Earth Hour, Earth Day

Earth Hour, Earth Day: The hope is that a billion people around the world will switch off their lights for one hour to show they care about climate change. People from 115 countries are already participating. Big Ben will be switching off and even the legendary neon sign in London’s Piccadilly Circus will go off for only the fourth time since the second world war. It would be great if as many people as poss in Stroud also participated.

Last year I helped publicise this event with Stroud Valleys Project – see here – more people look set to participate this year – although with huge companies like Coca Cola sponsoring the event we have to wonder?? A closer look though shows Coca Cola are indeed improving matters – still a long long way to go but they are putting in place actions to tackle the climate…..but do we really need this sugary caffeine laden drink with all it’s promises that Coke is it??? Do we understand it is not the real thing?

Research shows that it is still possible to avoid the worst impacts of climate change by measures such as rapid development of clean energy production and stopping tropical deforestation. Coca Cola has to be part of the solution – as we all do. Switching off sends a message that we want action.