Straight Talk : 60+ Earth Hour

Proof that high achieving teenagers are always keen on getting their environmental influence across – messages of 6 UAE youngsters who are making a difference…

It is often felt that in order to be a high achieving student, one needs to be academically-oriented, possess leadership abilities, be excellent speakers and be relevant in the social sphere. But the latest criteria (and perhaps the most important, considering the condition of our planet) is environmental awareness of these youngsters. To be truly high achieving, in addition to academic success and philanthropic gestures, one must also be a positive environmental influence. Here’s a message for Earth Hour from 7 students across the UAE.

Name: Rohan Kapur
Grade: 10
Achievements:
• 14th Regional Ambassador to the Middle East of Tunza Eco-Generation
• Founder – Serve The Earth
• Winner of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance
Message:
“On the auspicious environmental event of Earth Hour, we often see the logo ‘60+’ which indicates that rather than switching off our lights and appliances on just this one hour, awe should go beyond. Every little action or step that we take contributes to our Earth. When we recycle, we reduce production, thus minimizing energy consumption and hence decreasing CO2 emissions, which is the essence on which Earth Hour is based. I would encourage all readers to do their part in the same manner, to definitely follow the Earth Hour ‘mantra’ every year, during the hour, but this time to go further, to truly go beyond.”

Name: Nithia Mary Aisac
Grade: 12
Achievements:
• Core Committee Member – Green Flag Awarded OOS Eco Club
• Winner of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance
• Secretary – Down To Earth
Message:
“Earth Hour isn’t an ‘hour’ action. It goes beyond hours, days, years and so connecting different nations. To be a part of it, all we need to do is ‘switch the light off’. Earth Hour is our commitment to our planet. If we are the reason for climate change, it is up to us to solve the problem of climate change. And one such step is ‘Earth Hour’.”

Name: Raj Dhavalikar
Grade: 12
Achievements:
• Head Boy of OOEHS Sharjah (Boys)
• Former President of a Toastmasters Club based in Sharjah (TKMCE Gavel Club)
• Core Committee Member – Students for the Earth
Message:
“Our ailing Earth demands selfless service to save it from over exploitation and we, the youth, as future ambassadors of our planet, should realize our ethical obligations to do our bit for it by taking a step towards reducing our carbon emissions. Earth Hour is a great global initiative and I feel honoured to be a part of this worldwide movement.”

Name: Simran Vedvyas
Grade: 11
Achievements:
• Winner of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance
• Winner Sharjah Educational Excellence Award as Distinguished Student
• Winner of Diana International Award
Message:
“I understand the situation and crisis that the world is facing today with increased energy demands and depleting energy resources. The solutions and action to deal with the predicament are not enough. Some of us are convincing ourselves as we make resolutions towards a greener future but the results have to be more promising. By participating in Earth Hour in Dubai, we join to support international efforts which aim at minimising carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, and environmental pollution, providing sustainable solutions for global warming and climate change, as well as protecting the environment and preserving natural resources for generations to come.”

Name: Abhinav Singla
Achievements:
• President – Student Council of OOEHS Sharjah (Boys)
• 14th Regional Ambassador to the Middle East of Tunza Eco-Generation
• Founder – Clean Up Sharjah Campaign
Message:
“This Earth Hour let others not decide whether to create a difference or not, whether to protect the environment or not, whether to save millions of lives across the planet due to pollution or not, whether to care for the people who spend half their lives in darkness or not, YOU DECIDE! This Earth Hour take a pledge to involve eco-friendly habits in all that you do and make your way to become a true human being who cares for everyone around him and his Mother Earth.”

Name: Arushi Madan
Achievements:
• Winner of Diana International Award
• Winner of Sharjah Environmental Awareness Award
• 14th Regional Ambassador to the Middle East of Tunza Eco-Generation
Message:
“Earth Hour is about raising awareness on the need to save energy. We should go beyond Earth Hour and adopt such practices in our daily lives which contribute significantly to reducing energy and water wastage to secure a sustainable environment and protect natural resources for the coming generations. Every hour should be treated as Earth Hour and wastage should be minimized.”

Name: Swathy Sanjay Sindhu
Achievements:
• Head Girl – OOEHS Sharjah (Girls)
• President – Green Flag Awarded OOS Eco Club
• Founder – EcoLogically and Protect the Paws
Message:
“‘It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.’ said Aristotle Onassis. Energy was once the need of the hour and now it has brought the need for the hour. Earth Hour. The hour in a year when the 7 billion human inhabitants of Earth switch off in a frantic rush to save the planet. So we plan to rescue our damsel in distress by switching off our electrical appliance or just bulbs for one hour in one day in a year? Sure it might symbolize the need to save electricity, but other than that one hour, is it making a big difference to the consumption? It’s high time we realized that all this pomp and show is in vain and do something serious to save the planet. Let us join hands and go beyond the hour…our Earth deserves more than just 60 minutes a year.”