BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville joined landmarks as well as communities and organizations from 178 countries by switching off its non-essential lights to observe Earth Hour at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2016. Earth Hour—the world’s largest environmental event—is a “global moment of solidarity for climate action” involving millions of people to raise awareness about protecting the future of the planet.
Taking “action beyond the hour” is a commitment that BAPS continues to make for the environment. Ravi Patni, a volunteer at the Mandir, said, “BAPS actively supports environmental sustainability efforts throughout the year through recycling projects, utilizing solar power, LED lighting, and power-saving fiber optics in the designs for mandirs. In addition, BAPS is involved with tree planting and water conservation efforts as well as promoting effective management practices in activities to ensure optimal and efficient energy consumption.”
Earth Hour was also observed at BAPS Mandirs across North America.
Earth HourEarth Hour is organized by the World Wide Fund For Nature, one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. Its 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 homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. In 2008, the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. A record participation in 2015 included 172 countries and territories, incorporating over 10,400 landmarks and close to 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites. This has been extended to 178 countries this year, with social media awareness campaigns being introduced to further its cause.
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