Every year on the last Saturday of March, millions of people around the world turn off their lights at 8:30 p.m. to show their commitment to preserve our planet and to raise awareness about protecting nature. In our busy daily lives, we often tend to take for granted the beauty of nature and all the services and resources it provides us. With more forests being cut down for city development and better infrastructure, biodiversity has been declining at an alarming rate which increases the risk of disease outbreaks such as COVID-19. It's more important than ever that we reflect upon our relationship with nature and think about what we can do to better protect our forests, oceans and wildlife. 

Besides turning off light on March 27 at 8:30 p.m. this year, there are other ways to participate in Earth Hour.

1. Eating by candlelight

By taking a moment to light a candle on your dinning table, you will add some charm and softness to your dinning experience. Candlelight dinning can help you relax and create a charming atmosphere to spend an evening with your family or friends. So light a candle, slow down and take your time to have a meal, appreciate the edible gifts sent by nature. 

2. Take a bath and reflect 

Take a warm bath and at the same time, think about what you have done to improve the environment and what else you can do to be more nature friendly. Set environmental goals and brainstorm ways to achieve them. 

3. Take actions beyond Earth Hour

Earth Hour lasts just about an hour. But we can do more to care for nature in our daily lives. For example, you can grow more plants in your living spaces or create a compost bin to reduce food waste.

If you have more ideas about ways to help our planet, please share with us at nature@cgtn.com.

(Cover image via CFP)