Energy Saving News
Earth Hour - Saturday 8:30pm
Saturday, March 27, at 8.30pm locally but all around the globe people will recognise the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Earth Hour 2010 by turning off lights and other appliances for one hour, it is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community. A call to stand up, to show leadership and be responsible for our future.
Since its inception three years ago, Earth Hour has captured the world's imagination, becoming a global phenomenon. Last year, for Earth Hour 2009 nearly one billion people in 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents turned out.
This year a record 120 countries and territories are taking part in what is set to be the greatest climate change event ever. Over 1,700 cities and towns across the globe will switch off lights at 8.30pm this Saturday – 27 March 2010 – to call for action on climate change.
All seven continents of the world are signed up to take part in this year’s Earth Hour. The latest pledge of support comes from the research team at Davis Station – a remote scientific outpost in Antarctica where the effects of global warming are most evident.
New Zealand's Chatham Islands will be the first territory to start Earth Hour with the South Pacific Island of Samoa closing the sweep across the globe 24 hours later.
Countries and regions involved for the first time include the remote island nation of Madagascar, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Paraguay, Ecuador and the US Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
China’s most significant historic landmark, the Forbidden City in Beijing, will turn off its lights in a dramatic display of action on global warming from the world’s most populous nation.
The Forbidden City heads up a list of some of the world’s most iconic landmarks that have confirmed their participation in Earth Hour in recent days including,
- Italy’s Trevi Fountain in Rome and Leaning Tower of Pisa,
- Big Ben and Houses of Parliament in London,
- Edinburgh Castle in Scotland,
- India Gate and Red Fort in Delhi,
- Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe,
- Bosphorous Bridge in Istanbul
- Hohensalzburg Castle in Salzburg, and
- Independence Angel in Mexico City.
They join a comprehensive list of the world’s great man-made marvels and natural wonders, including the Eiffel Tower, Brandenburg Gate, Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Empire State Building, London Eye, Table Mountain, Christ the Redeemer statue, Sydney Opera House and the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, which will plunge into darkness for Earth Hour contributing to a historic moment in the climate landscape.
The WWF encourages individuals, organisation and businesses participating in "Earth Hour" to:
Join hundreds of millions of people around the world by turning off non-essential lighting between 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. local time.
Unplug appliances and phone charges when they aren't in use. If they're plugged in, they're drawing energy and costing you money.
Change out all your light bulbs to energy-efficient CFLs, and make sure your dishwasher and washing machine are always full before you run them.
Update your status on social media networking sites to reflect that you will be taking part in "Earth Hour" and encourage friends to join the movement.
Take photos of how you spent the hour and upload them to the "Earth Hour" Flicker page
Thursday 25th March 2010
