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Minsk to observe Earth Hour on 30 March

MINSK, 19 March (BelTA) – On 30 March, Minsk will observe the Earth Hour and will turn off decorative lights of prominent buildings from 20:30 till 21:30, BelTA has learned from the Minsk City Committee of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Belarus will join the movement for the 11th time. On this day, the organizers encourage those who care about the planet’s future to switch off the light and electric devices for an hour.

Last year, Minsk turned off the decorative lights of the National Library, the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater, the Belarusian State Philharmonics, the National Art Museum, the Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War, and over 250 other buildings.

“Earth Hour does not aim to save money on electricity. It is a symbol of commitment to nature. Every year the movement helps attract attention to the necessity to protect nature,” the committee noted.

The movement is voluntary: people should decide for themselves which devices they will switch off. This may become the first step on the way to change one’s way of life. Economical use of electricity, heat, water, recycling paper and other materials helps diminish greenhouse gases emissions that is the main reason for the current climate changes.

Earth Hour is a large-scale environment movement which was supported by 187 countries in 2018. Lights of over 3,100 buildings were switched off. In Belarus, 22 cities joined the movement.

In Belarus, the event is organized by Green Network partnership with the support of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, the Minsk City Hall and other cities.

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