Earth Hour

Earth Hour is an annual event meant to raise awareness about climate change and the environment. The popular event, now in its seventh year, encourages individuals and organizations around the world to turn off all of their non-essential lights for one hour. This year, its scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. during the participants local time. More than 7,000 cities and towns in 152 countries and territories took part in Earth Hour last year. The campaign broke records to become the largest voluntary action for the environment, and seems to continue to grow with each passing year. Here are a few things you might not have known about the campaign:

Creating awareness about climate change

The idea for Earth Hour was first conceived by the World Wildlife Federation in Australia in 2005 in response to scientific data revealing the devastating impact of climate change. The environmental advocacy group teamed up with advertising agency Leo Burnett and came up with the idea of a large-scale 'lights-out' event. Back then, the project was called "The Big Flick."

It was born in Sydney, but soon went international

The inaugural Earth Hour was held in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 at 7:30 p.m. About 2.2. million people and 2,100 businesses across the city participated. It was deemed such a success that there were plans to make Earth Hour a national event in Australia. Those plans were quickly scrapped once organizers realized how much international interest the campaign had drummed up. Earth Hour went global the following year with 371 cities and towns in more than 35 countries taking part.

Held in March to coincide with the equinoxes

Earth Hour is held every year in late March, around the time of the Spring and Autumn equinoxes in the northern and southern hemispheres. This is when sunset times are almost the same in both hemispheres. Organizers say this ensures the greatest visual impact for a global 'lights out' event.

Held in March to coincide with the equinoxes

Earth Hour is held every year in late March, around the time of the Spring and Autumn equinoxes in the northern and southern hemispheres. This is when sunset times are almost the same in both hemispheres. Organizers say this ensures the greatest visual impact for a global 'lights out' event.

Earth Day Earth Day falls on April 22, 2014 and events are held worldwide by the nonprofit Earth Day Network. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 by Denis Hayes. While we believe every day should be Earth Day, the dire state of our planet proves that we need a day to remind people around the world how importance conservation is. Consider this: a 2013 report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded with 95 percent certainty that people are to blame for at least half the climate change in the last half-century. Six shocking statistics and facts about global warming and climate change:
1. What

Is global warming?

It is the increase in the average surface temperature of the Earth caused by greenhouse gases (i.e. carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and deforestation). Greenhouse gases are important--as they make the planet liveable for people and animals--but to an extent. Right now, there is an overabundance of greenhouse gases. 2. What is causing global warming? As a whole, we are creating an excess of greenhouse gases which is warming up our planet. This began in the 1700s with the Industrial Revolution when humans started using fossil fuels to run cars, trucks, and factories. 3. How big is the issue? Experts have found that there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today than there has been at any point in the last 800,000 years. Current estimates suggest that the United States emits approximately 6 billion tons of carbon dioxide every year (40% of that comes from power plant emissions) alone, let alone other urbanized and developing countries. 4. Sea levels are rising. It has been calculated that since 1870, the global sea levels have risen by 8 inches. And that's not all! There have been more drought, severe hurricanes, and fires as a result. 5. The temperatures are also rising. The U.S. Global Change Research Program has found that the United States temperature has increased by 2 degrees in the past 50 years. 6. Coral Reefs are dying. Due to global warming, and in turn, rising sea temperatures, there has been an increase in bleaching of coral reefs. The coral reefs get their color from the zooxanthellae algae that cover the polyps but rising temperatures prevent the algae from living.

Script for Canned Food Campaign Jazlan & Latt You guys probably remember we started this campaign on Earth Hour Awareness last year. We had a very encouraging response. We are continuing this campaign and hope to make this a tradition in the years to come. The canned food that we collect will be distributed to the less fortunate by Charity Right, an arm of the Non-Profit Organisation (NGO) called Mercy Mission, Malaysia. Charity Right has delivered thousands of meals to orphans, refugees and the homeless in Kuala Lumpur. We are more fortunate for we are never without food. So here is a chance for you to do a good deed, share your good fortune and make this world a better place.

Script for Tsunami Baju This year we have expanded our charity activity to collecting unwanted clothes If the clothes are in good conditions then it will be sent to the needy people, and if it isnt in the best condition then it will be sold for recycling. I am sure you guys have lots of clothes that has not been used for a while because you have got new ones, or it has gone out of style or you have outgrown them. Why dont you pack them and bring them to school. Pass these clothes to your Science teachers or put them at the collection area outside the hall. We have called this Tsunami Baju not because we are sending them to Tsunami victims but we want a huge tall pile of clothes that they look like a Tsunami has hit APSS. So dig those clothes up and clear wardrobe for charity. Jazlan, Latt, Siti Qistina, Razareena: Now, without further adiue We would like to call upon En Putera to launch the Canned food Campaign and the Tsunami Baju.