[EARTH HOUR 2011] Rio de Janeiro

It is the third year that the Rio de Janeiro is the city’s official Earth Hour in Brazil, but the thrill of watching the lights out in the wonderful city is always unique. This year, the global movement in the city was even more special: first, the locals were able to attend a public event with music and joy in the square in front of the Arcos da Lapa, one of the postcards of the city that had its lights erased.

Earth Hour 2011

Even before the lights go out, the singer Toni Garrido has cheered the nearly 3000 people who attended the event, sponsored by WWF-Brazil with the support of Coca Cola Brazil, TIM and Bank of Brazil, to show his concern with the changes climate.

After the show, at the invitation of WWF-Brazil, all present fell silent and became a thrilling one-minute silence in tribute to victims of floods in Brazil earlier this year, and that greatly affected the state of Rio de Janeiro, and the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan

The silence was broken by the speech of Secretary General of WWF-Brazil, Denise Hamú, who thanked everyone for attending the event. And then the municipal secretary of Conservation of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Osorio, Vice President of Human Resources Management and Sustainable Development Bank of Brazil, Rocha Robson, Director of Corporate Communications for Coca-Cola Brazil, John Domenech Oneto, the Director of Communication and Sustainability of TIM, Mauricio Bacellar, Secretary of Environment of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Minc, and Environment Minister, Izabella Teixeira, along with Hamú, make the gesture that is turning tradition on the last order week of March, they turned off the “big switch” symbolic of the city lights.

The dark Lapa officiated at the gesture: it’s Earth Hour 2011. Then, they were in the dark at Copacabana beach, Arpoardor, Sugar Loaf, the Church of the Rock, the Little Castle of Fiocruz, the Monument Pracinhas and the Jockey Club.

“Today Brazil is joining more than one hundred countries around the world to show the necessity of caring for the planet. The protection of the environment and the Brazilian people’s life can change the current reality of degradation.’s Up to you and all of us,” Izabella said Minister Teixeira.
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Samba animated Earth Hour – Soon after the lights went out, took the joy with the sound of drums of batteries of four samba schools of the city – Mangueira, Portela, Union Island and Rio Grande – Rio de Janeiro and samba during one hour.

“Today is the day of joy and sorrow can not even think of coming” sang the locals. And Simone Pessanha accompanied the choir. “The event is very beautiful. Initiatives like Earth Hour are very important to draw people’s attention to the environmental issue,” he said.

Even the vendors that have joined the bohemian movement, literally wore the shirt and the Earth Hour lights out of their stalls, replaced by lanterns and candles. “The least I can do is turn the lights out of my tent and I’m doing. I tell you we’re too cool to work in the dark,” said marketer Edeíldo Francisco.

And with a mesmerizing light, this time inside inflatable clothes, the dance company in Niteroi Association for the Disabled – Andef gave a performance that inspired and moved further event.

At 21:30, the battery of the schools stopped playing, but the climate of Earth Hour not faded. WWF-Brazil invites the Rio de Janeiro and all municipalities that have joined the movement to go beyond Earth Hour and work to make their cities more environmentally sustainable.

“We are delighted with the success of Earth Hour in Rio many people came to Lapa to participate in this movement that happens throughout the world demonstrating his concern for the planet. In addition, many other people who were in the neighborhood saw the party and received the message that you need to do their part against global warming. This is very important, “said Denise Hamu, secretary general of WWF-Brazil.

They participated in Earth Hour in the Arcos da Lapa:

Carlos Alberto de Mattos Scaramuzza, superintendent of conservation at WWF-Brazil: “I would not want to live in a world without nature, without clean water, no trees … So I invite you to rethink your actions and join us in quest for a more nature. “

Sergio Besserman, director of WWF-Brazil: “Earth Hour is a magical moment that unites two of the most fundamental dimensions of contemporary civilization: climate change and global connection for freedom.”

Carlos Osorio, Municipal Secretary for Conservation of Rio de Janeiro: “We are proud to host Rio de Janeiro Earth Hour. The city has the ambition to be a reference point for sustainability in the country and that’s a start. After all, nature gave our city a great wealth and it gives us great responsibility. “

Robson Rocha, vice president of People Management and Sustainable Development in the BB: “Sometimes we forget to take care of our home and we are called to reflect on this. This is a time to reflect and make sure to leave a better Brazil for our children and grandchildren “

John Domenech Oneto, Director of Corporate Communications for Coca-Cola Brazil: “Earth Hour is a symbolic act and emphasizes the need to act each day by day. Coca-Cola is delighted to participate in this event”

Mauricio Bacellar, Communication and Sustainability TIM: “See that crowd participating in Earth Hour makes every effort to mobilize the WWF-Brazil, TIM and other sponsors are worth it. Preserving our greatest asset, which is Earth depends on mobilization and that is what makes Earth Hour “

Carlos Minc, Minister of Environment of the State of Rio de Janeiro: “Brazil has made great examples of what you can do a lot for a better planet by reducing deforestation and other actions. Now everyone must do their part by recycling, cycling , turning out the lights and putting out the waste “

Toni Garrido: “It’s nice to participate in this struggle to make the environment save our lives. Make no mistake: without the environment, we will not survive”

Cris Noronha, education coordinator, who went to Arco da Lapa to participate in Earth Hour: “The event is very nice and exciting. Working with education in Minas Gerais and I will definitely carry this message of Earth Hour to my students.

Nilo Sérgio, master battery Portela: “For Portela is a great honor to participate in Earth Hour and help Brazil to become aware that the planet needs help. There in Madurai (district where the headquarters of the school) is all deleted, including the mall Madureira.

Leila da Lapa, marketer of the Fair Night Lapa Legal: “For us it is very nice to do our part. Lapa is very nice and is so good that younger people are starting to think that has to take care of the planet.”

by Ligia Paes de Barros, WWF-Brazil