 | Save Energy, Save the Earth. | |
 SWITCH is an advocacy platform that seeks to demonstrate how ordinary Filipinos and specific sectors of Philippine society can contribute substantively—through fundamental changes in lifestyle, behavior or standard practices—to the massive effort required to address the dire consequences of climate change and the need for a more sustainable era of energy use. It involves planned actions and processes to reach, influence, and involve all relevant stakeholders— from the national to the community level—in order to create an enabling environment and to effect positive behavior and social change in the context of best energy practices. SWITCH is designed to: • Make energy programs of both the government and the private sector more participative for better appreciation, acceptance and involvement among key stakeholders • Accelerate and scale up the adoption of best energy practices that are simple but strategic • Lay the institutional foundation to sustain best energy practices on the ground. SWITCH issues calls to action in the following areas: • Switch from inefficient to efficient energy practices—starting with lighting—in workplaces, buildings, homes and public places. • Switch from petroleum-based fuels to alternative fuels and cleaner technologies in the transport sector • Switch from fossil fuel-based technologies to renewable energy technologies in power generation For more information about SWITCH, please click here. In this site, you’ll find information on how you can help and be part of the movement, as well as updates on how we’ve progressed in achieving best energy practices. Please drop us a line at switchmovement@yahoo.com or switchmovement@gmail.com if you want to know more or are interested in joining us to make positive change in Philippine society!
Rise and shine! Sikat, the Philippines' second solar car, will be launched at the Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia, on Wednesday, December 16, 2009. Join us as we witness another application of renewable energy sources! The schedule is as follows: 
|  | May 25, 2009
Department of Energy
Today marked the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Renewable Energy Act. Much has been said about how the law generously provides fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for developers to harness the Philippines' renewable energy resources.
It should also be said that this law is for the kids.
After a series of public consultations nationwide, today marked an equally important consultation: a consultation with the kids, who stand to inherit the world and the choices we make today. The IRR signing slso had the kids asking the Secretary questions on renewable energy. They were also asked to draw their vision of the future of the Philippines with renewable energy. These drawings, together with a copy of the law and the IRR, were sealed in a time capsule, which will be opened 20 years from now. By then, these kids can validate if the right thing for this country was done. |
| | April 22, 2009
Sustainable Development Solutions for Asia and the Pacific (SDSAP) organized a simple Earth Day event that highlighted the importance of hand washing. This event underscored the connection between the environment and health and sanitation. |
| | March 28, 2009
SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City |
| | March 28, 2009
Naga City
Earth Hour celebrations started in the morning with a youth rally/parade, calling for participation to Earth Hour. |
| | March 28, 2009
Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija |
| | March 28, 2009
SM Baguio City |
The Philippines ranked first globally in terms of cities and towns participating. This video shows footage and photos of how cities and towns all over the country celebrated Earth Hour.
Download this and other original video files with Multiply Premium.
| | March 4, 2009
Hard Rock Cafe, Glorietta 3
NATIONWIDE SUPPORT FOR EARTH HOUR MOUNTS
Various organizations—representing civil society, the business community, the religious sector, the youth, national agencies and local governments—have committed their full support to Earth Hour, the global expression of a desire for serious and sustained action on global warming.
Filipinos from all walks of life and in all key cities are being urged to turn off non-essential lights from 8:30pm to 9:30pm on March 28 as part of this worldwide movement, which last year saw the involvement of 371 cities across 35 countries.
In the Philippines, the effort is being led by the local World Wide Fund for Nature office (WWF-Philippines) in cooperation with the Department of Energy (DOE), the Green Army Philippines Network, and the SWITCH movement.
“We have to act now if we are to halt, if not reverse, the dangerous momentum of climate change,” explained Lory Tan, President and CEO of WWF-Philippines. “Earth Hour gives us the vehicle to show how simple acts—like turning off a light switch—can make a difference if we act together to fight global warming.”
