Forum, video contest to kick off ‘Earth Hour’ in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, March 18 (PNA) -- A forum on climate change and a video contest on saving the planet will kick off the “Earth Hour” in Eastern Visayas on Saturday.

“We only have one home to live - Earth. Let us take care of our home,” said Rey Garnace, campus director of Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas campus in Palo, Leyte where the event will be hosted.

The said “Earth Hour” event is also supported by “Tingog Kabataan”, a youth volunteer group of "Tingog Sinirangan" group in the region.

Garnace also urged the public to join its “Mission ASCEND (Action to Save the Changing Environment through Network Development” for the protection of the environment.

“Mission ASCEND”, a student alliance-led climate change advocacy campaign, invites the youth “to commit for the assurance of the future that they deserve” which according to the organizer is “a future that is free from climate change.”

“The youth of today will inherit tomorrow’s world. With the decline of Earth’s natural ecosystems and climate change on the rise, it is time take action to save the planet. Where better a place to start this advocacy than in Region 8, the region where Mother Nature showed its most cruel face," it said.

“Typhoon Yolanda has left in its wake an entire generation of battle scarred young people who showed the world resilience in the face of adversity,” the group said in its social media campaign.

The advocacy will involve generating 1 million “pledges” on how to help climate change though a video.

“Mission ASCEND aims to use social media, the power of these young people, to encourage the youth of the world to commit for the future that they deserve. This project aims to educate them on their great responsibility and encourage them to take a more active role by taking this movement globally through the power of social media,” it added.

Garnace said that they are expecting 200 participants from 20 schools to join the event, adding the program will start with the plenary sessions on climate change with invited speakers from Manila followed by video contest on saving Mother Earth. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/RONALD O REYES/EGR