of Brisbane, Australia, buses run on natural gas.
Since ditching my car, I’ve not really needed it. Living inner city like I do, it’s pretty easy to get around without one. More importantly, this decision started to have rollover effects into other environmental decisions:
I replaced plastic shopping bags with reusable fabric bags and started carrying a nifty glass water bottle that I could top up rather than buying countless plastic bottles.
I am Anuram Chaudhary, and I come from a small village in Bardia in Nepal with my backyard home to the forests, tigers and rhinos of Bardia National Park.
Living in such proximity to nature has helped me understand the value of biodiversity from a very young age. I was in the second grade when I planted my first tree by choosing the best occasion for it – my birthday. To me, there is no better gift, for myself and for the planet, and I have been encouraging my friends and community members to do the same. Imagine the difference that this small act can create for the environment if we pool all our birthdays together!
33 trees later, I have found many more ways to connect to the environment along the way. While I understand that it is quite difficult to completely do away with plastic products, I make sure that I carry my own bag everywhere I go because of which I personally haven’t had to use a single plastic bag. I also use a bicycle to commute as I believe it keeps both me and the environment fit!
I feel we as individuals do not always need to think of big actions to make an impact. Any small but continuous act can spiral into positive change if many are in it together.
As with other youths, it was difficult for me to not fall into the black hole of fast fashion. Affordable and ever-changing designs – who wouldn’t be a fan?
In University, I joined a service-learning group called Atlas. In my second year, we looked into the ever-growing problem in our society – fast fashion. From the vibrant dresses that we strut down the streets into the textile dyed crop tops, we have no idea how much toxic chemical we are indirectly producing with every purchase. From increasing levels of textile waste to water pollution, I can go on and on about the detrimental consequences that fast fashion brings about. Clothes have long become disposables – like our plastic bottles and bags. We wear them once and they are instantly replaced with a new piece we snagged from a sale.
Together with my schoolmates, we worked with local community organizations like ‘Connected Thread Asia’ and ‘Swapaholic’ to promote sustainable fashion through initiatives such as clothes swaps and series of talks in participating schools. As an individual, I think THRICE before I shop. Also, my sisters and I donate our clothes to less-privileged families whenever we can!
When I was in Secondary 2, the school took my cohort on a beach cleaning expedition to East Coast. Each class made a team, and teams competed to see who could collect the most trash. The bags of garbage were weighed at the end of the hour or so that we spent combing the shoreline. My class only won because we found a brick… The next most memorable observation from that day was that we collected more straws than I had ever seen in one place — they made up the bulk of all the trash we had gathered. It was then that my eyes were open to how mindlessly we lay waste our environment to selfish convenience.
As I grow and learn more about my environment, I acquire a deepening consciousness about my own consumption and how I can be more considerate in these choices. For the first time in years, I own a refillable water bottle. I decline plastic bags at the supermarket and try as much as possible for whatever plastics I do use to recycle after. I don’t go through clothing as quickly as I used to — I’m wearing many pieces from my mother’s youth to avoid purchasing new items. Using takeout boxes and disposable beverage containers are bad habits I’m presently looking to change. It’s a work in progress, but the journey is very much eased by the knowledge that each effort will pay off, somewhere down the line.
I remember listening to my teachers talk about global warming in primary school, and it filled me with a sense of horror and urgency to solve this issue.
When I was ten, I owned a plant, Bryophyllum daigremontianum, or Mother of Thousands. This hardy succulent can propagate quickly from little plantlets grown on the rim of every leaf. I used to collect these plantlets from my plant, drop them into my neighbours’ flower pots and the park below my home. I would then watch with glee as they took over their given space, thinking I could help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through the succulents’ photosynthesis process. Though I laugh now when I think back on my naive ideology, I still try to reduce my carbon footprint by recycling paper, eating less meat and using reusable water bottles.
I think the mere act of visiting nature reserves helps us connect to Earth and consider environmental issues. It is sometimes hard to connect to nature in a city. Hence, I often bring friends and family on hiking trips in Singapore’s nature reserves. I believe once they see the brilliant blue flash of a kingfisher flitting through trees, the meandering hops of mudskippers on mangrove mudflats, or the majestic flight of a white-bellied sea eagle in an open sky, they will understand that nothing can replace the beauty our planet offers.
