Earth Hour is tonight and I am so excited to participate. In 2013, I was one of the Earth Hour team captains chosen by the World Wildlife Fund, I was so honoured to help. Something I also did in 2013 was create my own Earth Hour pledge, “Stop. Start and Continue.” It is all about making commitments about how you are going to be more aware about the environment and how you are going to take action. You can write down somthing on the pledge that you will stop doing that is bad for the environment, start something that you would do that you think would make the world a better place and continue something that you already are doing that is good for the environment. The pledge that I created is down below as an example.
What is Earth Hour?
Earth Hour is when everybody turns off their lights and their electronics to show awareness and concern for climate change and the environment. It is sort of like celebrating an environmental new year. This year Earth Hour is Saturday March 23 from 8:30 – 9:30 pm.
Cool Facts about The History of Earth Hour.
The WWF (World Wildlife Fund) founded Earth Hour which I think is totally awesome. The very first earth hour was held in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. Over 2000 people participated. The next year Earth Hour was participated in all around the world – 371 cities and towns in more than 35 countries. 36 million people turned their lights out that second year.
I am proud to say that Toronto was the first city in 2008 to sign up for Earth Hour. Wow! Since then, more than 15 million Canadians participate in Earth Hour every year.
Take the Stop, Start and Continue Pledge. Make Earth Hour last all year.
I have a project, a challenge and a goal for Earth Hour 2014 and it needs you.
This year when you turn of the lights off, take my pledge by yourself or together with your family, and commit to your Eco-resoulutions!
When you power down for the hour, I want you to spend that time and think about what you can do, what you change – what you can stop, start and continue. Three things.
I always say that every little thing adds up to make a change and the more people and families that take this pledge and make their commitments, the more change there will be. The earth needs it. The earth needs us.
To Do:
- Choose and print your Pledge Certificate below.
- Browse the list I made (below) to inspire you to choose your own personal commitment.
- Write down your commitments for each action – Stop, Start, Continue.
- Sign it with your name.
- Decorate and colour it. Make it special.
- Find somewhere in your home, office or classroom to display it so that you will always be reminded of the commitment you made.
- When your friends and family see it and ask you about it, tell them to come back to my website and take the pledge. It starts on Earth Hour, but it can be done anytime.
Suggestions for what you can pledge Start, Stop and Continue:
STOP:
- Littering
- Using plastic water bottles
- Leaving lights on when you leave the room
- Using plastic bags
- Being silent about my concern for the environment
- Pretending that there is not a problem
- Using the washing machine during peak hours
- Throwing out what can be donated or reused (clothes, toys, books)
- Stop using disposable cups, plates and cutlery
- Stop using pesiticdes on my lawn and garden
START and CONTINUE:
- Using my voice
- Unplug electronics when not using them
- Use biodegradable products
- I will organize a cleanup in my neighbourhood
- Get involved with local causes
- Recycling everything I can
- I will pick up garbage whenever I see it
- Buy more local
- Use only eco-friendly cleaning supplies
- Learn more about the real problems facing the environment
- Grow a garden and try to plant some of my vegetables
- Compost
- Conserve water by getting a rain barrel
- Drive less, and walk more
- Get outside more
- Learn about animals that are being endangered
- Form an eco team with my friends
- Continue to read up about people that are making change
- Turn off the water when I’m brushing my teeth
- I will learn about how to dispose of waste safely
I would love to hear what you are pledging. I hope that you’ll leave some comments here and let me and everyone else here know what you have committed to.
A big special thank you to my friend Lindsay Brewda of Everyday Grace for designing the Pledge Certificates for me.
Amazing, thank you for creating and sharing. I will forward on to everyone I know so that they too Stop-Start-Continue.
Don’t ever change your commitment to you!
E
Hannah, I love how you are using Start, Stop, Continue as a way to help everyone get involved. I always think it seems much more doable when you tell people simple ways to get started or give them that affirmation that they are doing something awesome already.
