Lantern

A candle night event in Osaka supports lights-out initiatives of the Earth Hour campaign which aims to raise awareness of climate change issues. The Earth Hour campaign gives people a voice on the future of our planet and working together to create a sustainable low carbon future for our planet.

While Earth Hour was conceived by WWF and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, a small group of people in Japan have managed thousands of people to turn off their lights and use less electricity through the Candle Night Event since 2003.

Let's enjoy quality time with our family and friends while turning off the lights during Earth Hour. With a small candle lit in the dark, it is time to retrieve "connectedness" with people, nature and the planet.

Please note that candles are obviously not supposed to replace the electric lights during awareness-raising events like this, they are only part of the fun. Make sure that beeswax candles are used. Beeswax candles are smoke free, non-toxic and non-allergenic. They are also made of natural products, not petroleum-based materials, so they are effectively carbon neutral.

My eldest daughter bought this brass lantern on her flight to Osaka in 2005. Although she didn't buy it on the Candle Night event, this collectible reminds me that people in Osaka are front runners of the age.