Earth Hour

Merely existing is not enough. Thank goodness—what a sad, impersonal world it would be if it were. Humans are social creatures—our need to build communities and work together for the greater good is what defines us as a species and is also the very definition of true joy. Earth Hour is a celebration of that spirit—it is a chance for people to make a statement that is at once personal, spiritual, communal and even, to some degree, political...But not a politics of left, right, green, red or blue; rather, it is a politics of politeness—It is a chance to say ‘I am willing to work for a better world.’ Even if the only act is turning off the light or the TV—turning down the heat or powering down the cell—walking instead of driving—it is a polite political act by being something small that we all do together. For one hour, we all say, ‘Yes, I want a better world, this is my contribution.’ Then, if we are lucky, at the end of that hour, as the lights come back on and the noise comes back up, we will all go forward with a new little spark—a smile, a little taste of truth. We will say, ‘You know what? That wasn’t so hard, in fact, it felt pretty good.’

the branch restaurant will celebrate Earth Hour with a candlelit, unplugged acoustic set featuring Ottawa’s Al Wood and Lindsay Pugh. You can also celebrate Earth Hour every day at the branch with our ongoing commitments to always choosing local foods, organic foods, compostable and recycled paper goods, biodegradable and non-toxic cleaning products and a general true belief in the importance of community. Thanks for being part of the change...

--Chef Bruce