I am a renewable energy entrepreneur from Cameroon. I am the founder of Green Girls Organisation and the winner of the WWF Africa Youth Conservation Award. We are all about the pan African infiltration of renewable energy in African communities- working to teach girls how to generate renewable energy from waste and the sun. We look forward to a world where everyone has access to clean energy.
As a biology enthusiast, I’ve always been amazed at how much nature has to teach us. Most drugs have been discovered by identifying active ingredients from natural products! In the past, plant products played a predominant role in medicine. Today, we have refined natural products to produce common drugs like aspirin and even anti-hypertensive drugs! There is still so much to learn and discover from nature to better our lives. It’s strange that we don’t see how destroying nature ultimately disadvantages ourselves.
As much as I believe biodiversity has a vital role to play in new medical discoveries, I’m also strongly against cruel animal testing. Therefore, I feel strongly for strict compliance towards ethical principles of “respect for life” and for the “dignity of creation.”
This Earth Hour, I wish to connect to people. In my opinion, it is vital to engage, educate and coordinate the different members of a community to ensure a smooth, concerted effort from one community group to another in championing the rights of mother nature.
We are walking 370 kilometers from Kampala to Kasese to raise awareness about climate change. Whenever we meet people, we encourage them to plant trees and protect the environment. People are very happy to welcome us in every trading center we reach. They are encouraging us to walk. Some are wondering whether we shall reach Kasese on foot. Yes, we are going to reach Kasese.
My intrigue with animals began with those huge encyclopaedias parents often buy for their children, heavy and sharp-edged, with way too many words and too few pictures. I remember that even as a kindergartener I would only read the pages about snow leopards and elephants and flamingos, and secretly use the ones about traffic lights and cargo ships to press flowers from the garden.
As I grew older, I began to see the impacts that human actions had on the animals that so fascinated me, even on the sunny island I call home. Wild creatures smuggled to be sold as pets, sharks killed and eaten in soup, forest animals wandering around on busy roads–disoriented, uprooted and homeless.
A year ago, I learned of a pack of wild dogs that had begun to live on a grass patch in a residential estate in Pasir Ris–an area that had previously been a forest and their home. As the dogs began to spend more time trespassing on human soil, people started to find the dogs a nuisance and the AVA was soon called in to remove them.
The circumstances reminded me of the human propensity to sacrifice our creaturely neighbours in the name of progress and comfort, and propelled me to make the decision to volunteer at a local dog shelter to help rehome dogs whose lives had been disrupted by human activity.
Even as children it is easy for us to understand the beauty of nature and the need to preserve it. We can all do our part in our own ways to help alleviate the footprints that our presence leaves here on our planetary home.
I’ve always liked fashion and shopping for clothes. Ever since I was old enough to buy my own outfits, I’ve been shopping around. But then I started seeing videos online about fast fashion and how it’s harming the environment and that got me curious, so I went to do some research on the whole topic. I found out that the fast fashion industry is actually really bad for the environment because of the dyes, resource wastage and water pollution. After reading up on all this, I decided that instead of constantly shopping for new clothes and throwing them away when I’m tired of them, I’d rather invest in a few choice pieces of clothing every year and wear them for a long time. So nowadays, I avoid shopping at fast fashion retailers and try to keep my shopping sprees to a maximum of one or two per year. Cheap, trendy fashion really comes at a huge cost to the environment. And I don’t want to wear the same things as everyone else anyway.
Recently I've been learning all about biodiversity and how important it is for the survival of life on earth. When we think about 'nature' we usually think of going for a forest walk, or swimming in the sea. In reality, nature is everywhere - it's the water we drink, the air we breathe and the very food we eat. Nature needs a wide variety of life to survive and thrive but there is currently a worrying trend of nature loss as a direct consequence of human activity on the planet we all call home.
We need to understand the importance of biodiversity and do all we can to protect life on earth. There are some very simple things we can all do and which I'm doing, like cutting down the amount of meat we eat, reducing single-use plastic consumption and looking for alternatives to car and plane travel.
We are custodians of life on this planet and should pass it on to the next generation in a better state than we found it. We all need to pull together and do our bit... because there is no planet B.
