Earth Hour - Saturday, March 27

On Saturday, March 27 at 8:30 p.m. CST we will turn off every light and device we can find.  Will you join us?

Whatever your stance on climate change, it's a great symbolic effort toward solidarity and the idea that each of us can make a positive impact and protect our future and that of future generations. Learn more about Earth Hour at http://www.earthhour.org/.

It's an event that's particularly significant because each and every day, we share a similar message at the Ozark Natural Science Center.  A record-breaing 4,000+ school children will visit ONSC during the 2009 - 2010 school year, and they all leave with simple messages about ways that they can lessen their carbon footprint, live more sustainably and positively affect others.

When the kids come in for meals in the Ewing Centre cafeteria, they all recite "Take what you need and eat what you take" before filling their plates.  Like Earth Hour, it's a simple message of solidarity, and the doing (or in this case, saying) of it reiterates the message and sends it home.

By taking just an hour to turn out the lights, the devices, the screens and the appliances, we're being conscious of the things we use and the impact we have each and every day.  As parents, teachers, educators, friends and colleagues, it's a message worth sharing no matter where you stand in the political spectrum.  Play some board games by candlelight, or (gasp!) sit around and visit as a family.  There are some great resources for kids via Earth Hour as well: http://www.earthhourkids.org/.  Go ahead and go now, since you'll have the lights and computer off during Earth Hour.  :)