“In this time of global crisis, it is vital that we seek causes that unite, rather than divide,” DOE Secretary Angelo T. Reyes added, “and fighting global warming through best energy practices is an excellent opportunity for all of us, regardless of faith, creed or social status, to come together.”
Taking corporate involvement one step deeper, Earth Hour Philippines organizers are aligning the event with climate-friendly energy initiatives through the SWITCH movement, the social mobilization platform of multi-sector energy stakeholders spawned by the 2008 Philippine Energy Summit.
Beyond sponsoring a one-day event, potential national partners are being urged to support SWITCH initiatives over a full year. These initiatives include community-level switches to efficient lighting; cleaner transport fuels and technologies for jeepneys and tricycles; and area-based renewable energy (RE) groundwork-setting and promotion.
“By linking Earth Hour with SWITCH, we hope to make people realize that the symbolic act of switching off their lights for an hour on March 28 is but the start of a broader imperative to change our lifestyles and energy practices for the survival of our planet,” Secretary Reyes said.
“Negotiations are under way with potential Earth Hour national sponsors to jumpstart breakthrough energy practices and technologies from April 2009 to March next year,” disclosed Ambassador Francis Chua, Chairman of the Green Army and head of the Earth Hour Philippines marketing committee.
"Climate change realities require a drastic change in the way we live,” declared former Miss Universe Margie Moran-Floirendo, an Earth Hour Ambassador. “For starters, we need to ask what we can do to help adapt to climate change and help slow it down. Switching off our lights, even for an hour on March 28 is a good start because by our collective action, we will be sending a very powerful message to the rest of the world that we are taking a stand on global warming. We need to use cleaner forms of energy. Even the way we build our houses will need to change."
Earth Hour 2009 aims to reach one billion people in 1,000 cities all over the world. In December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen to agree on a post-Kyoto policy for tackling climate change. One billion people voting with their light switch during Earth Hour will create a powerful mandate for world leaders to take strong and decisive action on climate change in Copenhagen.
To help reach this goal, a global sign-up campaign and competition is again being launched worldwide. Last year, the Philippines ranked 9th in terms of total sign-ups at www.earthhour.org.
The Earth Hour campaign is already generating a strong online presence: every seven seconds a new mention about Earth Hour appears on the web; Earth Hour social profiles have over 230,000 friends and followers with a new connection every 20 seconds; and an Earth Hour video is viewed every 20 seconds online.
Among Earth Hour’s high-profile international advocates are Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actress Cate Blanchett, and corporate tycoon Richard Branson of the Virgin Group.
Earth Hour Philippines 2009 hopes to involve 10 million Filipinos and 500 businesses in key cities across the country. To achieve this goal, WWF, DOE, the Green Army, and the SWITCH movement are touching base with networks and organizations across the country.
To date, the following institutions have signified their support for Earth Hour: ABS-CBN, Apostleship of the Sea, Archdiocese of Cebu, Archdiocese of Manila, Association of Foundations, Ayala Land Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Body Shop, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, BusinessWorld Publishing, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, Cemex, Center for Migrant Advocacy, Center for Overseas Workers, Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings Inc., ClickTheCity.com, Coalition for Bicol Development NGOs, Department of Education, Don Bosco Youth Center – Tondo, Earth Day Network, Earth Institute Asia, Inc., El Nido Resorts, Energy Development Corporation, Federation of Philippine Industries, Filinvest Alabang, First Gen Corporation, First Philippine Holdings, Gawad Kalinga, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Globaltronics, Globe Telecoms, Google, Habitat for Humanity Philippines, Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, HP, HSBC, Institute for Solidarity in Asia, Intramuros Administration, Jebsen & Jessen, Klima, Knights of Columbus, Lafarge, League of Corporate Foundations, Leo Burnett, Luzon Hydro Corporation, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Manila Jaycees, Manila Ocean Park, Mano Amiga, Meralco, Mindanao Business Council, Mindanao Coalition of Development NGOs, Miriam College, Mother Earth Foundation, National Confederation of Cooperatives, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, National Electrification Administration, National Historical Institute, National Parks Development Committee, National Ulama Council of the Philippines, Nokia Philippines, Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines, Petron Corporation, Philippine Association of Building Administrators, Philippine Biosciences, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Green Building Council, Philippine Jaycees, Philippine Lighting Industry Association, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Sugar Millers Association, Philippine Wood Producers Association, Philips, Pilipinas Shell Corporation, REACT Philippines, Renewable Energy Coalition, Ricoh, Rotary Club, Shangri-la Hotels, SM Supermalls, Smart Communications, Soroptimist International, Starbucks, Sun Power, Sustainable Development Solutions for Asia and the Pacific Youth, Tetra Pak, The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS), Toyota Motors, UNESCO Club Metro Manila, UNIFEM, USAID Energy and Clean Air Project, Victory Christian Fellowship, Word and Life Publications, World Youth Alliance, YMCA, and YWCA.
