Earth Hour: Power down for 60 minutes on March 28

Earth Hour, what is that?

During Earth Hour, citizens of the world are asked to turn off their power for one hour, starting at 8:30 p.m. local time, in a symbolic stance against global warming.

The following report is from the Seattle Times:


On March 28, if the lights go off in your Cape Town hotel or, close to home, a Seattle hotel restaurant switches to candles, do not be alarmed. It's not an electrical-grid meltdown but a global show of support.

During Earth Hour, citizens of the world are asked to turn off their power for one hour, starting at 8:30 p.m. local time, in a symbolic stance against global warming.

The World Wildlife Fund started the event two years ago in Sydney, with 2.2 million people and thousands of businesses going dark. The next year, more than 400 cities on all seven continents participated. Some high-wattage landmarks even got involved, including the Sydney Opera House and, in New York, the Coke billboard in Times Square and the Empire State Building.

For 2009, so far nearly 1,200 cities — including Chicago, Guatemala City, Vancouver, B.C., Mumbai and Bangkok — in 80 countries have signed on. Group organizers aim for 1 billion people to flick the switch, an achievement they hope to present at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held in Copenhagen this year.

Some cities and travel businesses are turning the statement into a celebration.

In Seattle, the Fairmont Olympic hotel will host a candlelit dinner in its luxury Georgian restaurant. In Melbourne, the Australian city will host a people-pedal-powered concert. In Athens, a conductor will lead a percussion circle as the Acropolis dims its lights.

Want to join in on the road? Kill the hotel-room lights and TV. Switch from plug to battery at the Internet cafe. Details: www.voteearth2009.org.


Here are additional reports about this story:

Misericordia group promoting Earth Hour 2009


Misericordia University’s new environmentally focused student group, Cougars for Change, is leading campus efforts to participate in a world-wide initiative to draw attention to responsible energy use and global warming. The event, Earth Hour 2009, is expected to have nearly 1 billion participants world-wide turn off all non-essential lights for one hour, beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. The time was chosen to coincide with the spring equinox when most places around the world are suitably dark. The group is working to have all non-essential lights turned off on campus. They are planning an outdoor event during the hour, including an acoustic open microphone night featuring music, poetry readings and a performance by the Drama Club. The students are also planning to hold Ultimate, glow-in-the-dark, Frisbee and football games, and to set up a variety of booths offering information on ways to go green.


Mark your calendar for Earth Hour


Have you heard of the "Earth Hour" project? It's an international idea, promoted by the World Wildlife Fund, to expand awareness of climate change. At 8:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, everyone is asked to turn off their lights for one hour. The effort is to create a "wave of participation."

More than 1,000 cities and towns in 80 countries - from Paris to Las Vegas - had signed up by March 12. Although no one expects these communities to go completely dark, residents should get a rare view of the night sky as dusk ends around 9 p.m., a welcome side effect.


You can discuss Earth Hour 2009 at this link: ATS