Switch off for Earth Hour

SWITCH off for Earth Hour this Saturday, 28 March between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

Globally, for the past seven years, people have switched off for Earth Hour as a symbolic gesture to show their commitment to taking positive actions for our planet.

uShaka Marine World is a supporter of this powerful initiative organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and is encouraging households in and around KwaZulu-Natal to switch off all their non-essential lights on Saturday, 28 March for one hour.

The production of electricity in coal fired power stations releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which in turn is a cause of both an increase in climate change and increasing ocean acidity. This affects some of the most fragile – and most important – animals. Many ocean animals, from corals to crabs and tiny organisms, extract the chemicals for their skeletons and shells from sea water. But as the acidity of the oceans change, their skeletons and shells become thinner and more difficult to make. These animals make up a huge portion of the available food in the oceans. If they were to decline in numbers, so would the animals that eat them.

The Earth Hour campaign encourages individuals to go beyond the hour and continue to make daily positive changes for the environment. Regardless of whether these actions are big or small the challenge is inspire your friends, family, colleagues and communities by sharing what you’re willing to do to protect the planet.

uShaka Marine World would love to hear from you and find out how you spent Earth Hour. Email ann@saambr.org.za