EARTH HOUR A 2 minute solutions guide - Clean Coasts
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EARTH HOUR A 2 minute solutions guide
CONTENTS EARTH HOUR 2 STARGAZING - AUDIO EVENT WITH CLIMATE AMBASSADOR 3 #2MINUTEBEACHCLEAN & #2MINUTESTREETCLEAN 4 SAFETY GUIDELINE 6 ABOUT CLEAN COASTS 7 ABOUT NATIONAL SPRING CLEAN 8
EARTH HOUR
An hour for the Earth and for Us
Earth Hour was started in 2007 by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney to
raise awareness of climate change, but has now become one of the world’s largest grassroots move-
ments for the environment. It went far beyond the symbolic action of switching off and it has become
a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power
of the people and collective action.
Every year, at 8:30 pm on the last Saturday of March, supporters in over 190 countries and territories
unite, taking action on and raising awareness of the issues facing our one home.
In 2007, the initiative called people to switch off their lights to call attention to climate change, which,
over a decade later, has been made worse by another urgent threat: the rapid loss of biodiversity and
nature.
Natural systems are vital for all our futures – and yet, the rate of global loss of nature during the past
50 years is unprecedented in human history. Nature not only provides us food, water, clean air, and
other services worth over US$125 trillion a year – it is also one of our strongest allies against the cli-
mate crisis.
Today, Earth Hour aims to increase awareness and spark global conversations on protecting nature,
tackling the climate crisis, and working together to shape a brighter future for us all. But Earth Hour is
more than just an hour for Earth - it’s a movement for our own futures, for the benefit of people and
planet.
Find out more: www.earthhour.org
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STARGAZING
AUDIO EVENT WITH CLIMATE AMBASSADOR
The Climate Ambassador Programme in Ireland is
hosting a special audio-only event for Earth Hour.
We will hear from Chief Ranger Fermin Salas of
the Pipe Springs National Monument and newly
awarded Dark Sky Park. We hope to learn from
their indigenous wisdom which is shared in part-
nership with the local tribe, providing a fresh
perspective alongside traditional stories including
the Milkyway and Creation itself.
If you have register for the event, we invite you
to go outside, wrap up, find a quiet spot with as
little light pollution as possible and listen to Fer-
min Salas as we all gaze towards the Big Dipper in
unison during this Earth Hour.
Find out more here.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Fermin Salas spent much of his early life in California. Salas graduated from California State University
Sacramento after which he became one of the few Native American park rangers at Yosemite National
Park. Salas was a federal law enforcement ranger in the Virgin Islands, California, New Mexico and the
Grand Canyon in Arizona. He is currently the Chief of Visitor Services and Education at Pipe Spring
National Monument, Arizona. He has been with the park service for 30 years.
ABOUT CLIMATE AMBASSADOR
The Climate Ambassador Programme is Ireland’s first ever initiative to train and support individuals
taking action on climate change. The programme is co-ordinated by the Environmental Education Unit
of An Taisce with support from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
Find out more at www.climateambassador.ie
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#2MINUTEBEACHCLEAN & #2MINUTESTREETCLEAN
If you are taking part in the Climate Ambassador event, why not also take two minutesto make a differ-
ence for our marine environment and planet with a #2minutebeachclean or #2minutestreetclean?
We have all seen the evidence of marine litter along Ireland’s coastline, street or park, but the good
news is there’s an opportunity to do something about it in just 2 minutes!
HOW TO TAKE PART
• When you are spending time outdoor, take 2 minutes to collect any litter you see along the way
• Take a snap of it
• Post your picture on Instargam or Twitter using the hashtags #2minutebeachclean or #2minut-
estreetclean and tag Clean Coasts and the National Spring Clean to inspire more people to join
• Dispose of your litter properly
• Stay safe on your 2 minute litter pick!
