If you were planning a wild night out this Saturday, you might want to pump the brakes just this once. The annual Earth Hour movement is back, and come Mar 24, the Singapore skyline is projected to go dim at 8:30pm sharp.
In its 11th year, the landmark movement by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is once again inviting companies and individuals alike to switch off their lights for one hour—and plug into a global conversation about our planet. While the actual act won’t be coordinated across time zones, the official Earth Hour 2018 has been set for Mar 24, 8:30-9:30pm, wherever you are around the globe.
Leading up to the event, WWF Singapore is holding a 10-day, plastic-free festival that kicked off on Mar 16. This year’s initiative addresses plastic waste and the global plastic crisis; so heads up that no single-use plastics will be provided by vendors there. Further, Singaporeans are asked to support the #uselessplastic commitment—a nifty wordplay that encourages both reducing of plastic use, and refusing “useless” and unnecessary plastics such as straws, bags and stirrers. Previous editions raised awareness on environmental issues like haze pollution (in 2016).
A mass yoga session in support of stopping haze pollution at Earth Hour 2016
Within the Earth Hour Village, visitors can look forward to interactive art and experiences—such as a Panda Dome featuring a 360-degree projection that transports viewers to lush nature settings, and follows a protagonist plagued by plastic waste. Another work—four art installations by LaSalle College of the Arts students—is made from used plastics that range from single-use plastics to microplastics. For anyone who finds the sustainable art element familiar, the event is held in conjunction with sustainable light art festival i Light Marina Bay 2018.
Marine Plasticius by Tiffany Ann Dass
Wastes by Lewis Choo
In addition, a special Earth Hour Marketplace taking place Mar 23-25 will bring together sustainable F&B vendors as well as eco-friendly businesses, such as VeganBurg and Charles & Keith respectively. Everything comes to a happy close at the 60+ Countdown Bash on Mar 24, which will see local acts like Tacit Aria, Jack & Rai and Dru Chen perform till the sun goes down and the lights go out.
According to WWF, in Singapore, a person uses 13 plastic bags a day, amounting to 27 billion plastic bags every year. Taiwan recently took a monumental step forward in forecasting a ban on all single-use plastic by 2030; while the world casts its eyes on Singapore to follow suit, we might as well make the most of baby steps like Earth Hour.
Earth Hour Village happens through Mar 25 at the open area near The Float @ Marina Bay. Admission is free and more information here.
