Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour is an initiative by WWF which is scheduled for Saturday 28th March 2009 at 8-30pm your local time. Individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world are being asked to turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour - to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate a commitment to finding solutions.

Some 1180 cities from 80 countries across the globe have already signed up and a great number of iconic landmarks will be plunged into darkness, including Nelson's Column in London, the Forth Bridge, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the Eiffel Tower, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town and the Sydney Opera House. 

To find out more and sign up to take part, check out the US site here, the UK site here, or do a Google for your local details.

Earth Hour originated in Australia in 2007. This video gives more background to the project:

Comments

[Liara Covert]

This meaningful initiative inspires people to become more aware and reduce general energy consumption in a more widespread way.

[Robin]

Hi there Simon - thanks for writing about this - I've been really slack and have seen mention of it but not investigated. Now I know what it is!

[AngelBaby]

I am in. I put a post up all about this. Thanks for reminding me!

Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby

[Marion]

We participated in Earth Hour last night. How peaceful it was, and how great it felt to look over the valley and see only velvety darkness, instead of bright lights of our neighbours, knowing we were all participating together!

[Simon]

Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment everyone. I've seen Earth Hour criticized for being 'a purely symbolic gesture' but of course that's exactly what it was intended to be: not a significant energy-saving exercise in itself but a show of willingness by millions of people to take the necessary action to do what is needed to address the global situation.

I'm glad to hear that it was so well supported in your part of the world, Marion. Glancing out of the window here during the hour, it just looked all lit up the same as normal. I guess you're closer to nature over there in your rugged terrain, so people are more connected to what's going on. I still think that a wholesale change in human consciousness is going to be needed if we're to 'wake up' in time to save ourselves, but that's no excuse for not making a start right now.

[air conditioning]

Great video. I really enjoyed this post thank you.

[pex tubing]

Earth Hour is usefulness show