Photographer – Ben Porter
WWF’s Earth Hour is a global movement, which brings hundreds of millions of people together across the globe to unite and show that they care about the future of our planet, our one shared home. This year Earth Hour will take place on Saturday March 26th 8:30-9:30pm with homes, businesses, and landmarks all over Wales due to take part.
Last year thousands of people from all over Wales came together to show case creative ways to highlight the need to build a better future for people, nature and climate . This year WWF Cymru are once again asking people to be part of a movement for our world, and communities throughout Wales have taken up the challenge to highlight Earth Hour through inspiring, innovative projects.
Swansea City FC at Liberty Stadium promoted Earth Hour during half time at their match against Birmingham City on the 19th of March. Kevin Johns made an announcement at half time about Earth Hour whilst over 17.5 thousand fans listened and viewed a large screen image of Earth Hour. The team will also be promoting Earth Hour across their social media channels.
Upcoming community highlights from across South Wales:
Dragons Rugby at Rodney Parade will be turning off floodlights, office lights, and stadium lights on Earth Hour, and will be promoting Earth Hour across their social media channels.
Ophelia Dos Santos, a Cardiff based sustainable textile artist, will run a workshop aimed at inspiring people to upcycle clothing rather than to support fast fashion. Adults workshop 19th March, Kids workshop on 26th March.
Head4Arts plan to create digital story trails in four parks across the south-east Wales valleys area to inspire families from across the region to celebrate our planet and to consider their role in protecting it for the future. Head4Arts aim to launch the story trails on 26th March to coincide with Earth, it will last for one month.
YMCA Swansea will hold workshops for young people to learn how to use sewing machines to create pieces using recycled or second-hand materials. A larger event will be hosted in the theatre at YMCA Swansea in which participants will design and create a flag of the Y-Future logo using recycled materials. On Earth Hour, YMCA Swansea will host a mini celebration to showcase the pieces created by the young people.
The #HogBuzz project aims to increase awareness amongst the Cardiff University community towards the Hedgehog Friendly Campus campaign. The campaign aims to inspire staff and students to work together to transform the university green estate into a haven for hedgehogs and other wildlife. This will take place during the university’s sustainability week (21st-25th March 2022), in the lead up to Earth Hour.
Tanio, in Bridgend, are hiring a professional artist to paint a mural on the side of ‘The Base’ (Environmental Centre) on Tanio’s site, on Earth Hour. The mural will feature imagery that reflects a vibrant, healthy Earth – the Earth we all wish for and hope to create. The mural will also have space for reflections from members of the community about how they can be greener or pledges they will make to take part in sustainable initiatives, recycling, planting, and more.
Anne Meikle, Director of WWF Cymru said:
“It is inspiring to see people across Wales coming together through creative and innovative events to support Earth Hour. It is these actions from individuals, businesses and communities, however small, which will together help shape a brighter future for Wales, for people and the planet.”
“It’s clear from the amount of support Earth Hour has received from people all over Wales that we are a nation who cares about the future of this planet. These communities are united in the belief that we need to restore nature here in Wales and overseas and do all we can to tackle climate change. We hope many more people will get involved in the events and mark Earth Hour on Saturday by connecting with nature, their community and with people around the world:”
In addition to community activity business, organisations and landmarks across Wales are taking part including The Senedd, Pierhead, National Museum Wales, Venue Cymru and Theatr Colwyn.
