Tribune News Network
Doha
The Philippine Embassy in Qatar joined the rest of the world in observing Earth Hour, a global movement for climate action, by holding a virtual commemorative switch-off event on March 25.
Created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to take a stand against the global threat of climate change, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action against global warming.
A significant number of participants including embassy personnel, officials of the Migrant Workers Office, and members of the Filipino community in Qatar were invited to take part in the ‘big switch-off’.
From 8.30 pm until 9.30 pm, everyone was enjoined to shut down their non-essential lights and appliances in their homes, as a display of solidarity with the global call for urgent and sweeping reforms in climate-related policies and institutionalisation of climate justice, especially for vulnerable populations.
The initiative aimed to "highlight the need for addressing the planet’s biggest environmental challenges and the urgency of world leaders coming together to decide on a new global action plan for nature for the coming decade,” the embassy stated.
In her opening remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar HE Lilibeth Velasco Pono called on the general public’s renewal of their commitment to the planet. "Beyond the gesture of turning off our lights, let us have the will to put into concrete action our pledge to help build a greener, cleaner and safer environment,” she said.
Part of the embassy’s online programme for the worldwide campaign is a film-viewing session that featured the ‘Wild Wonders: Celebrating the Beauty of Philippine Protected Areas’ by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and ‘Earth Hour 2023’, the official video produced by WWF.
The Wild Wonders documentary highlighted some protected landscapes in the Philippines such as Mt Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Bukidnon, one of the country’s remaining rainforests and sanctuaries of natural heritage, and Mt Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon and third highest mountain in the country.
With rich biodiversity, the Philippines is home to varied flora and fauna species. The embassy has urged the public to continue making simple long-term changes that will collectively make a difference in the world.
"I hope it will be a start for all of us to come up with something on how we can help protect the planet,” said HE Ambassador Pono in her closing remarks at the online event.
First launched in Australia in 2007, Earth Hour is organised annually by the WWF every last Saturday of March. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming has now gained worldwide momentum.