Local governments have also started signing up to do their part for Earth Hour. Among the early advocates are the cities of Caloocan, Cebu, Digos, Las Piñas, Makati, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marikina, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon, Tagaytay, Taguig, Tuguegarao, and Valenzuela; the municipality of Pateros, and the provinces of Bukidnon, Marinduque and Misamis Oriental.
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It's as simple as a flick of the switch. The lights will go off for one hour on March 28 at 8:30 pm in key cities in the Philippines and all over the world. It's called Earth Hour. This lights-out initiative, which began in Sydney in 2007 as a one-city environmental campaign, has evolved into a grassroots action that has attracted worldwide attention. In 2008, 371 cities across 35 countries turned their lights out in a united call for action on climate change and energy conservation. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome's Colosseum, and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness, symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour. Earth Hour 2009 aims to reach one billion people in 1,000 cities all over the world. To help reach this goal, a global sign-up campaign and competition is again being launched worldwide. Last year, the Philippines ranked 9th in terms of total sign-ups. All Filipinos are urged to sign up at Earth Hour's global website: http://www.earthhour.org. Earth Hour Philippines 2009 hopes to involve 10 million Filipinos and 500 businesses in key cities across the country. Earth Hour 2009 is a global call to action to every individual, every business, and every community. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, and to get actively involved in working towards a sustainable future. People across the world will turn off their lights and join together in creating a vital conversation about the future of our precious planet. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Green Army Philippines Network, and the SWITCH movement have joined hands with the Department of Energy to spread public awareness of the Earth Hour message to cities and communities all over the country. To receive news updates and event schedules, one can register one's cellphone number by sending the following message to 5777 for both Smart and Globe users: green <space> reg <space> firstname <slash> middleinitial <slash> lastname. Example: green reg Juan/C/De la Cruz. "2009 is a destiny year for the entire planet," declared Lory Tan, President and CEO of WWF-Philippines. "This is the year that we decide the future of humanity. Earth Hour is a message of hope and action and we hope it sends a powerful message to both local and world leaders. It is a global movement that proves that each one of us can make a difference. Imagine what we can do if we act together." Recognizing the vital role of the energy community particularly in terms of sustainable electric power generation, clean transport fuels, and best energy practices across sectors DOE Secretary Angelo T. Reyes expressed full support for Earth Hour. "This grassroots initiative is an opportunity for individuals from all corners of the globe to unite and, in a single voice, highlight the urgent need for dramatic lifestyle changes and best energy practices to save our planet. This is a cause that should unite us as Filipinos and as citizens of the world." The first step is just turning off a light. Join us for Earth Hour 2009! Turn off your lights at 8.30pm on Saturday, March 28, and sign-up here to be counted. Earth Hour official sign-up website: www.earthhour.org EarthHour Philippines operations center hotlines: Tel(632) 840-2134; 812-5974 EarthHour materials download website: www.earthhourphils.multiply.com, www.greeenarmynetwork.net
How you can help. As an ordinary citizen, you can contribute to the overall effort of conserving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Here are a few simple ways: Conserve energy.- Make sure that all the lights in your house are compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or lighting systems that make use of other energy efficient technologies.
