A city design agency is putting the spotlight on an international campaign and aiming to plunge Lincoln into darkness to raise awareness of climate change.
Optima Graphic Design Consultants on West Parade in Lincoln wants people to join in the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Earth Hour on Saturday 28th March.
As the name suggests, Earth Hour will be a global event. When the clock hits 8.30pm across the world, the WWF and Optima want people to turn off all non-essential lighting and electrical appliances for 60 minutes.
Optima, which has worked with the WWF since 2000, has produced a range of T-shirts for the charity to encourage people to sign-up for Earth Hour.
“The first Earth Hour was staged in Australia in 2007, when 2.2 million people in Sydney turned off their lights for 60 minutes” explains Simon Shaw, Managing Director of Optima. “It was such a success and captured the imagination of so many people that last year the WWF’s initiative was repeated in 370 cities across 35 countries. Millions of people turned off their lights and appliances for an hour to show how concerned they were with climate change.
“This year, Earth Hour is going global. We’ve worked closely with the WWF on everything from packaging and point of sale through to brochures. Late last year we were asked to produce a range of promotional T-shirts for this year’s Earth Hour campaign, which people can buy and there is also a range of candles that people can light so that they don’t have to sit in the dark.
“As we are so closely associated with the World Wildlife Fund we said we would try and raise awareness in our area and want people in Lincoln and the county as a whole to get involved. It’s just 60 minutes but the effect of turning off all non-essential lights for an hour will last a lot longer.”
As well as designing and producing the T-shirts Mr Shaw and his team have embarked on a campaign asking Optima’s clients, suppliers and associates as well as public bodies and local landmarks to lend their support and is in the process of setting up a special page on the company’s website. Every organisation committing to turn off their lights during Earth Hour will have their logos displayed on www.optimadesign.co.uk/earthhour.
Iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff are already committed to Earth Hour 2009 and Optima is hoping many local attractions will participate as well.
“People and businesses in Lincoln have a great opportunity to join this global campaign to help the environment by simply doing nothing,” adds Simon. “It’s almost unheard of – making a positive contribution and statement by simply doing nothing. I’m hoping that pubs and entertainment venues will light candles instead of having their lights on, that some of Lincoln’s most recognised landmarks will turn off their lights and that everyone who works for or with Optima will spend an hour in the dark or enjoying candle light.”
As well as reducing global warming, the initiative also offers a financial incentive. Marina Rische is the seamstress who has worked on all of Optima’s WWF T-shirts.
Marina was so impressed with the idea of switching off non-essential electricity for an hour in her shop that she’s introduced the practice every day.
“It’s amazing! I never thought that just turning my equipment off at the socket during my lunch break when I leave the shop would have such a dramatic effect,” says Ms Rische. “Last quarter I saved £70 which is a third of my bill! For me, Earth Hour now takes place every day and I hope that other people will join in the campaign on Saturday 28th March and then continue to switch off for 60 minutes a day. If we can make savings like that in a small shop, just think how much money large businesses could save. It would make such a difference to the planet and their utility bills – which can’t be bad given the recession and rising cost of utilities.
“I’ve been so impressed with the savings at work, that we now unplug everything in our home before we go to bed and we’re looking forward to seeing the savings.” Ms Rische admits: “It will be my 47th birthday on 28 March, there will be so many candles on my cake that we probably won’t need to turn the lights back on!”
To join Optima’s campaign visit www.optimadesign.co.uk/earthhour For further information about Earth Hour and links to buy the T-shirts and candles visit www.earthhour.org.
-ENDS-
Issued on behalf of Optima by Lava. For further information contact Matt or Lindsey at Lava on 01522 842 800 / matt@lavapr.co.uk / lindsey@lavapr.co.uk
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Notes to Editors
1. The mission of WWF is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:
· conserving the world’s biological diversity
· ensuring that the use of renewable resources is sustainable, and
· promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
2. WWF Earth Hour T shirts are ‘Earth Positive’ and made from 100% organic, fairly traded cotton, ethically manufactured in a carbon neutral factory with a low water footprint. They are printed using water-based inks by a Soil Association certified printer. The swing tags are 100% recycled, the poly bags are bio-degradable and no air freight is used in shipping.
3. Earth Hour candles have 30 hours burning time. They are made from sustainably produced palm and soya plant wax. Measures height 4cm and diameter 7cm.
4. Optima Graphic Design Consultants Ltd was established in 1995 and currently employs 15 members of staff at its central Lincoln studios. The company’s client list includes The University of Lincoln, The Lincolnshire Showground, Liverpool University, The World Wide Fund for Nature, Branston, The KBSA, Denby, Ecole Internationale de Geneve, Lincolnshire County Council, City of Lincoln Council and British Gypsum. Optima is also currently working on the launch of the new innovation centre in Lincoln – The Think Tank.
