On March 23, 2013 Royal Resorts will be participating in Earth Hour, the global campaign organized by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) to draw attention to the terrible effects of global warming, pollution, deforestation, loss of species, and other environmental challenges, and the urgent need to protect the one thing that unites us all, the Planet. Everyone has the power
to change the world we live in. This year, 152 countries, over 7,000 cities and hundreds of millions of people are participating in the world’s largest initiative for the environment. Why not join them? If we stand united we can achieve more.
An important Part of Royal Resorts’ Green Initiatives
This is the fourth year running that Royal Resorts has observed Earth Hour. From 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., the lights will be turned off or dimmed around the resorts in areas where there is no risk to guests or staff. Candles and tiki torches will be used in the pool areas, gardens and in some of the restaurants.
Resort walkways will be illuminated and villa lighting will be unaffected, however, we invite all guests staying at the resorts to join us in observing Earth Hour by dimming the lights in their villas. Spend the hour on your villa terrace listening to the sound of the waves and the breeze rustling in the palms or gaze up at the heavens, you may even see a shooting star. Enjoy the sounds of nature, sadly, so often drowned out by the noise of our daily lives.
The Royal Haciendas
Earth Hour is all about sharing and collective consciousness and at The Royal Haciendas in the Riviera Maya guests are invited to enjoy a program of special Earth Hour events. The evening’s activities include an Earth Hour dinner at La Palapa del Sol, music and dance with the Fuego Maya group at 7 p.m., followed by an auction of Recycled Art made by The Royal Haciendas staff with all proceeds going to the Royal Resorts Foundation for its charitable causes at 8 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. the lights will be turned off and guests and staff will gather on the beach esplanade with candles to form the Earth Hour logo of 60+ and send a message of support and awareness to the world.
Royal Resorts employees who are not working on Saturday are also being encouraged to observe Earth Hour at home with their families and neighbors.
Earth Hour is the second environmental awareness event observed at The Royal Haciendas this week. On March 21, children joined staff in planting oleanders and ixoras in a new flowerbed next to Building H to mark International Forest Day.
Earth Hour, Get Involved in the “I Will If You Will” Campaign
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney when 2.2 million people and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour as a protest against climate change. The idea inspired the global community and this year, hundreds of millions of people from all walks of life in 152 countries and more than 7,000 towns and cities, in addition to governments, NGOs, companies, schools and other groups are taking part in Earth Hour. At 8:30 p.m. local time, the lights will go out across the world for one hour. Iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Brandenburg Gate, the Eiffel Tower, the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Table Mountain in Capetown and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai will go dark. Here in the Mexican Caribbean resorts, restaurants, malls and many other companies are following suit.
Yet Earth Hour is just the beginning. We should all take time to reflect on what we can do to go beyond Earth Hour. What changes can we make in our daily lives at home or in the workplace to protect the environment? Whether it’s recycling, saving electricity and water, switching to environmentally friendly cleaning products, tree planting and participating in a neighborhood park project, signing a petition to protect the ocean or supporting a larger company or citywide initiative, think about what you can do to make a difference. Join the I Will If You Will campaign and make your pledge. Our actions add up, just imagine what we can achieve if we work together.
Everyone has the POWER to change the world we live in
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Switch to energy saving bulbs and timers and turn off the lights when you leave the room.
- Unplug electrical appliances when they are not in use
- Install water-saving nozzles on all taps including showers
- Use chemical-free dish washing, washing powder, laundry and cleaning products
- Use environmentally friendly sun products
- Recycle, recycle, recycle!
- Buy products with the highest recyclability
- Stop using plastic bags; cloth bags are a great alternative
- Purchase organic clothing and clothes that are ethically made
- Compost food scraps and garden waste whenever possible
- Incorporate plants and trees that attract bees, butterflies and birds in your garden design
- Water the plants in the evening
- Grow your own herbs and vegetables using organic gardening techniques
- Avoid wasting food
- Consume more fruit and vegetables and less meat
- Buy certified organic or farmers markets produce
- Buy fair trade products and support sustainable and community development initiatives
Royal Resorts Protecting the Planet
A longtime supporter of conservation campaigns and sea turtle protection in the Mexican Caribbean, Royal Resorts® is always looking for ways to make more efficient use of natural resources, save water and electricity and to reduce its carbon footprint.
Royal Resorts is participating in the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative or MARTI. Founded by Amigos de Sian Ka’an, Conservation International and the Coral Reef Alliance, MARTI seeks to protect the world’s second longest coral reef through the implementation of better environmental practices to reduce pollution and minimize the impact of tourism on area ecosystems. Over 100 resorts and other companies in Cancun, Riviera Maya and Cozumel have signed up to this initiative and are working for change and to achieve green certification. MARTI has already certified all six of the Royal Resorts properties as being resorts with eco-friendly policies.
In 2012, The Royal Haciendas® in the Riviera Maya and The Royal Cancun® and The Royal Sands® in Cancún were also awarded the Rainforest Alliance Verified™ mark in recognition of their compliance with the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainability standards and their commitment to a role of environmental stewardship. The remaining resorts are working to achieve this goal in 2013.
