A reminder that tonight, the world be celebrating Earth Hour, Gozo will also be joining in with an “at home” event organised by Spacelab.

The 188 scheduled Earth Hour events around the globe have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which would have been taking place at 8.30pm, in every time zone.

In Gozo, it would have brought many people together on the rooftop venue of the brand-new Queen Mary University of London Campus, in Gozo, to enjoy seeing lights being switched on the famous Cittadella and by town Councils all over the island.

Spacelab has explained that instead, to show human solidarity @EarthHourLive will be happening on Facebook Live – Everyone is invited.

In every time zone, for 1 hour, hundreds of thousands of people switch off their home lights, and Cities/councils do the same with city street and public building lights, to share the darkness, contemplate our actions and connect to Earth.

At 8.30pm, tonight there will be a Facebook live online gathering where everyone can share their personal lights-out happenings in conversations, videos and pictures.

It is an opportunity to collectively Connect to Earth and to Connect to Humanity at possibly one of the most introspective moments in human history.

The Earth Hour community will come together from their homes, balconies, and gardens to light up their candles at 8.20pm, before switching out all their home lights at 8.30pm.

The Earth Hour Live programme will begin with a “Virtual Cinema” at 6.45pm with the showing of “Home,” the stunning Yann Arthus-Bertrand movie about humanity’s need to urgently change its relationship with Earth.

Naomi McDonald, the Gozo Earth Hour Live event organiser said, “we need to stay home, stay safe, be part of the solution by helping to flatten the curve of pressure on our amazing medical staff in Malta, Gozo, and around our world.”

“Part of the sensible precautions is the prevention of gatherings of people, so instead of coming together as planned with our partners at the Queen Mary University of London Malta Campus on Gozo, we will come together virtually and live on Facebook in @EarthHourLive.”

Getting involved in Earth Hour Live is easy, simply tune into @EarthHourLive livestream at 6.45pm.

The organisers said that the viewer should “say hello, introduce yourself and say where you and your family are from. Watch and immerse yourself in the movie “Home.” Then, at 8.20pm on the live-stream feed post a photo of lighting a candle or torch at home.”

“At 8.30pm we will all blow out all the candles out and turn off all our lights for Earth Hour. If you can, look outside and hopefully experience the darkness,” they said.

“The more people that take part the stronger the message to our Governments, corporations and each one of us as individuals that change is not only possible, it’s urgent,” said the organisers.

“The Coronavirus is a wake-up call to humanity to listen to the Earth, understand the fragility of all life, and act to take up the responsibility of looking after the only home we have.”

“Ironically the microbial virus of Covid-19 is already proving that mass changing of human behaviour is possible,” said Spacelab. “In the countries that are leading action to turn the tide against Covid-19, including Malta, the current changes in behaviour have already had an immediate impact on air quality, on sea, on animal and bird life, on marine life and human life.”

“In only a matter of days we have decreased carbon emissions and fossil fuel consumption, along with other things needed for establishing a sustainable and better world.”

During the event the organisers will begin planting 60 indigenous Maltese Holm Oak Acorns and will be inviting Maltese and Gozitans to message in to name and claim one of the trees.

The saplings can be collected later in the year for nurturing for the next two years before being planted into the ground. The 60 acorns are being planted for each memorable minute of @EarthHourLive.

The Earth Hour Live Map features local councils and establishments switching their lights out for Earth Hour 2020. Locals Councils including Victoria, Gharb and Birzebbugia are already in. To get on the Map go to: www.gozospacelab.com/localcouncils

Spacelab explained that “because Earth Hour makes us think about human impact on the globe it is unique to do this from the home of the oldest freestanding human-made structures on the planet.”

“Ggantija Temples are 5,600 years old and are part of the powerful, spiritual ancient legacy of Gozo that will welcome everyone to join together in a feeling of closeness and collaboration, from wherever on Earth you are.”

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