Several Taiwanese hotels are to join communities around the world in observing Earth Hour by turning off their lights for an hour from 8:30pm to 9:30pm today.
The annual global event is held toward the end of March and encourages individuals, communities and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol of their commitment to the sustainable future of the planet.
Le Meridien Taipei hotel, Humble House Taipei, Sheraton Grande Taipei Hotel, Grand Hyatt Taipei Hotel and W Taipei Hotel, as well as Palais de Chine Hotel Taipei and Fleur de Chine Hotel, which are affiliated with LDC Hotels and Resorts Group, have announced that they would take part in Earth Hour for a sustainable future.
LDC Hotels and Resorts Group said it would also encourage its guests to turn off their mobile phones for the day and instead send postcards to their relatives and friends. As an incentive, the hotel is to hold a raffle among the guests who participate in the event, with a prize of dinner for two.
Meanwhile, Sheraton Grande Taipei Hotel is to offer two Taiwan beers for the price of one to its guests to encourage them to spend Earth Hour in the lobby instead of their rooms.
Earth Hour, organized by the World Wildlife Fund, is in its 10th year.
The campaign is aimed at empowering the public and sending the message that people can help change the environment for the better by altering their behavior.
On March 28 last year, millions of people in more than 7,000 cities across a record 172 nations and territories took part in the world’s largest grassroots movement for environmental protection.
More than 1,400 landmarks switched off their lights during Earth Hour last year, including the Taipei 101, the Empire State Building, the UN headquarters, the Eiffel Tower, the Burj Khalifa, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Hong Kong’s skyscrapers.
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