EARTH HOUR 2014 “Switch off and Switch on to Renewable Energy” Earth hour organized by WWF on a global scale is one big step towards solving this problem of energy conservation. It is a peoples’ movement on Climate Change, encouraging governments, businesses, communities and individuals towards healthy and sustainable use of energy. Since its inception in 2007, Earth hour has grown to become the largest environmental campaign in the history of our planet. In India, 6 million people pledged their support across 130 cities including Chennai. Individuals, organizations, institutions and local government in Chennai actively participated in the earth hour movement pledging to save energy towards as greener future. EARTH HOUR CAMPAIGN IN CHENNAI This year campaign has started with circulation of earth hour poster, pamphlets and the messages to various schools, colleges, corporate across in the city and state. The earth hour campaign details are as follows, A. Earth Hour Press Conference B. Communication to Schools, Colleges and Corporate sectors C. Earth Hour Talk in Schools and Corporate D. Earth Hour Cyclothone E. Earth Hour Campaign at Spencer Plaza EARTH HOUR PRESS CONFERENCE On 11th March 2014 a press conference was organized by WWF-India at HYATH REGENCY, Chennai. Mr. Renganath, Managing Director, Grundfos Pumps Pvt Ltd welcomed the press persons for the press conference and also emphasized the sustainable activity of Grundfos one energy conservation. Following to that Mr. Himansu Pandey, Director Communication WWF –India briefed the press people about the earth hour campaign in India. He also mentioned that upcoming music director Mr.Anirudh Ravichander has joined hands with WWF- India to support the campaign in Chennai. He was also mentioned earth hour energy conservation projects and human animal projects to them. Finally, Mr. Anirudh Ravichander, face of Chennai city earth hour campaign, said, "It is inspiring to see how a simple action of switching off lights unites billions of people from around the world to fight against a climate change impacts. There is only one planet, and if we continue to exploit its finite resources, there will be no one to bail us out." The press conference was covered by the print as well as the television media carrying the message of earth hour across the public. EARTH HOUR COMMUNICATION WWF-TNSO has communicated around 150 schools, 10 corporate, and Government Department like Department of Environment in the city and in state was conveyed the message of Earth Hour and requested them to join the campaign. Apart from this WWF-Intern’s visited couple of schools in Chennai and ask the management to display Earth Hour posters in their notice board. EARTH HOUR TALK Mr. Saravanan, Sr. Education Officer, WWF TNSO along with two Intern’s were visited few schools and corporate in the city and gave as orientation talk on earth hour campaign, climate change impacts and requested them to join the campaign. The details of some of the schools and corporate visited is given below, Rajalakhsmi vidyasharam Mat. Hr. School, Ramapuram Chennai 15th March 2014 On 15th march WWF-India Tamil Nadu state office interns gave a talk on earth hour and climate change impacts to school students and took the vote for earth hour in in their campus. The students were then asked to sit in the form of the letter 60 + signifying 60 minutes of lights off during earth hour. The students participated enthusiastically in this event in earth hour campaign. The campaign was headed by the school principal and delivered the message sustainable use of energy. One of the interns Ms. Manimala gave an introductory speech in the function highlighting the need for sustainable use of energy resources. All Club members were participated the campaign. Sri Sankara vidyasharam. Higher Secondary School, Tiruvanmiyur Chennai. On 25th March WWF-TNSO organized earth hour awareness campaign at Sri Sankaran Vidyashram School, Tiruvanmiyur, As part of this campaign Saravanan, Sr. Education Officer delivered his speech on climate change and its impacts to the students. Following to that Ms. Manimala, WWF Intern discussed about the earth hour campaign and celebration across the world to students. Finally, a signature campaign was organized and all the students happily participate the campaign and the earth hour poster was given to Ms. Rama, Nature Club Advisor to display in their notice board. SAMADH SENIOUR SECONDARY SCHOOL. TRICHY. 22nd March 2014 The campaign was restricted not only to Chennai was also extended to Trichy. On 22nd march Mr. Manivarma, interns visited couple of schools in Trichy and explained the importance of earth hour campaign to school management. Couple of schools and colleges display earth hour poster in their colleges and schools. ANNA UNIVERSITY, TRICHY Similarly, the earth hour campaign also done in Anna University, Trichy and the poster were displayed in their notice board. The management agreed to communicate earth hour campaign through their internal circulars to students. EARTH HOUR CAMAPIGN AT SYMRAISE PVT. LTD As part of the camapaign, WWF-TNSO organized employee awareness programme for Symraise PVT LTd company in Chennai. Mr. Saravanan, Sr. Education Officer briefed about WWF activities and role of conservation in India and globe. Following to that Mr. Manivarma, WWF-Intern delivered earth hour campaign details to their employee and asked them to participate in the campaign. Finally earth hour poster given to their head and asked to display into their notice board. EARTH HOUR CYCLOTHON On 23rd March 2014 the WWF-India organized Cyclothon, ‘Pedal for the planet’ in association with TI cycle and CRX sports. The awareness cycle rally has conducted from Thiruvanmiyur to Radisson Blue Resort Temple Bay in Mamallapuram. Around 150 participance in different age groups participated in this cyclothon. Mr. S. Saravanan, Sr. Education Officer, Mr. Ganapathy, and Ms. Ritika Bhalla Whig was present during the rally. EARTH HOUR – CHENNAI Earth hour - Chennai was celebrated in Spencer Plaza on the 29th of March between 7:00 Pm – 9:30 PM. WWF-TNSO joined hands with Youth Exnora International and Trail blazers and Sathiyabama College celebrated the event at Spencer Plaza, mount road, Chennai. The event started with the simple message of switch off and switch on renewal energy and explained the context of earth hour campaign to audience. The earth hour campaign was highlighted with student’s musical performance of Sathiyabama Engineering College, Chennai, & Sri Krishna Engineering College, Cognizant employee flash mob and dance, street play dance from Barathalaya, Trichy. A total of 350 students, corporate members, and government employees were participated the campaign. The Chief Guests on the stage was Mr. Devasagayam, IAS (Retd), Mr. Rajendran Ratnoo IAS, District Collector, Shri. Velmurugan, CEO Velammal Education Trust, Dr.Maria Zeena Johnson, Managing Director Sathyabama University, Former World Champion Tennis Shri.Yahova, and Ms. Jayshree Venkatesan, Care Earth, After the musical performance and dance, the chief guests were addressed the gathering with the candle light march at 8.30 pm. Finally, WWF-TNSO provided refreshments to students and for the guests. Finally, Mr. Saravanan, Sr. Education Officer announced special appreciation to Mr. K. Abdul Ghani, Social Activist who was helped in organizing earth hour campaign in Chennai for last three years and honored with Gifts by Mr. Devasagayam, IAS (Retd).