Earth Hour Philippines to Give The Gift of Light

Solar lamps to light up off-grid island communities will help children study better at night, says Earth Hour organizers in the Philippines.

Around 15 million Filipinos lack regular access to electricity, relying instead on flammable and expensive kerosene lamps to illuminate their homes. “I must earn an additional PHP150 (USD3.5) each month to buy half-a-gallon of kerosene,” says Joys Dominguez, a 35-year old fisherman from the island community of Beton in Northern Palawan. “I have four small kids. If they tip over just one of the lamps, our wooden hut can burn down. I need safe lights for my family.”

To help families in Palawan safely and economically light up their homes, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines shall deploy hundreds of portable solar lamps. “Solar lamps rely on the power of the sun, eliminating the need to buy fuel. We’re teaching communities to veer away from fossil-fuels, the burning of which contributes to climate change,” explains Earth Hour Philippines head, Atty. Gia Ibay. “The money Joys and other beneficiaries will save can buy basic needs like food, books and clothes.”

WWF invites the public to make the celebration of Earth Hour more meaningful by giving The Gift of Light. Supporters can log on to wwf.org.ph/earthhour to help.

Earth Hour has become the world’s first open-source climate change campaign, harnessing the power of the crowd to take action against climate change through donations or deeds. In 2014, WWF-Philippines deployed hundreds of fibre glass bancas to help fisher folk affected by Typhoon Yolanda to get back to sea and on their feet.

Donate here: http://wwf.org.ph/earthhour/give-the-gift-of-light