Earth Hour is a worldwide movement to encourage the conservation of energy and limited resources.

The event is held on the last Saturday of March. This year it takes place on Saturday, March 30, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Thousands of people and businesses celebrate the event by shutting down most, if not all, electronic appliances in support of a healthier planet.

The movement originated in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, and is now organized by World Wildlife Fund.

In 2018, the Earth Day Network chose the campaign theme “End Plastic Pollution” to promote the regulation of international pollution.

This year is focused primarily on the drastic decrease in wildlife populations and the global warming phenomenon that affects animals.

Students are taking part in the tradition by developing different ways to conserve energy and better the health of our planet.

Junior Felicia Cunningham has taken a particular interest in global warming and how it affects animals.

“I feel bad for the polar bears,” Cunningham said. “They are starving. The glaciers are melting, causing the fish to migrate to different areas.”

According to Earth Reminder, the first Earth Hour accounted for a 10.2 percent reduction in the consumption of energy in Sydney.

The WWF focuses on climate change and loss of biodiversity in order to spark a drive of protection for what’s left of our Earth.

The group aspires to bring people together through their love of nature and everything it supplies us with.

The WWF’s current movement, #Connect2Earth, strives to raise awareness of the importance of nature in our lives.

Mrs. Leah Thomas, zoology and biology teacher, believes these holidays are important because they remind people to appreciate our Earth each and everyday.

“In class, I usually try to show a video called ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ on Earth Day and we talk about it after,” Thomas said.

Thomas explained that her classes usually don’t know much about the science behind environmental changes. Once she shows the video, they become quite interested in the topic.

“I have started taking my kids on a nature walk on Earth Day but also a walk with garbage bags in hand so we can pick up trash,” Thomas said. “My kids are always amazed at how much trash there is in just a small area, sadly.”