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Skateboarder Levi Hawken has lent his support to Earth Hour 2013 by challenging New Zealanders to switch to reusable drink bottles and coffee cups.

In a YouTube clip the ‘Nek minnit’ video star says he often sees people dropping litter and plastic bottles in the street. “They go in the drain and they end up in the ocean. Nek minnit… dirty ocean”.

The new video is part of Earth Hour’s ‘I will if you will’ campaign, where people from around the world dare others to go beyond the hour and take positive action for the environment. International figures as diverse as supermodel Miranda Kerr, actress Jessica Alba, British pop band McFly and Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naidoo have posted ‘I will if you will’ videos on YouTube.

If 500 people commit to drink from reusable bottles and coffee cups Hawken says he will film a skate video on the streets of Auckland. The popular skater will also lead an Earth Hour ‘roll-out’ BMX and skate event through the Auckland CBD on Saturday 23 March. The public can get involved via an Instagram photo competition of the roll-out.

Auckland ‘roll-out’ event organiser, Ben Sheeran, said: "By riding in the streets, skaters, cyclists and BMX'ers are seeing the rubbish first-hand that those of us driving through the city never notice. I am stoked that these riders are not only doing the rest of us a favour by using a sustainable form of transport, but are taking the lead in trying to reduce the waste that pollutes our city, ocean and planet".

Earth Hour’s YouTube platform is open to the public; anyone can dare the world to save the planet.

The Body Shop is supporting Earth Hour’s ‘I will if you will’ campaign with action stations in 27 stores nationwide. The company has pledged to plant 500 trees if 400 of their customers pledge to take part in Earth Hour by switching off the lights at 8.30pm on Saturday 23 March.

Seventeen year old Rachel Cottam has promised ‘not to talk for one whole week’ if 100 people attend her Earth Hour acoustic concert in Selwyn. Rachel encourages others to get involved: "Earth Hour is an awesome event and ‘I will if you will’ is the greatest way to promote it and inspire others to make a difference in their communities and internationally.”

To view and accept local and international challenges, or make your own, visit Youtube.com/earthhour.

Earth Hour 2013 will take place at 8.30pm – 9.30pm on Saturday 23 March

Watch Levi’s video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK0kADpprFA

Watch Rachel’s challenge here: http://www.youtube.com/earthhour?x=%2Fchallenges%2F5710

Watch Jessica’s challenge here: http://ehour.me/ehhonest

See the Earth Hour 2013 Official Video at www.ehour.me/2013ViD

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© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>