Some people are wondering if it is possible to walk 370 kilometers from Kampala to Kasese in 10 days. They think we are boarding cars but after seeing us on the road, they believe that we are truthful. Everywhere we pass, people want us to stop and tell them why we are walking. The question people ask us is, “But why would somebody do this?” I walk because I love the environment. As I walk, I am advocating for the planting of a million trees to save our environment.
During my long and rich career as a footballer, I travelled the world and was able to appreciate the wonders of nature. I fell in love with it. Nature has made me the oldest scorer in the history of the World Cup and I felt indebted to it. I decided to give Mother Nature everything she gave me.
With this commitment, I started by travelling through Cameroon, my country, a miniature Africa, rich in its diversity with its green abundant and lush vegetation, its climate variety and its fauna. At that time, we did not discuss topics such as global warming and the greenhouse effect, shortage of water, waste, deforestation, endangered species. I would almost say that these subjects did not exist. Today the degradation of nature is a reality; we all suffer from climate change; the ecosystem suffers an imbalance and has lost certain wildlife species.
Young people are the future. We must involve them today to participate in the development and implementation of projects and programs for the protection and promotion of the environment. In countries like ours, they represent more than 50% of the population thus constituting the most important part of the population, the one that can not only spread messages but also be the main actors. That's why in all our actions, through my Foundation, they are the keystone and the main levers of our Sports for Nature program.
Working with, and building capacity of local communities is what I enjoy doing. Several days with enclaved communities gives me the opportunity to see how passionately people connect2earth. It is void of any artificial food and water. I love conservation. Knowing that I play a significant role to help others protect the earth, gives me pleasure.
I’m 30 this year but one of my fondest memories as a child will always remain being able to go outside and explore. Amazed at all the life that has formed all around us. As I grew older that realization for my love of nature was buried by all of the conformities that fill our lives and hidden by what everyone else thought I should be doing. It’s near impossible to not see all the devastation that has been unleashed on our earth’s environment, waging war on our ecosystems and not want to do something about it. It can become overwhelming trying to figure out what steps we need to take to help save the planet.
So instead of feeling like there was only so much I can do by myself, I decided to start a Facebook Page @legacy.starter to raise the awareness and bring people together that want to help create change. I’m sharing what I have learned and the steps I’m taking to do my part so I can keep on learning and staying informed. To be better in my own contribution as well. It’s the best way I have found to keep me on track. With a chance to encourage as many other people I can to want to join in and witness the power of change, by coming together.
I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to connect with the Earth in such a unique way. To capture its creatures’ most candid moments through a lens means breaking the barrier between technology and nature, without one having an adverse effect on the other. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we as the human race, galvanize to protect this beautiful planet we’ve been gifted, and continue to enhance it without destroying it.
Through my photography, I aim to virtually bring my audience one step closer to the heart of nature, and through my safaris, I physically transport them to the wilderness to observe the ingenuous wild.
In practicing sustainable photography, I make my top priority a symbiotic relationship with my subject;my mantra is that this is their home, not mine, and I am a guest within it. I give preference to camps that use solar power, I make sure never to attract attention – whether that be with clothing or provisions – and most importantly, I make sure to support the local communities whose residence is alongside these animals.
My job is never to leave a footprint, merely to share the indescribable with the world. Whether it be a Cheetah, Kori Bustard or the great migration in its entirety, there is a beautiful yet untold story behind every picture printed, and the only way to hear it, is to interact with nature yourself.
Searching for the popular whale shark of Mafia is an amazing, memorable experience. For the first time, I was out on the ocean in a small boat, holding tight to my life jacket and praying hard for two things: my safety and getting to see a whale shark. I was not disappointed. There was the whale shark, huge and beautiful. My thinking and my passion for the biggest fish changed. I have new perspective now. I will be an ambassador and I hope more people will be good ambassadors for environmental conservation after seeing the conservation work around the Mafia whale sharks.
I am a primate conservationist working for WWF-Central African Republic and I work on habituating gorillas.Habituating great apes to human presence is important for conservation as it not only increases scientific knowledge and understanding of the species, it can also generate funding for conservation activities and revenue for local economies, strengthening the link between conservation and communities. Every day with the gorillas is special and every moment is unforgettable. I feel proud to be able to do my fair share that these species are protected.