I am going to share this with my third grade class, as we have spent the entire school year inquiring about how our decisions impact the world, especially around food. We have two weeks break so while we won’t return to school until after Earth Hour, I still think they will love the ideas and the certificates for sure!
For me..
Stop using Starbucks paper cups. Start remembering to always bring my Klean Kanteen (no reusable mug, no latte for me)! I also want to Start looking for more ways to reduce rather than recycle.
What will you do?
Sara
Hannah – I’m so excited to have found your blog! Good for you for finding your voice and sharing it online – many people can be influenced by you.
I love this post!
For me, I want to start bringing my reusable mug with me everywhere I go so that I don’t have to get take out coffee cups.
I would like to stop using take out containers as much as possible!
I would like to continue using my Norwex cloths for cleaning instead of paper towels and poisons!
I LOVE those certificates!
this is great Hannah!
Great work Hannah! Excellent post! My company makes energy education apps for iPhones. For what to do (after your list) when the lights come back on, check out Powercents in the App store!
Flick off!
Again – very impressive Hannah! I’m going to share your latest blog post with other teachers – so that they in turn can share and so that more students can make a difference like you – especially since we are days away from Earth Hour! Great ideas… Love the Pledge Certificate!!
Hi Hannah,
I believe you are an incredible inpiration. I will share your pledge certificates with the Staff and students of my Pre-k class. Thanks
Thank you J.Fraraccio! That would be awesome if your class could take my pledge! It’s really colourful so I think they’ll like that! Eeach person who does my pledge makes a little difference in the world. What I always say is every little thing adds up to make a difference in the world.
Good job this morning on CTV Hannah. Keep up your excellent work!!
Thank you Gail! It was so fun and the hosts were so nice!
You have totally inspired me to pay more attention to my contribution to the environment.
My husband and I live year round on our sailboat and I’m very concerned about the products people use on their boats for cleaning.
We use eco friendly products and I’m really getting into making my own cleansers. I plan to post them on my blog on Earth Day. In the meantime if its ok with you I would like to share your blog on my blog to help spread your message to my followers.
I heard you speak on 640 Talk Radio yesterday, you did an amazing job. Keep up the amazing work you are doing. You are a ‘rockstar’ to me.
Wendy
windinmydreams.net
Thank you Wendy! There are so many cool facts about the environment. You can make a difference if you set your mind to it. My family and I have eco cleaning supplies and they work amazing! We only made it with baking soda, vinegar and a couple of other things then we just blend them together and you have it. Maybe you could search boat eco cleaning supplies and make it.
It is definantly ok with me if you share my blog on your blog!
My dad works in the music buisness and he works with rockstars!
I will be sure to check out your blog.
I just saw you on the news. You are such an inspiration! I have 2 daughters: 9 and 12 yrs old. I would love them to find their voice and passion in the world as have you!!! You are the energy for a better future…..thank you and your parents!!
Thank you Kari! I’ve been on the news a lot, I see earth hour as an evironmental new year so this is such a big celebration for the world! If your daughters see what I’ve been doing they might be condfident enough to speak up for environmemtal rights. My parents are amazing they support me so much with my blog! You should show your kids my blog and they might be inspired!
Thanks so much for these ideas. I am putting together and Earth Hour event in Illinois and this is just what I was looking for. I hope it is Ok to use some of your ideas for my own pledge certificate!
Thank you Carolyn! That is so cool that you organized the Earth Hour event in Illinois, I am so glad that you looked on my blog for the pledge certificate! I know that so many people will come to your event because they want to be empowered and they want to care about the environment and the issues around it. It is people like you who are inspiring more people to help and be aware and take action, it makes a huge impact. I hope that you have a very successful Earth Hour event!
Great it helped me heaps!!!!!!!!
i did earth hour yesterday and we had a brilliant time! we sat outside and looked up at the stars!