8DiscoverNEWSEarth Hour UBDEarth Hour is an annual international event created by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), which started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating, and this global event has only grown in magnitude since, with over 128 countries and territories joining the global display of climate action for Earth Hour 2010.This year, Earth Hour 2012 was organized to be held on 31 March with the slogan of “I will, if you will”, and it garnered the support and involvement of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), making UBD one of the few million institutions taking part in Earth Hour 2012. Ten days before Earth Hour UBD, UBD started a ‘ten day video campaign’ before 31 March, challenging students all over Brunei to do something environmental. The challenge video was also aired on the Earth Hour Brunei’s official website as well as YouTube to further promote the cause of doing something for the environment for more than just an hour.Earth Hour UBD took place on a Saturday, 31 March 2012 at the IBM centre, Universiti Brunei Darussalam. The opening ceremony started with a recital of the Do’a followed by a welcoming speech by the guest of honor, Dr. Haji Ramlee Haji Tinkong, the Dean of Students.After all the formalities, the launching of Earth Hour UBD commenced at 8.30pm and lights in UBD were switched off for an hour. In that one hour, all participants held glow-in-the-dark sticks and enjoyed activities such as face-painting. Participants also put their signatures on a banner as a pledge to become more dedicated and to play their part in conserving the environment.Earth Hour UBD 2012 was organised and initiated by an association under the UBD Student Council, known as the Executive of International Relations and Sustainability Resources, in collaboration with the larger university community and various affiliated clubs such as the Student Community Outreach Team (SCOT) and the UBD Volunteer and Charity Club (UVC).
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