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9 REASONS TO DO A #2MINUTEBEACHCLEAN OR A #2MINUTESTREETCLEAN
It will have an immediate You will be an example You will contribute
positive impact on our and inspire other people to creating a more
environment to take action too sustainable community
It’s an easy way to be Spending time by the sea A cleaner environment
active and exercise and outdoors is good for means better health
the body and for the mind
You will help protect the You will also help protect You will make the place
ocean and marine life all life on land more beautiful both for
local people and tourists
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SAFETY GUIDELINES
If you are planning to take part in the Climate Ambassador Earth Hour event and you want to do a
#2minutebeachclean or a #2minutestreetclean, read the health & saftey guidelines below to protect
yourself and others.
WHAT TO PACK:
• Remember: your clean-ups will be in the dark, so make sure your bring a torch
• If you are planning to do this in a poorly lit area, wear a hi-viz vest
• Gloves
• A bag
• Hand sanitiser
WHAT TO DO:
• Wear good rubberised gloves to keep hands clean
• Please use hand gel before and after the clean-up. Please wash your hands after clean-up
and before eating, drinking or smoking and avoid touching face or eyes when working.
• Beware of sharp objects, such as broken glass and syringes.
• Wear High Visibility clothing – Be Safe Be Seen
• Stay off roads where possible. High visibility clothing will help you be seen, but it does not
make you bulletproof
• Please adhere to any weather warnings that are in place at the location of the clean-up
• When working on the coast, never conduct cleanups with your back to the water.
• Watch the tide. In some areas, the tide may come in and cut you from the shore.
• Do not enter the water to collect rubbish – there could be dangerous currents.
• Ensure that non-swimmers and children keep away from the water’s edge.
• Avoid climbing boulders or rocks as they may be slippery and loose under foot.
• Avoid working alongside steep or overhanging cliffs as they may be unstable due to erosion
6ABOUT CLEAN COASTS
Clean Coasts is a charity programme, run through the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce,
which engages communities in the protection of Ireland’s beaches, seas and marine life. Clean Coasts
works with communities to help protect and care for Ireland’s waterways, coastline, seas, ocean and
marine life. Clean Coasts thrives to create tangible and immediate improvements to Ireland’s coastal
environment, involving thousands of volunteers removing large quantities of marine litter from our
coastline each year.
Clean Coasts has grown over the years and now includes two main national clean-up drives. Other
initiatives include the Green Coast Award, the Love Your Coast Photography competition, the Clean
Coasts Roadshows for coastal communities and the Ocean Hero Awards. All these initiatives are aimed
at celebrating the beauty of our coast and the efforts of our volunteers across all of Ireland.
Currently, there are over 1,800 registered Clean Coasts volunteering groups and over 37,000 volun-
teers nationwide. There are a variety of group types such as community groups, residents’ associa-
tions, tidy towns groups, sports clubs, schools, businesses, universities etc. Clean Coasts organises
hundreds of beach clean-ups annually mobilising thousands of volunteers, removing considerable
quantities of marine litter from Ireland’s beaches and waterways. Our volunteering has expanded to
also include Corporate Volunteering.
FIND US AND TAG US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: @CleanCoasts
Twitter: @CleanCoasts
Instagram: @cleancoasts
YouTube: Clean Coasts Ireland
Linkedin: Clean Coasts
#CleanCoasts #2minutebeachclean
7ABOUT NATIONAL SPRING CLEAN
The National Spring Clean campaign Ireland is largest and longest running anti-litter campaign. It is
operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and sponsored by the Mars Wrigley Com-
pany. It is supported by Local Authorities who help co-ordinate clean-up activities for communities
within their counties and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Local
authorities also provide for the disposal of all rubbish and waste materials collected.
Over the past 23 years, through the National Spring Clean:
• Over 85,000 clean-ups have been organised
• 42,000 tonnes of litter have been removed
• 12 million hours of work have been put in by volunteers
FIND US AND TAG US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: @NationalSpringClean
Twitter: @NationalSpringC
Instagram: @nationalspringclean
YouTube: National Spring Clean
#SpringClean22 #2minutestreetclean
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