Local NGO Ecocare Maldives is scheduled to hold a panel discussion with experts of the “Intergovernmental panel on climate change Global Warming 1.5°C Special Report”, in commemoration of this year’s Earth Hour Celebrations to kick off by month end.
The panel discussion to be held at 8:30pm on Friday at the Maldives National University’s Central Administrational Auditorium will be joined by panelists, Marine Conservationist, Hussain 'Sendi' Rasheed, Sustainable Development Consultant Aisha Niyaz and Disaster Risk Reduction Expert Umar Fikuree.
Ecocare reveals that participants will be allowed to ask questions once the presentation is concluded. The discussion will be joined by schools, colleges and universities in capital city Malé.
The panel discussion will also be aired live on the Facebook page of Earth Hour Maldives. It will focus on some of the key issues related to global warming that affects the Maldives archipelago.
Earth Hour Maldives is also set to host a special assembly for school students on the 28th of March in partnership with the Ministry of Education. During the assembly to be held in all schools across the capital, students will be briefed on the importance of celebrating Earth Hour, a movement initiated by the Worldwide Fund for Nature encouraging all to turn off their lights for an hour.
A campaign is also scheduled to be held in order to empower the cutting down of plastic usage. Titled “Make your own bag”, the event is being held in partnership with the Maldives Women’s Association.
The movement, to be held on 29 March, will teach participants to design their own tote bags using recycled fabrics. The campaign to cut off plastic usage will continue after the conclusion of the earth hour event, the organization revealed.
In addition, a special walk is also to be hosted on 30 March in partnership with the Ministries of Education and Environment.
The walk will be held from 4pm to 6pm and state institutions, school students as well as their guardians will be participating.
Earth Hour Maldives further stated that they will be hosting the main “Switch-off Event” from 8:30 to 9:30 on 30 March, a Saturday, just like previous years.
While the main switch-off event will be held in Kulhudhuffushi island of Haa Dhaal atoll, it will also be held in the track area in capital city Malé the same time.
While Earth Hour is celebrated as a “symbol of commitment” towards saving the planet, shared among the people, its objective revolves around uniting people with a simple goal, to protect the planet.
The organization has urged anyone with ideas to hold activities to come forth and contact Earth Hour Maldives. Those who wish to partner up with the organization may contact Maeed Mohamed Zahir through 7873692 or send emails to [email protected].
