Turn out the lights this Saturday night for Earth Hour. And students spending their spring breaks fighting hunger and supporting sustainable food are the subject of my latest USA Character Approved Blog post.
In 2007, 2.2 million people and more than 2,000 businesses in Sydney, Australia turned off their lights for one hour, marking the first Earth Hour. Last year, more than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights, sending a powerful message for action on climate change. It also marked the start of something new—going Beyond the Hour to commit to lasting action on climate change.
Earth Hour is organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and encourage people to live in harmony with nature.
The connection between food and global warming is a sobering one. From fossil fuel-dependent industrial farming to the miles our food travels to reach our tables and the world’s growing appetite for meat, all are adding to the problem. In the reverse direction, global warming is making food more scarce and more expensive. Studies suggest that half the world’s population could be facing a food crisis by the end of the century.
There is no single, flip-the-switch solution to climate change. But lots of small steps taken by millions around the world can all add up. In the kitchen, eat more locally, more seasonally. Support small, local farmers. And eat less meat—smaller portions at fewer meals. Not only will you be helping the planet, you’ll be eating healthier.
This year’s Earth Hour takes place Saturday, March 31, at 8:30pm (your local time). Turn off your lights and enjoy a candlelit (and vegetarian) dinner. Take a walk. Sit on your porch and chat with the neighbors. To find out more about Earth Hour and ways you can get involved, visit the Earth Hour website.
How the really cool kids are spending spring break
Spring break has long been equated with tan lines and questionable decisions. Increasingly, though, kids are sporting post-spring break farmers’ tans from working in the fields, learning about sustainable farming. Or no tans at all, as they toil in kitchens to help feed the poor, the elderly or people stricken with HIV/AIDS or other life-threatening illnesses.
More and more schools and organizations are organizing Alternative Spring Break programs to help students make a difference somewhere in the world. And students are embracing these opportunities. Many sign up year after year—and almost all feel changed by their experiences. To read more about some of the food-related Alternative Spring Breaks going on this year, check out my latest post on the USA Character Approved Blog.
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