- Switch off lights and unplug appliances that you’re not using.
- In buildings, use the stairs instead of the elevator when going up or down a few floors.
Be efficient on the road.- Keep your car’s engine in shape.
- Make sure your tires are inflated properly.
- Drive at moderate speeds.
- Avoid peak traffic periods as much as you can.
- Leave your car in the garage and ride the public transportation or join a carpool as much as you can.
- Fort short distances, a walk or a bike ride would do you—and the planet—a lot of good.
Reduce waste.- When shopping, bring your own cloth bags so you can help reduce the volume of plastic bags. As much as possible, buy only what you really need.
- When eating, avoid putting on your plate more than what you can consume.
The less waste we all make, the less greenhouse gases, such as methane, garbage dumps would emit. If the demand for goods is moderated, less energy would be consumed for industrial over-production. How your school can help. Schools, and even various youth, religious, and civil society groups can do their share in the movement through a variety of ways, including mobilizing communities and conducting energy audits of schools, hospitals, and other public facilities. How your company can help. Companies and professional/civic organizations can help by switching to energy efficient lighting in their offices and by organizing internal energy efficiency campaigns. Companies can also adopt specific SWITCH initiatives as vehicles for corporate social responsibility programs. For instance, companies can sponsor the lighting switch of a poor or remote community, public school, hospital, market, or park.
Link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47883037443Got a Facebook account? Join our group, and let's continue the conversations on how we can help attain a sustainable future through fundamental changes and behavior, particularly on best energy practices.
| Start: | Mar 28, '09 8:30p | | End: | May 28, '09 9:30p |
Join us in this important global conversation on taking action against climate change. On March 28, 2009 (Saturday), at exactly 8:30 P.M., switch your lights off for one hour. Join us in sending a powerful message that we care enough about the threats of climate change to take action.
SWITCH is an advocacy platform that seeks to demonstrate how ordinary Filipinos and specific sectors of Philippine society can contribute substantively -- through fundamental changes in lifestyle, behavior, or standard practices -- to the massive effort required to address the dire consequences of climate change and the need for a more sustainable era of energy use. It involves planned actions and processes to reach influence and involve all relevant stakeholders -- from the national to the community level -- in order to create an enabling environment and to effect positive behavior and social change in the context of energy practices. SWITCH is designed to: - Make energy programs of both the governmetn and the private secctor more participative for better appreciation, acceptance and involvement among key stakeholders;
- Accelerate and scale up the adoption of best energy practices that are simple but strategic; and
- Lay the institutional foundation to sustain best energy practices on the ground.
SWITCH issues calls to action in the following areas: - Switch from inefficient to efficient energy practices -- starting with lighting -- in workplaces, buildings, homes and public places;
- Switch from petroleum-based fuels to alternative fuels and cleaner technologies in the transport sector; and
- Switch from fossil fuel-based technologies to renewable energy technologies in power generation.
Getting involved. Make the SWITCH, be part of the SWITCH movement! Each best energy practice that you take goes a long way in saving the earth.
| | July 16, 2008
Philippine International Convention Center
The Switch movement was kicked off by the ceremonial lighting of compact fluorescent lamps in 16 cities and one town in Metro Manila, representing the start of the capital region’s shift to energy-efficient lighting systems.
The Department of Energy said the Switch movement was a “social mobilization and information-education campaign to demonstrate how ordinary Filipinos can save power and help fight climate change.”
Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said, “Switch is not a program, it’s a movement. It means switching from a lifestyle of expenditure and waste to a lifestyle of conservation and efficiency. It’s all about changing our way of life.” -'Energy-saving movement launched', Philippine Daily Inquirer
A copy of Secretary Angelo T. Reyes' keynote speech during the launch can be accessed here. |
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