Earth Hour, SA Style

Earth Hour was on March 29 and South Africans joined the world to celebrate the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Earth Hour 2014, and express their united commitment towards a more sustainable future. A host of activities and events were held across the country.

Celebrations in Cape Town were particularly festive following the announcement that the city had won the Earth Hour City Challenge - over 163 entrants from 14 countries! A ceremony was held at the V&A Waterfront to celebrate the honor before shutting off the lights from 8:30 to 9:30 and attendees were treated to a candlelit concert by members of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.

Table Mountain also joined several other famous places and iconic landmarks around the world, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, the Tower Bridge in London, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, the Wat Arun Temple in Bangkok, Times Square and the Empire State building in New York City and the Las Vegas Strip, in a dramatic switch-off which swept across the globe.

Awesome photo by Mark Straw, Photowalkers organizer

Johannesburg offered a number of community-driven earth hour celebrations too. The Joburg Photowalkers organized an evening at the Nizamiye Turkish Masjid Mosque with its 232 stained glass windows. The Mosque turned off its lights especially for the Photowalkers during Earth Hour and Consol Solar Jars were used to light up the exterior and interior of this magnificent building.

Yoga Village in Sandton honored the earth with a candlelit yoga class. Similarly Adventure Boot Camp offered a free session in honor of Earth Hour at Brescia House in Bryanston. The Johannesburg Zoo had a slumber party with its Lights out for Earth Hour event. Guests got to camp out in the zoo and enjoy a guided night walk, stargaze, or sit around the bonfire for Earth Hour 2014. There was a green walk in Turffontein and even Sun City got into the action when the resort's four hotels and timeshare units all turned off the lights in support of Earth Hour.

According to Eskom, South Africans saved 575 megawatts of electricity during the hour. Although Earth Hour is about more than saving energy. It shows the commitment of many South Africans who want to take positive action for the environment and connect with environmentally aware citizens across the globe.

WWF South Africa invited the public - throughout the month of March - to log in and answer the question, “How Do You Honor the Earth?” South African individuals, companies and communities responded to the call and made their commitments online. Promises ranged from simple acts such as saving electricity to more ambitious gestures such as installing solar water heating systems and radically transforming their food choices. Other promises spoke to the uplifting spiritual benefits which nature provides with some promising to take longer walks in the great outdoors and others committing to care more for their immediate surroundings.

It is not hard to feel a closer comradery with nature here in South Africa. With the reality of an overloaded electric grid ready to blow at any minute or a revered animal such as the rhino on the brink of extinction, one is reminded every day of the frailty of the Earth's balance. In the end, I just lit some candles, shut off my lights and made my promise to continue my commitment to the Earth via the WWF promise platform. Can't wait until Earth Day!