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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 26, 2010 · 40 EARTH HOUR We're in. Are you? Earth Hour is a family affair Earth Hour is a global lights out phenomenon, led by WWF (World Wildlife Fund) to show support for action on climate change and demonstrate that individual action can make a big difference. It's also a great opportunity to talk to your family about the environment and look at what you can do to reduce your environmental impact. This year, Earth Hour takes place on Saturday, March 27 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. (local time). Families are encouraged to join millions of people around the world and turn off their lights for one hour in support of action on climate change. Small acts can make a big difference. For more information or to join the movement, visit www.EarthHourCanada.org. Here are some activities to help you and your family make an evening out of Earth Hour: 1. Make a plan: Engage your family in a conversation about conservation and come up with ideas on how to save energy, limit waste, and make a positive impact on the environment at home. Then discuss other ways your family can take action for the planet year-round, like switching to CFL light bulbs, using cold water to wash your clothes, and buying energy efficient appliances. More ideas can be found online at wwf.ca. 2. Community involvement: Find Earth Hour events happening in your community and get involved. Being part of a community with purpose will prompt your kids to start seeking out other opportunities to get involved on their own and inspire more action. 3. Candle-lit games night: Dust off the board games or play a game of flashlight tag. Gather the family for some old-fashioned quality time to remind your children that games can be played without a computer or TV screen and that fun can be had with mom or dad. 4. Take a tour: Explore your neighborhood in a whole new light and take a flashlight walk, or tour around your city using "green" modes of transportation. Walk, bike, skateboard, scooter, or take the bus and show your kids that travel can be fun, and sometimes faster, when you leave the car at home. 5. Scavenge and save: Set up a scavenger hunt in and around your house to mark off areas where energy can be saved. Encourage the kids to place flags or stickers in spots where appliances or computers can be unplugged and lights turned off - highlighting the spots where they can make a difference. www.newscanada.com What you can do about climate change With Earth Hour just around the corner, now is a great time to think about how you can live more "green". Driving your car, using plastic bags or leaving on a few lights may seem minor, but even the smallest acts add up to make an impact on our climate. The main cause of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels to satisfy our hunger for energy. Turn on the news and you'll see that climate change has already contributed to severe droughts, floods and extreme weather around the globe. We must protect and sustain our environment to ensure we leave our children a living planet. WWF-Canada is creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature to thrive. "We have the science, the technology, and the public will to solve this problem," said Gerald Butts, president and CEO of WWFCanada. "Nowhere else on Earth do so few people steward so many resources. We must preserve our planet for future generations by taking action now." From global events to things you can do on a daily basis, here are some ways you can help: 1. Drive Less. Instead of taking the car, why not walk, bike or take transit. Cars and trucks run on fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 2. Get involved. Make yourself seen and heard by participating in green initiatives like Bruno Arnold / WWF-Canon Wind turbines are one of the solutions for sustainable energy in the future WWF's Earth Hour. On Saturday March 27 from 8:30 ­ 9:30 p.m. (local time), join millions of people around the world and turn off your lights for one hour. 3. Buy local and sustainable food. The average food product travels about 2,000 kilometres before it reaches your table. Along the way it burns up energy ­ creating greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change ­ as it's packaged, shipped and stored. 4. Recycle, reduce and reuse. Recycling saves a lot of energy needed to extract, process, transport and make new materials and products. 5. Stay grounded. Airplanes are one of the biggest culprits for pumping carbon emissions high into the atmosphere. If you must fly, then purchase carbon offsets to reduce the impact of your flight. CLIP AND POST AT HOME, SCHOOL OR WORK RECYCLE AND REUSE THIS AD We all have the `key' to cleaner air, it's your turn now... When your car is in , don't idle, turn it off. didyouknow? It's harmful, unnecessary and idling facts - Not idling your engine will save your family hundreds of dollars a year! Walking, not driving to school, will save even more! - Your engine uses 10 seconds worth of fuel when starting. Today's fuel injected engines DO NOT need to idle to warm up. - An idling engine creates many more pollutants than when driving 30 km/hr. A 15 yr old car can pollute 20 times what a modern car does. - Exhaust affects our lungs, especially developing lungs of children. Around 5000 Canadians die prematurely each year from smog and air pollution. - 50% of household greenhouse emissions come from vehicles. Driving less, using transit, walking or biking can reduce your carbon footprint. A SAFE CAR IS A FUEL EFFICIENT CAR: Buying a new car? Promise your family you will buy a Fuel Efficient car next time, not a `Silly Urban Vehicle SUV'. A SAFE SCHOOL IS AN IDLE-FREE SCHOOL! Headaches, Nausea, Asthma, out of breath? Kid's developing lungs are affected by daily doses of toxins from exhaust. - All school buses MUST turn off engines on school property. Demand your Principal enforce this. A FREE report on dangers of school bus idling is on our website. - Parents are asked not to idle on school property or within 100 ft of air ventilation - and to remind others to do so as well. Do it for the kids! A GREAT NEIGHBOURHOOD TO LIVE IN IS AN IDLE-FREE NEIGHBOURHOOD TO BREATHE IN! - Driveway idling is rude and ruins good clean neighbourhoods. Show common courtesy to your neighbours and be IDLE FREE. Let the kids play. ILLEGAL to be parked and idling for more than 3 minutes in Oakville. A secret: City enforces its idling By-Law if you call 905.815.2010 1 minute of idling a day = over 6 hours per year! It adds up. A GREEN CITY HALL, ENFORCES THEIR IDLING BY-LAW & `WALKS THE TALK' BY NOT IDLING THEIR OWN TRANSIT BUSES AND FLEETS THEMSELVES - It's estimated approx. $250,000 of taxpayers money goes `up in smoke' each year in Halton from idling buses, city vehicles and city contractors. VOTE IDLE-FREE! BE THE POLLUTION SOLUTION! A SAFE, CLEAN COMMUNITY IS A COMMUNITY WHERE WE ALL PITCH IN TO MAKE IT BETTER! BE A VOLUNTEER! Do something... anything, to pitch in and help stop climate change. Join or start a cause you believe in. Start today with your `Earth Hour pledge not to Idle'. Then enjoy the fresh air and great outdoors. www.dadacanada.com Thanks to our corporate funders, DADA is able to `help' protect our kids and our planet through social marketing and FREE resources for schools. Be idle-free Join our DADAbase and free newsletter and meetings. We are parents and community leaders concerned about unnecessary pollution affecting the health of our families and our planet... and doing something about it. Email info@dadacanada.com. ¡