Bin Mirza International lights a candle for the planet

On March 26, 2011 at exactly 8:30 pm, Bin Mirza International (BMI) joined hands with millions of people around the world to form a human chain around the globe by taking part in Earth Hour for the second consecutive year. By switching off all non-essential lights for 60 minutes, numerous individuals, countless businesses and government entities in the Sultanate and around the world collaboratively raised awareness on global warming issues that are thirsty for much needed attention. 

All BMI outlets have adopted a greener approach into their daily tasks and have gone beyond the hour by implementing numerous energy conserving practices. Napkins and paper bags at Nando’s, Second Cup and BreadTalk are all made up of 100% recycled material. Future plans include the installation of water filters to be attached to faucets in order to reduce water usage in the kitchens, in addition to the introduction of energy efficient light bulbs. 

“We at BMI strongly believe that each and every individual is responsible to protect the environment. Global warming is a serious concern which cannot be ignored and we must take action before it is too late. By sharing green tips and energy saving techniques, we have consciously strived to encourage our employees and customers to play their role as environmental champions. We are truly committed to going beyond the hour,” expressed Jannat Moosa, Marketing Director at Bin Mirza International. 

She added, “As we welcomed Earth Hour 2011, Nando’s, Second Cup and BreadTalk continued to function as usual while serving customers in a candle-lit ambiance. BreadTalk also served cupcakes that were especially designed for this occasion. Although our efforts represent a relatively small step globally, it is a giant step for BMI.”

This Earth Hour adopted a new message for its growing campaign, Beyond the Hour, and was employed to encourage organizations to incorporate energy saving practices into their everyday lives and help reduce energy consumption. 

The term “Earth Hour” was coined in 2006 to gain support and awareness on climate change and on March 31^st 2007, it was inaugurated in Sydney by approximately 2.2 million residents. With plans to make Earth Hour an international event, the initiative saw a gradual increase in the countries participating and gained maximum momentum in 2010 with a record of 128 countries taking part, making it the biggest global movement ever.