Fiji first nation to switch off for Earth Hour

29 March 2008

© WWF SPPO 2008.

Fijian warrior lighting the torch for the paddles rowing in the dark for Earth Hour.

Fiji: Tonight, the tiny island nation of Fiji led the world in the fight against climate change. More than 370 cities, councils and towns around the world will be participating in this global event, but Fiji was the first nation where people and businesses from all over the country “switched off” for Earth Hour.

At 8pm Fiji time, hundreds of businesses and individuals from at least five main islands of Fiji switched off and showed the world that Fiji is ready and willing to take action on climate change. Other cities around the world will continue to switch off their lights as they reach 8pm local time.

Kesaia Tabunakawai, WWF South Pacific Programme Representative said,

“looking at the map of Fiji, the whole country seems to be supporting Earth Hour. Commitments for ‘lights off’ came from Taveuni, Savusavu, Labasa, Levuka, Nausori, Suva, Sigatoka, Denarau, Lautoka, Lami, Kadavu and Nadi to name just a few.”
“Even the President’s village, Viseisei - where the first indigenous people landed on Fiji - ‘switched off’ for Earth Hour.»

The support from over 200 businesses and many individual households, coupled with the urging from Interim Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama’s to the people of Fiji to support Earth Hour made Fiji the first nation to switch off for Earth Hour.

Fiji is a small Pacific nation consisting of over 300 islands. Fiji’s contribution to the main cause of climate change, carbon emissions, is very small, but Fiji and other Pacific countries are facing more impacts from climate change than larger nations.

Businesses and individuals around Fiji showed their commitment to Earth Hour and to fighting the impacts of climate change:

Looking at the map of Fiji, the whole country seems to be supporting Earth Hour

Kesaia Tabunakawai, WWF South Pacific Programme Representative

Anil Dutt, Manager of Focus on Pacific Travel in Navua, said, “Fantastic idea and I think we should do more. It is about time something like this was done about climate change in Fiji”.

Jennifer Perreux, General Manager of Matava Resort, Kadavu, said, “We’re very happy to take part in Earth Hour, and as one of Fiji’s premier Eco-resorts we encourage other tourism-based companies to get involved and to take part in similar initiatives”

Mr Vinal Vasram of Govinda InterNet Café, Labasa said, “We’re really excited to take part in Earth Hour, Labasa is a small town in Fiji but we’re hoping to have a big impact. We will be closing shop early and switching off all lights, all power and all computers – they won’t even be left on standby mode!”

© WWF SPPO 2008. Fiji Takia club paddlers row out from the Suva harbour foreshore to release candles to mark Earth Hour.

Ms Collin McKenny, Owner of Lomalagi Resort Savusavu and Secretary, Savusavu Tourism Association said “When I saw a story about Earth Hour and saw that the tiny island nation of Fiji was ranked tenth in the world in terms of people taking part, I got really excited and emailed all my contacts at the Savusavu Tourism Association and all my personal contacts and just said “okay everybody, let’s do this!””

PM Bainimarama said “Our environment is our future and caring for our environment is everyone’s responsibility.”

Commodore Bainimarama said that by showing support and observing Earth Hour we will be playing our part to protect our environment and safeguard our future and thus helping to build a better Fiji.

Cities around the world are showing a commitment to reducing climate changing carbon emissions by switching off all non-essential lights between 8 and 9pm tonight. Fiji and Christchurch in New Zealand were the first participants in the world to switch off on the 29th March, 2008.

Editors note:

  • WWF is only known as WWF or WWF, global conservation organization.
  • Fiji's 12 commercial and two non commercial radio stations, national television and one of the print media organisations have joined hands to tackle climate change with WWF, global conservation organisation. Partners include 2day FM, Bula FM, FM 96,Hope FM, Legend FM, Mix FM, Radio Fiji 1 (Fijian), Radio Fiji 2 (Hindi), Radio Fiji Gold, Radio Mirchi, Radio Navtarang, Radio Sargam, Viti FM together with Fiji Television and Fiji Sun.
  • Climate change is often referred to as global warming
  • Some of the cities participating include - Atlanta, San Francisco, Phoenix, Bangkok, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense, Manila, Suva, Chicago, Tel Aviv, Toronto, Lautoka and Christchurch.
  • Find out more about Earth Hour, international participation in the event and tips on how to reduce your individual carbon emissions

For further information:

Jyotishma Rajan Naicker, Climate Change Campaigner, WWF South Pacific Programme, t +679 331 5533, m +679 941 7127

Ashwini Prabha, Communications Coordinator WWF South Pacific and Earth Hour, t +679 331 5533, m +679 9268 016

Kim Beddoes, Earth Hour event coordinator, t +679 331 5533, m +679 9908 750