Earth Hour: Turn off lights at 8:30 Saturday night

MANILA, Philippines—Turn off your lights. Light a candle in your window and say a prayer.

Several Catholic bishops on Friday urged the faithful to join the celebration of Earth Hour on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. by doing these simple gestures to allow Mother Nature to have a much needed hour-long break.

“I encourage all of you to join the Earth Hour [tonight]. Let us switch off all our lights and other electrical equipment so that Mother Nature can take a rest,” said Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle over Church-run Radio Veritas Friday.

He underscored the importance of abstaining from electrical consumption to help preserve and protect the environment. “One of our responsibilities as good followers of Christ is to take proper care of Mother Nature,” reminded Tagle.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo echoed the appeal, saying that taking care of the environment was an important obligation of mankind.

“I encourage you to participate on Saturday … in celebration of Earth Hour in a special way,” said Quevedo.

“I ask you to please light candles and place them in your windows so that this will show your neighbors that there is an important obligation for us to protect our environment,” said the newly appointed cardinal.

He also urged families to pray together during the activity for the protection and preservation of the environment.  “During that time, one can pray together as a family so that our environment will be protected even more,” he said.

Several other prelates from disaster-stricken areas also declared their support for the observance of Earth Hour. Among them were Palo Archbishop John Du, Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez and Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso.

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