CAMPUS NEWS
NWU Vaal Campus supports
Earth Hour
Kinga Siejek
Photos by: Sesethu Nyokana
Earth Hour can mean many things
to many people. To some it is a type
of ‘electrical moment of silence’ for
where they live, and the world to
show their support; while to others
it can just mean an hour of missing
their favourite television programme,
or missing out on studying. On 20
March 2014; the residences on the
Vaal Campus, showed their support,
in saving a little electricity that could,
in the end, save the World.
While Earth Hour is originally on 29
March, when the students would be
on recess; they all decided to come
together to pledge their support while
still on Campus. Therefore the whole
day was seen as a way to bring the
students together, educate them and
to let them make their pledge for the
event.
10 - Student 24/7
The Green Campus Initiative, in cooperation with SEWT walked around
Campus, with banners asking students to make their mark for Earth
Hour. Students painted their names,
a hand-print or message on the banners; while being informed on the
meaning and message behind the
activity. This message being, to turn
off all lights during 20:30 and 21:30
on 29 March 2014. “The main focus
was to propagate Earth hour which
is a global event to raise awareness
around the world about important
environmental issue such as climate
change and pollution,” explains Madeline Evert, an Environmental Manager with the Green Campus Initiative and SEWT on the Campus. The
banners would then be situated at the
Learning and Research Commons to
honour the pledge. An exhibition of
the Earth Hour will also be presented
specifically in the Library section in
the Learning and Research Commons from 14 April 2014.
The residence on Campus participated in a competition to show their
support for Earth Hour as well. Each
residence was asked to pick an
hour on 20 March where they would
switch off all their lights and non-essential electrical appliances. “During
that hour they should do an activity to
show their support for Earth Hour and
the environment,” explains Evert.
While some residences may not have
participated, those that did have left
a healthier mark on the planet we all
live on, and taught others that it does
not take much to make a change; but
rather that it all starts with the flip of
a switch.
Acacia, Oryx, Jasmyn, Verries,
Thuthuka and Longfellow all joined
to celebrate Earth Hour in their own
ways. Longfellow was the only offCampus residence that joined along
in the fun. The residence went into
complete darkness; but while this
was done, the students stood around
with candles to spell out 60 G, which
for them stood for ‘60 minutes green’.