De La Salle University-Dasmariñas is once again joining the world in observing Earth Hour, wherein for one entire hour every year, countries switch off their lights to reduce carbon footprint in a massive way. This year’s theme #Connect2Earth: “Reduce, Reuse, Change the Way We Live” underscores the importance of nature and why there is a need to switch off the use of plastics that pollute our oceans and threaten marine life.

“In that one hour of darkness on the 30th of March from 8:30-9:30PM, we would like to appeal to the Lasallian community to not just switch our lights off but to have a deep personal reflection on our current lifestyles. Our environmental actions today will determine our fate in the future,” Campus Sustainability Office Director Joseph Dinglasan said in his letter to the community.

“It is a known fact that Mother Earth can heal itself. People need nature to survive. Let us always remember that ecological stewardship is a shared responsibility, not just by an individuals or groups, but rather by all the stakeholders,” he added.

DLSU-D has been actively participating in the Earth Hour since 2011 and has implemented sustainable measures to adhere to its ideal. The University has restricted the use and entry of styrofoam (expanded polystyrene), plastic bags and plastic drinking straws since 2005. It has also joined the zero waste movement in support of the reduce, reuse, recycle objective of Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000) among its many policies and measures to maintain a sustainable campus.