When the lights go out over the V&A Waterfront on Saturday, 19 March, the property will be lending its support to the World Wildlife Foundation’s (WWF) international Earth Hour initiative.
By switching off non-essential lights between 8.30 and 9.30pm, the V&A Waterfront will join cities, businesses and individuals around the world who are doing likewise.
Other famous landmarks that recognise Earth Hour include Beijing’s Forbidden City, the Paris Eiffel Tower, London’s Buckingham Palace, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Sydney’s Opera House, Rio de Janeiro’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue on Sugar Loaf Mountain and our own Table Mountain.
This year, the V&A Waterfront will partner with WWF, the Western Cape Province and the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) to highlight environmental and energy saving issues.
Cape Town band Paige Mac will kick off the free entertainment programme at 6pm, followed by Matthew Mole at 7pm and the Mike Campbell Big Band at 8.30pm. The crowd will also be addressed by the premier, mayor, and a speaker from WWF.
Food trucks will be on site to provide food and refreshment for Earth Hour supporters, who can take a seat at tables set up in the area for them to enjoy their meal by solar generated light.
While parents relax under the stars, the free ‘See-Saw-Do’ area will keep youngsters entertained from 5pm onwards. The creative, educational workshop will see children building objects around recycling and environmental themes that tie in with Earth Hour’s cause.
V&A Waterfront CEO David Green said “For us Earth Hour is much more than symbolism, it’s a call to action for us all to make a positive difference, no matter how small the part we are playing appears to be. Since 2008 the V&A has invested over R65million in renewable energy resources and innovative infrastructure to achieve the maximum energy efficiency, water saving and waste management goals.”
Earth Hour was first initiated by the WWF in 2007. It has grown into the world’s largest environmental awareness initiative, attracting participation from over 41 910 cities and towns across 172 countries on seven continents, including around 10 400 landmarks, and reaching billions of people.
Support the tenth global Earth Hour at the Waterfront!
WHEN: Saturday, 19 March 2016 – 6pm: Programme starts
6pm: Paige Mac performs
7pm: Matthew Mole performs
8.30pm: Mike Campbell Big Band performs
8.30 to 9.30pm: Lights switched off
(Note: The children’s See-Saw-Do entertainment area is open from 5 to 8.30pm)
WHERE: Wooden Deck (in front of Hildebrand and Port Captain’s building and adjacent to Clock Tower Swing Bridge) V&A Waterfront, Cape Town 8001
COST: FREE to attend
INFO: V&A Info Centre E @waterfront.co.za or T 021 408 7600
