Circle March 29 on your calendars. Earth Hour this year is clocked between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm. Started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, it has now grown into a mass movement of sorts, engaging over 7,000 cities across the world.
The event calls for individuals to turn off lights for an hour to show their commitment to protecting the planet. To raise awareness regarding the same, Pedal for the Planet, a cyclothon initiative powered by Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce and Life Insurance Company, in partnership with WWF India, is being organised. It’s been held every year since 2009, a week before Earth Hour, in order to encourage citizens to save the planet in their own little way. “Climate change is undoubtedly the biggest environmental challenge of our times affecting people in countless ways. As responsible citizens of this planet, it is essential for us to act now by choosing a sustainable way of life. Renewable energy, the theme for Earth Hour 2014, has an integral role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy, critical for the conservation of our environment and survival of all species. We pledge to use all resources responsibly and continue to identify ways in which we can reduce their consumption for a greener planet. Besides, cycling is very healthy activity too,” says John Holden, Chief Executive Officer, Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance.