Earth Day Philippines this 2021 is being marked with new Liter of Light giant solar artworks at the University of the Philippines Diliman track oval and BGC Arts Center bearing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) logos.
The Filipino-born global grassroots solar lighting movement is celebrating International Mother Earth Day on April 22, 2021, with two large-scale solar artworks made of solar lamps hand-built by volunteer solar engineers of the award-winning Light it Forward movement.
The Liter of Light says the giant solar artworks celebrate Filipinos as the “light to the world” and climate heroes while showing how the Philippines continues to play a pivotal role in achieving UN SDGs.
The United Nations marks its 75th Anniversary this year. The Philippines was one of the original signatories of the charter.
Liter of Light first revealed on the eve of Earth Day, April 21, its large-scale solar display of the UN SDG #2 logo for the Zero Hunger goal to achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
The Zero Hunger logo depicted by a warm bowl of food was set up by the Liter of Light team at the University of the Philippines Diliman Track Oval in Quezon City with the help of Dean Francis Carlos Diaz of the College of Human Kinetics.
The group will next reveal on Earth Day the solar artwork, featuring a tribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #7: Clean and Affordable Energy for All at the outdoor Sun Life Amphitheater at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) Arts Center in Taguig, Metro Manila.
The two installations are done in partnership with the Rotary Club of Makati Business District, D3830 – Philippines, Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative, First Gen Corp., and Management Association of the Philippines with collaborating institutions Bonifacio Arts Foundation, Inc. and Fort Bonifacio Development (FBDC) Corporation.
The Rotary Club of Makati Business District, D3830 – Philippines had previously partnered with the Liter of Light in setting up the UN SDG Wheel logo during Earth Hour on March 27.
The www.LightItForward.PH allows thousands of youth in the MetroManila to be able to participate in this Global event from the safety of their home by receiving a workshop package through messenger, then give 30 minutes to build a solar light by hand, which is then picked up to form the Public artwork of the SDG for the month.
“The United Nations declared 2021 as the start of a new Decade of Action. To mark this milestone, we want to show how the Philippines continues to play a pivotal role in achieving the UN SDGs,” says Illac Diaz, Founder of Liter of Light. “On this Earth Day, we remember that Filipinos are leading the way in restoring our earth. Even in the midst of this pandemic, we are shining a light on the opportunities and responsibility we each have to create the future we want.”
Each of the hand-built solar lights used in the installation was built by hundreds of ordinary citizens who have participated in the organization’s award-winning “LIGHT IT FORWARD” Challenge. Inspired by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, LIGHT IT FORWARD has given Filipinos new ways to connect for good by inviting them to build solar lights for communities without electricity from the safety of their homes. Since July 2020, this pioneering digital campaign has empowered tens of thousands of families in energy-poor and disaster-stricken communities across the country.
This is the latest in a series of large-scale solar installations that the Liter of Light has built since November 2020. This past March, one year after COVID19 forced the country and much of the world into lockdown, Liter of Light celebrated the efforts that continue to be made to solve big challenges around the world, pioneering its participative solar artworks with Barangay San Lorenzo in Makati City. Most recently, the organization created a large-scale replica of the UN SDG wheel, representing each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, in partnership with Makati City Mayor Abby Binay and the Rotary Club of Makati Business District.
For the Light It Forward initiative, Liter of Light Executive Director says, “For thousands of children who have been forced to stay at home for the past year, we wanted to empower them to continue to make a difference from home, even in the midst of this pandemic. They are our hope to create the sustainable future we all want.
The Liter of Light organization is behind the large-scale solar artworks in the country including the Philippine flag giant solar light display on Bonifacio Day, the world’s largest Jose Rizal solar portrait in Luneta Park, the World’s Largest Solar Rosary for Healing, and the Quincentennial Commemorations of the Philippines’ 500 years logo solar art installation.
This article was first published on GoodNewsPilipinas.com. To learn more about the Liter of Light and the Light It Forward campaign visit the website here, the Liter of Light on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