Since a child, I have actively been defending the amazonian rainforest and our people. For the past few years, I have worked with my own community and other communities across the Ecuadorian Amazon, worked on international campaigns, participated in conferences and partnered with different organizations in order to protect and defend our territories. It’s important to understand that indigenous people play a key role in the protection of the Amazon, and the world.
I grew up surrounded by nature and animals, in a place where we grow our own food, and drink the waters directly from the rivers. I always had much respect for humans and nature, for life. I was taught that everything is connected. Human, animals, plants, earth. We call it the natural balance, the balance between humans, nature and spiritual beings, you can also call it an ecosystem. As indigenous people we depend on a healthy environment and a surrounding that is alive. We call it The Living Forest. We need clean rivers, because we drink the water directly from them, we need healthy soil, because we grow our own food, we need the animals, the birds and the fish and they need the forest. Our whole survival as a people depends on the future of the Amazon. This is what I am fighting for.
I have been fascinated by wildlife for as long as I can remember, and it's not just the fluffy stuff; I have always found the miniature worlds of insects just as exciting as watching large carnivores hunt their prey.
Picking up a camera for the first time helped turn this fascination into a full-blown obsession - I didn't just want to find animals, I wanted to get nice photos of them too. That required getting close to them, and to do that I had to research their habits and learn about the incredible ways they've adapted to their environments. This whole process meant I was more connected to nature than ever before, but it didn't just stop there. I now had photos of these special moments which meant I could relive them over and over, as well as sharing them with other people. My friends, my family; people who wouldn't (or couldn't) go out and discover it all for themselves. If I wasn't outdoors chasing nature, I was indoors talking about it to anyone who would listen!
Fast forward to the present day and I'm lucky enough to work professionally as a Wildlife Photographer & Filmmaker, travelling the world and having more of these incredible encounters with nature than I could've possibly dreamed of as a kid. Not only that, I am able to share these moments with people all around the world through social media - that's the biggest thrill. I love connecting to nature through my camera, but the fact that I can use my work to connect others to it too is the reason I do what I do.
I am the founder of the Magiro Mini-Hydro Power Project . I started this project to transform my community and get them to conserve the water source.
They now value conservation because they know if the water levels go down, they won't have electricity. I have trained about 20 youth to sustain the project even when I'm not here. I do this work for the environment and for my community. This is how I connect to earth.
I live in the scenic tourist town of Westport in County Mayo, Ireland. The environment is very much part of our community that is overlooked by The pilgrim's mountain 'Croagh Patrick'. I love sailing in Clew Bay and being in all weathers of our Wild Atlantic to connect to power of the elements. I have been involved in grassroots community groups to promote and raise awareness for the protection of our planet against Climate Change. My passion is working to encourage community engagement in public participation processes at all levels to designate and influence decision makers on a variety of infrastructural projects and in local initiatives (#EarthHour #ZeroWaste #SickOfPlastic).
I am honoured to be awarded in the Top 10, of the Outstanding Young People of the Year 2018, in Mayo for Environmental Leadership by Junior Chamber International, for expertise in my field. My current focus is to drive the conversation and lead by example in these challenging time. As our country that lives fast, consumes and disposes, as we strive to protect our heritage and culture on an island on the edge of Europe, on this planet, ‘Our Common Home’, in caring for creation as our government transitions to a low carbon society.
When I am thinking about what surrounds me : the air I breathe, trees ( not that many actually), a cute little butterfly… I feel very lucky to have all of this even if, unfortunately, this decor degrades more and more. That’s the reason why I decided to get committed and involved with the environment’s protection as I am a nature lover.
I currently learn how to recycle used stuff. In this way, they can still be useful instead of throwing them away directly and increasing waste. I also remember to bring re-usable bags when I go out to avoid buying plastic bags every time I go shopping. Finally, I try to find out as much as I can on social media on how to protect our environment, because it is crying for help and this is caused by our wrong choices.
Hello, I am a filmmaker, photographer, and activist. For Earth Hour 2019, I decided to check out the street. I captured photographs in the street that portrayed the true essence of light energy in the lives of people. I wanted people to realize how does life energy play a crucial role in our lives and why we must strive to save it.
