The Squamish Environmental Conservation Society (SECS) is urging residents to show concern about climate change by turning off the lights to mark Earth Hour on Saturday (March 28) from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Organized by World Wildlife Federation, Earth Hour is a global public effort to address climate change. Last year, 35 countries participated and in Canada 10 million individuals took part. The combined savings was enough to power 4,000 homes for an entire year.
The local campaign comes in the midst of transition as SECS tries to regroup with a newly-elected board and fresh mandate.
"We have been re-organizing ourselves and going through a new strategy process," said Catherine Jackson, SECS president. "There was a feeling among the board that we weren't sure of our direction."
SECS has held some strategy sessions, which are yet to be completed, as the group looks at a decentralized model that relies on a host of subcommittees. These committees would explore different issues from green building practices to climate change.
So far, SECS member Sandra Bicego has been leading the strategy sessions. She said the first step was brainstorming ideas, which will lay the foundation for specific strategies.
"In the past we have been doing a lot of things which were successful and some things which were very unorganized. Not everyone was aware what the other was doing," Bicego said.
The group has now hired facilitators for the strategy sessions and Bicego expects a new direction to be complete by September 2009.
"The economic downturn has slowed things down and now we are doing what the government is doing - evaluating our direction," Bicego said. "Our ongoing projects will always be there. We are looking at a change in the way we communicate with the community."
The group is also looking at changing its role in the community. Traditionally its identity has been steeped in advocacy. The new direction expands on advocacy and includes workshops and education.
"We really hope to come out stronger with a bigger capacity to get things done," said Jackson. "Went know that we want to reach out to the community more and increase membership."
Jackson said environmental awareness is creeping into the mainstream culture, making observances such as Earth Hour and Earth Day important.
Every year more than six million Canadians join 500 million people in 180 countries to celebrate Earth Day and Squamish is no exception.
"It's amazing the difference one hour makes and it reminds us to be thoughtful about the use of power," said Jackson.
According to Earth Hour Canada, 60 minutes of darkness has caught the public imagination - a year ago in the same event an estimated 50 million people worldwide joined in turning off lights. Now the target is for at least a billion people.
Next month, SECS is hosting Earth Day Celebrations on the Squamish Waterfront at Nexen Beach from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Sunday April 19 event includes a barbecue, kids crafts and face painting, local green business promotion and environmental education.
"Hopefully we will have another successful family event because there will be lots to do from drum circles to the barbecue," Jackson said.
