This year’s Earth Hour was held on the 26th of March. It is a global event organized by the WWF (World Wide Fund) and the purpose is to raise awareness on climate change by encouraging organization as well as individuals to switch off their lights for one hour on 26 March 2011 at 8.30 pm local time.
As the Singapore Scout Association is one of the key partners for this event, Scouts are also involved as volunteers. Beatty Beavers volunteered for this year’s Earth Hour+.
We arrived at Marina Bay Promontory; where the event was held, at 4p.m. Our whole Scout Troop was there to support the event, with the Sec 3s and 4s playing a crucial role as volunteers to make this event a success.
As we arrived early, we got some free time to ourselves to explore and soak into the atmosphere. Booths were set up by various organizations, comprising of WWF booth, Singapore Scout Association, Nature Society of Singapore, World Toilet Organisation, Singapore Kite Association, Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES), Ben & Jerry’s, Coca Cola, The Body Shop, Nokia, The Marymount Ladies Group, Simply Living Lifeshop and Artz Heaven.
We were given our early dinner soon after; McDonald’s. At 6.30pm, the volunteers were gathered for a briefing. Each one of us were given a placard emblazoned with “Earth Hour Night Walk” and had to stand at checkpoints assigned by the organizers. The 3.5km night walk starts and end at the Promontory. Our Beavers’ role as placard volunteers was to ensure we guide the Public who have signed up for the Night Walk in support of the Earth Walk, doesn’t get lost amidst the huge shopping crowd.
All the volunteers were led to walk the actual trail of the walk. Along the way, we were assigned our checkpoints. Everyone was stationed at their own designated checkpoints before 8.30pm, ready for the start of the walk. However, those who did not take part in the walk were not neglected. The movie; The Age of Stupid, was screened at the Promontory for those who did not join the walk.
At 8.30pm, lightings of buildings in the area such as the Esplanade, The Fullerton Heritage Hotel and Marina Bay Sands were turned off or dimmed in support of Earth Hour, also signalling the start of the walk.
Although Earth Hour is an event that encourages the Public to switch off non-essential lightings and electrical supplies for an hour, the message it aims to bring home is much deeper. If every person can make just a small effort towards Environmental Conservation, the multiplied effect would be much greater.
Nature is an integral part of Scouting. Its through the natural environment that Scouting aims to educate our young people on character building, and its the responsibility of us Scouts, to support any effort that propagates the message of Environmental Conservation.
Reported by,
Lee Jun Xian (Troop Scribe)
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