By Chuck Baclagon
Last night like we usually do every year, we spent it in an hour of darkness, as part of the annual Earth Hour celebration, which join millions around the world in switching off their lights to spread awareness about sustainability and climate change.
On many occasions I’ve written my thoughts on this day which as a climate activist I observe with both hope and anxiety —the latter being borne of the knowledge that 60-minute lights-off is but a minuscule step towards a long journey to a future, where Earth Hour would no longer be needed for us to act according to the demands of recent scientific consensus on climate change.
Parishoners of the Our Lady of Remedies in Malate hold a ‘cosmic rosary’a prayer vigil that integrates creation theology with the mysteries of the rosary. Photo: Jilson Tiu
At the same time I also believe that rituals can have a causal impact on people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It helps build individual catharsis and collective expression – whether it is to recommit to a cause, find courage, voice dissent, or build trust.
Earth Hour is a pretext to not stop dreaming of a better world for the millions of us who need it; for sustainable, realistic and compelling ways to use, produce and distribute power; for a fossil-free future that is not just some remote vision that we cannot reach.
That is why prior to the lights-out we conducted a climate teach-in that connects the dots between climate, energy and justice, to be able to provide meaning and context to the ritual.
Malate church youth attended a teach-in about climate change. Photo: Jilson Tiu
Recent developments like the global school strikes and the youth-led campaign against coal in Negros, Philippines, has taught us that there is a need to seize opportunities to encourage others to join the interconnected global community engaged in dialogue, struggle and resource sharing that generates real solutions to the climate crisis.
Our goal is to build a movement of citizens around the world working to build a future that’s free from the destructive impacts of climate change, and free from the power of the fossil-fuel industry that caused it.
Climate activists from 350.org Pilipinas, light up solar-powered LED banners at Malate Catholic Church calling for sustained climate action as part of the annual Earth Hour celebration, which joins millions around the world in switching off their lights to spread awareness about sustainability and climate change. Photo: Jilson Tiu
We must keep up the momentum by leveraging our power where it’s most effective — in our local communities. Let’s jumpstart the energy revolution by organizing small groups of people that are coming together to transform their communities and the world.