WWF annually encourages people around the globe to switch off the lights from 8:30 pm for just one hour. For this year’s Earth Hour initiative, set to culminate on March 23, the international ecological organization has launched a series of programs relevant to the global effort. Along with inviting celebrities to support the initiative, WWF has unveiled a spin-off of its successful “I Will if You Will” effort and a new cross-continental “Earth Hour City Challenge” contest. There is also a standalone design project in the UK, launched by the creative environmental charity Do The Green Thing, to create posters for the upcoming event.
The official WWF website features loads of content dedicated to the upcoming event. Probably, the most engaging one is the “I Will if You Will” program, encouraging people from all around the globe to claim they would do various (sometimes, quite tough things) if others agree to take up green challenges. For this program, WWF has tapped activists, celebrities (Jessica Alba, Chris Will and Miranda Kerr) and even government figures (the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur). View the challenges here, on the “I Will if You Will” YouTube page. In 2012, WWF also invited people around the globe to vote for their cities in the “Earth Hour City Challenge” by showing the eco side of the megalopolises—one vote for a photo of green initiatives in the area. So far, 17 finalists of the first year of the initiative have been shortlisted, view them here.
Earth Hour is highlighted not only in WWF’s projects, but in works by green-minded creatives, too. Do The Green Thing is unveiling 23 custom-designed posters, designed to raise awareness of sustainability and green philosophy among British consumers. The visuals highlight the themes associated with green lifestyles and the dangers of aggressive consumerism. Most of the works are just inspirational pieces, but one poster serves a practical purpose, too. The one developed by designer Patrick Cox can be used by people, who want to give away their old stuff rather than send it to the landfill. The vibrant grass-green visual features “cut out” labels with phrases like “Still sounds great,” “Nearly vintage,” “Help yourself.” Old items with such green pieces of paper are sure to attract passers-by, who might be interested in taking some of the used things home.
Photo: Share poster by Patrick Cox, www.dothegreenthing.tumblr.com (click to enlarge)
Photo: The Same As Oil poster by Andrew Rae, www.dothegreenthing.tumblr.com, (click to enlarge)
Photo: Evil poster by Joe Stephenson, www.dothegreenthing.tumblr.com, (click to enlarge)
“We all have great books, music, clothes, even furniture that we’ve used and loved but just don’t need in our lives anymore. Rather than let them sit around, unused and unloved, we should give them to someone who will do something with them,” says the creator of the “cut out and share” poster.
Users can print it out at home or purchase one of the 23 limited editions printed on A3 FSC paper with sustainable ink. The ready-made posters are sold for £23 plus VAT, the proceeds are donated to the charity. The other posters show how to repurpose old stuff for something green, provide a sneak peek into the dreary post-green future and more.