Anyone who missed Earth Hour on March 24 has an entire day to make up for it on April 22.
Earth Hour participation has declined in the province, according to a BC Hydro report published in late March. But Earth Day continues to grow globally with campaigns and activities taking place in nearly 200 countries worldwide.
Some organizations and individuals have taken it a step further by promoting Earth Month throughout April. Locally, fashion shows and art exhibits featuring upcycled clothing, film screenings promoting efforts to curb climate change or living off the grid, workshops and an electric vehicle rally remain on the schedule with 12 days left for Powell River and area residents to learn more or participate.
For those committed to the cause, one hour is effortless, one day is a breeze, and one month is considered more of a celebration of living a certain way or making a concerted effort to change. Their efforts are commendable and surely do make a difference, but it is among the masses where the movement needs growth in order to see positive results.
An hour or day should be effortless and easy for the average resident or citizen, too. So, why then is Earth Hour participation in decline? When being involved literally requires turning off a few light switches and/or a television for an hour, fewer people choosing to take the initiative does not inspire much confidence.
Busy schedules, prior plans and work can hinder involvement or participation in events that happen over a period of a week or month, but an hour? Even someone with a bad habit can probably refrain from surrendering to it for 60 minutes.
Earth Day Network’s 2018 Earth Day theme is End Plastic Pollution. Its mission is to regulate plastic pollution and educate people on rejecting, recycling or reusing plastics. Total rejection may seem like an ominous task, considering many everyday products are made of plastic, not to mention the endless packaging that fills recycling bins (hopefully) shortly after their purchase. But recycling and reusing seem pretty simple. Does it get any easier than curbside recycling? Anyone choosing to dispose of those items in another way, such as a garbage can, should be embarrassed.
Starting small is okay. It is not necessary to decide what side of a pipeline debate to support, initially or ever, or have an opinion on whether a dam should be built. But keeping plastic out of oceans and off of beaches by recycling? Come on, that is beyond easy.
