Earth Day/Hour
Earth Day
Earth Day is the designation of April 22 as a day to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment.
Earth Day 2010
This year, Earth Day April 22, 2010 celebrated its 40th Anniversary. Forty years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever. While climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, it also presents the greatest opportunity – an unprecedented opportunity to build a healthy, prosperous, clean energy economy now and for the future.
Earth Day 2010 was a pivotal opportunity for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy and to continue it through to Earth Day 2011.
Earth Day 2008
EDA together with Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, hosted an Earth Day celebration at the hotel.
The event saw EDA divers with their friends and families, together with the hotel staff and crew, cleaning up the beach and dive sites in Dibba – Fujairah. Other participants who joined were from Dibba Municipality, Ministry of Environment & Water, George Manson University and Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa.
Special guest for the event was Ms Wafa Huraibi, EDA member from Kuwait. Wafa is the first female NAUI COURSE Director in the Middle East. She was awarded the NAUI Environment Enrichment Award last year at DEMA 2007 in the US. Wafa presented a token of appreciation to EDA for supporting her and her dive team from the Kuwait Oil Company.
The event was capped by tree planting, involving EDA members and Le Meridien staff.
Earth Day 2007
EDA members with their families and friends enjoyed some fun in the sun while celebrating Earth Day at the private beach of the Jumeirah Beach Residence Sales Centre.
The adults enjoyed swimming in the sea and the pool while the kids played some environmentally educational games such as a Treasure Hunt in search of things that do not belong at the beach and an Animal Search game courtesy of the Endangered Species poster provided by the US Consulate in Dubai.
The event was made possible by Dubai Properties, an EDA annual sponsor. Dubai Properties provided the venue and food while Nomad Ocean Adventures organized the activities.
Earth Hour
Earth Hour is organized by WWF. With almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries, it’s one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.
In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.
On Saturday 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.
Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday 26 March at 8.30PM (local time). It will continue to be a call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. A call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the global journey to a sustainable future.
