Earth Hour - 23rd March, 2013

A reminder to everyone to start preparing for Earth Hour 2013. Next Year Earth Hour will take place on the 23rd March. Now is the perfect time to set your "I will if you will challenges".

FINISHING IN STYLE IN THE PACIFIC

As the finale to Earth Hour 2012 the small South Pacific Island of Aitutaki made a great effort for its first year with support from Pacific Resort Hotel Group, Etu Moana and Koru Cafe all participating. Let us now take up the challenge to go past the hour in the year ahead.

The Last Place on Earth to Observe Earth Hour - the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands was the last place on earth to participate in Earth Hour 2012.

Here is a link to the video footage for Earth Hour 8:30pm from Aitutaki:

http://youtu.be/jSmv9arldjw

This video was shot at Pacific Resort Aitutaki who championed Earth Hour in the Cook Islands this year seeking support from government, local businesses and the community to make it happen.

The resort hosted a special evening for its guests and visitors including amazing food and a Cook Islands warrior fire dance show that started just after the lights went out between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

Earth Hour 2012 reaches its final destination...the Cook Islands

Earth Hour 2012 reaches its final destination on earth... the Cook Islands... lights are currently out across the Cook Islands in the South Pacific... guests at the multi-award winning luxury resort Pacific Resort Aitutaki are being treated to a special Earth Hour fire dance show (fire twirling) by local Cook Islands warriors... stay tuned for our Earth Hour video it is due for upload within an hour after the end of Earth Hour in the Cook Islands.

Lights Out in the Cook Islands for Earth Hour 2012...

10 minutes to go before Earth Hour reaches the Cook Islands the last place on Earth to observe Earth Hour 2012... dessert has been served at Pacific Resort Resort Aitutaki and the fire dancers are preparing to light up our beach once the lights go out...

Pacific Resort Hotel Group send special edition email newsletter to clients & guests

Pacific Resort Hotel Group (PRHG) yesterday sent a special edition email newsletter to all their clients and past guests to highlight the importance of Earth Hour. The newsletter provided information on Earth Hour 2012, how it all began and shared what the Cook Islands and PRHG have planned for Earth Hour this year. PRHG also encouraged readers to take action & to make their own personal commitment to go beyond the hour with a positive action for our environment in the year ahead.

Air New Zealand- Cook Islands assists with Earth Hour cause.

Air New Zealand in the Cook Islands has stepped up to assist with the global promotion of Earth Hour 2012 by displaying Earth Hour 2012 posters in their terminal at Rarotonga Airport for all departing passengers to see to think about on their return home. We thank them for their support.

Aitutaki to Look out for Earth Hour 2012 Posters

Thanks to Cook Islands Printing Service we now have A1 Earth Hour Posters to distributre around the Island of Aitutaki. Keep your eyes open and find out how you can participate.

In the Cook Islands there will be two Earth Hour Celebrations in 2012. In Rarotonga Earth Hour will be celebrated on Friday 30th March between 12.00 Noon and 1.00pm to help reduce the energy used by those businesses which would otherwise be closed on the 31st. On Aitutaki the International Earth Hour Celebrations will be held on the 31st between 8.30pm and 9.30pm and will be led by Pacific Resort Aitutaki who will have an early dinner for their guests followed by fire dancers after the lights go out.

Cook Islands now appears on the EarthHour Global Map.

Cook Islands has now been added to the EarthHour Global Map. Look us up and come and visit our blog. See you there!!

Etu Moana in Aitutaki joins Earth Hour 2012

The Etu Moana team have committed to supporting Earth Hour with a lights out on the 31st and will encourage all their guests to join in this important event. Great to have them on board.

The clock is ticking, what will you do?

Earth Hour 2012 Official Video

Koru Cafe on the Island of Aitutaki has notified that they will have a lights out for Earth Hour 2012.

Cook Islands Tourism Supports Earth Hour

Carmel Beattie CEO of Cook Islands Tourism Corporation has confirmed the Corporation's support for Earth Hour and will actively advocate other government departments for participation.

Cook Islands Printing Service Steps Up

Cook Islands Printing Service in Rarotonga have assisted with the provision of some important materials for Earth Hour, we acknowledge this with thanks.

Miranda Kerr - Earth Hour Ambassador

Story of Earth Hour shared with Hotel Team

The staff of Pacific Resort Aitutaki were given a presentation on Earth Hour today by the General Manager. The discussion focussed on the fragility of the marine environment in the Pacific and the importance of raising awareness of protecting our environment, he encouraged all of the team to share the message with their friends and religous or sporting groups and if they felt it was important to be sure to participate in this global initiative.    

Reaching out to Schools

Last week we made copies of the Pocoyo activity book and also emailed the soft version out to two of the Primary Schools on Aitutaki. I also took the opportunity to encourage the Principals to run some Earth Hour activities for the kids and hope they will do so, we will wait and see.

Earth Hour Dinner at Pacific Resort Aitutaki

Pacific Resort Aitutaki has committed to lights out on the 31st March and will also be encouraging its guests to participate. Dinner will be served early on that evening and will come to a close as Earth Hour 2012 begins. As the lights go out, the Fire Dancers will arrive and after the show guests will be able to enjoy their drinks by candlelight and marvell at the beauty of an unadulterated Pacific sky.

Aitutaki, Cook Islands

Mayor of Aitutaki commits Aitutaki to Earth Hour 2012

The Mayor of Aitutaki has committed the island to Earth Hour both for this year and the future. There will be a council meeting tomorrow where they will start planning activities. The Mayor said"

"As a small island in the Pacific we are highly aware of the influence of the climate on our future and applaud the Earth Hour initiative to raise awareness of this issue. The Pacific Resort Aitutaki is working as a facilitator for the program here on the island and we share their commitment to spreading the earth hour message to the people of Aitutaki".

Contacting the Newspapers

We contacted the Cook Islands news last week and shared the latest Earth Hour Press releases and invited them to support the cause. They are working on some articles to promote the event and are gathering information on all island happenings and will publish soon......watch this space http://www.cinews.co.ck/

The word is spreading

Since last week we started to contact local tourism operators on the Island of Aitutaki to seek support for Earth Hour 2012. So far only the Pacific Resort Aitutaki has signed up but we are hoping to have some others come on board soon and will keep you posted. Pacific Resort Aitutaki has also contacted all of its suppliers with an invitation for them to participate.

Cook Islands Earth Hour is back to stay !!!

Although Earth Hour dropped off the website last year it was still being followed by the people of Rarotonga, Cook Islands. This year it is back to stay ! Pacific Resort Hotel Group has accepted the challenge and our teams in Aitutaki and Rarotonga have signed on as Country contacts and are both actively working to join the independant  organisers and supportive institutions to ensure that Earth Hour 2012 goes beyond the hour and continues to grow every year.