I grew up in North Cornwall, UK right by the sea in a scenic coastal town so I was always close to nature. After moving to Singapore I needed a way to stay in touch with nature and wildlife so I joined the rescue volunteer team at ACRES. They are a wildlife charity focused on creating a caring and socially responsible society where animals are treated as sentient beings. As part of this work they rescue, rehabilitate and relocate wildlife in Singapore that are injured or have found their way into peoples homes. I have learnt so much about the native wildlife in Singapore and about the wildlife that is illegally kept here and smuggled through.I love helping animals in need and educating the public about wildlife.
During 2016, in Bali, I was horrified by the sight of plastic pollution on the beach as far as the eye could see. Most shocking were groups of tourists making sure the plastic didn't feature in their selfies. On that day I promised to raise awareness of the damage that we humans are doing to the planet and its precious biodiversity.
Places with natural beauty play a vital part in my travel planning. It gives me immense pleasure to escape into the wild to hike, walk or even camp. I love writing about my adventures and making travellers conscious of how they can be ethical and responsible. We have one home, let's keep it beautiful!
As an illustrator, the intricacies, the textures, the colours of nature all play a crucial role in my work. I assumed that being an artist alone wasn't engaging enough. However, using my art in a way to inform and be informed about what communities can do has only bolstered my mission to be an active participant for conservation!
I am an environmentalist, educator, and social change advocate. I believe that environmental issues like climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humanity and Qatar is no different. The challenges we will face in 2019 and in the coming years are urgent and massive. However, creating a sustainable and just world takes a lot of time, effort and tenacity.
In this effort, for the past 4 years, I have been actively working on climate policy, advocacy, education and the empowerment of diverse actors such as young men and women for climate action in Qatar and the Middle East region at large.
In recent years, I'm also working with WWF as the official organizer for Earth Hour in Qatar which helped to spread the word on Earth Hour and increase awareness amongst citizen and resident on environmental and climate change issues in the country.
Although solving environmental problems and creating a sustainable world is daunting and difficult, the promising news is that when we act together, we are stronger and change will be inevitable.
Nature has given me a lot of introspection. I use my brush to explore the delicate relationship between nature and the city, and hope to express through my art, the importance of having wildlife in our natural world.
Tigers, especially, inspire me deeply and is the often subject of my artwork. Being solitary animals, they are mysterious and majestic, and represent so much power and strength.
I am at present planning a Tiger art exhibition to bring awareness of how endangered tigers have become. Poaching and exploitation of natural resources have led to a serious degradation of the environment. With only around 3,900 wild tigers remaining in the world, tigers need our help now.
‘I Was Given Nature’ is the lead track on my album ‘Surrender to the Feeling’ and I was so thrilled when the WWF picked the track to represent their Connect2Earth initiative to help heal the planet.
I wrote this song from an absolute love of nature and was inspired by the other environmental songs out there, their passion to help. It was my deepest wish that WWF might be interested in it as I have known and supported them since childhood when my best friend’s father was a director there.
I grew up in the beautiful nature of Switzerland and was taken on walks in wild places from a very young age. I was encouraged to be in wonder and awe at nature and that is why I understand how important it is to foster a love of nature and to nurture it from a very young age; to establish a connection with nature that strengthens with time. Like the song title, I feel I was given nature. This understanding was passed on to me from the previous generation and it is our responsibility to pass it on to the next.
I wish for the arts to be used as much as possible to establish an emotional bond between us and nature and it brings me great joy for my own music to be used in this way.
We urgently need to prioritise our planet’s well-being and I am so very honoured to support the WWF on this.
My love for the mountains and nature is sky high and ever climbing! In 2019 I became the youngest in the world to climb both the 7 Summits and 7 Volcanic Summits. With me climbed WWF's Earth Hour. This is how I #Connect2Earth by climbing mountains. Switch off for mother earth, switch off for nature with me!
Nelson Mandela once said: "Any society which does not care for its children is no nation at all." I think the same is true about the environment. What kind of society are we, if we don't take care of our planet, our home? For too long, we have pushed it to the edge, in the name of "progress". We can't go on like this.I am trying to become a responsible consumer. In the last year, I have stopped using single-use plastics and encourage my family to do the same. Straws, bottles, shopping bags; they are pointless and there is no need for them. I now use a refillable water bottle and a reusable shopping bag. Because I live in the city and lead a busy life, I often order groceries and other items online. I always ask of online businesses to cut down on packaging and group deliveries to reduce their footprint. I hope my actions and those of many others will contribute to making single use plastics socially unacceptable in the very near future.