KUCHING – More than 55 students from the Swinburne Green and Running clubs of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus took part in the 6km run and candlelight vigil amid a deliberate blackout on campus in conjunction with the Earth Hour celebration last month.

For the second year in a row, the Swinburne Green and Running clubs collaborated to bring together members from both clubs as well as other environmentally friendly Swinburne students to raise awareness about the importance of conserving energy and reducing their individual carbon footprints on Earth. All around the world in their respective time zones, people conscious of the need to reduce energy switched off their lights for at least one hour during this event.

Students preparing the Earth Hour pledge.

On their return from the 6km run, the students gathered in front of Block G building to prepare a pledge to care for the Earth, and to etch out the shape of ‘60+’ with candles symbolising the 60 minutes or more when lights are switched off across the world.

Swinburne Green Club Advisor Christina Yin remarked that it was not enough to switch off the electricity for just 60 minutes on one day each year, but she hoped that the action would raise staff and students’ concern for the planet and would create impact by getting more people to be aware of the cause and to practise environmentally-friendly behaviours and lifestyles every day. Meanwhile, Green Club committee member Justin Kuek opined that lighting up the candles was the most memorable part of the event.

“When we lit up the candles and switched off all the lights, it reminded us to take conscious efforts in saving the earth even if it’s only for one minute (60 seconds), an hour (60 minutes) or even for a whole two months (60 days),” said Kuek.

Running Club President Bryan Hon concurred that the main reason for supporting Earth Hour is to highlight global sustainability issues, adding that the club members not only get to support the cause but also able to establish new friendships with members of the Green Club. Club Advisor Michael Lee pointed out that the planet belongs to all of us and it is our responsibility to make this earth a better place to live in.

Swinburne’s Sarawak campus is the highest ranking international university in Borneo based on the inaugural Asia-Pacific University Ranking 2017 by Times Higher Education (THE). It offers foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate studies in business, engineering, science, information and communication technology (ICT), and design.

For more information about Swinburne’s Sarawak campus, visit the university’s website (www.swinburne.edu.my), Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).