pathways, March 2009
At 8.30pm (local time) on Saturday, March 28, millions of people from around the world will turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour - and cast their vote for action on climate change.
This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world's first global election, between Earth and global warming - switching off lights is a vote for Earth; leaving them on is a vote for global warming.
Organiser WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of one billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen later this year. This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard, according to WWF.
Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour.
In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome's Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.
In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of one billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote.
With still weeks to go before the globe switches off for Earth Hour, the number of cities and towns signed up to switch off exceeded the ambitious target of 1000 set by Earth Hour organisers.
By March 19, 1672 cities, towns and municipalities, 5119 organisations, 17,128 businesses across 80 countries had signed up, with more coming on board every day.
The historic event will see millions of people gathered in parks, streets, town squares and homes around the world to witness the lights going out on iconic landmarks and city skylines, while taking in the atmosphere of some unique Earth Hour events.
In Sydney, every ferry in the city's famous harbour will sound its horn at precisely 8.30pm to herald the beginning of Earth Hour in Australia, while in Melbourne a people-pedal-powered concert will be underway at Federation Square.
On the other side of the world, arrangements will be underway for a host of concerts and parties in cities across Europe, including a 'circle of percussion' in Athens, where people will be given percussion instruments to play, led by a conductor, as the lights go out on the Acropolis.
In encouraging all Australian Catholics to act responsibly with God's creation by reducing personal and communal electricity usage, Catholic Earthcare director Jacqui Remond said that Earth's atmosphere, as with all of creation, was a gift from God.
"As Catholics we are called to love, respect and care for Earth's atmosphere, knowing that it is a unique gift from God.
"The Earth Hour initiative calls us to act in solidarity with our friends in the Pacific and our fellow Australians in the Torres Strait who are watching their countries being covered by sea water.
"We are also being called to give thanks and show great love for God's life-giving handiwork by participating in Earth Hour.
"By registering and observing Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28, we will demonstrate our deep concern for the damage that we now understand is being driven by industrialised lifestyles on planet Earth. We will also be signifying our need to be in right relationship with God's Creation at home, in our schools, at our churches and our places of work."
The Earth Hour website suggests 10 different ways to spend Earth Hour and reduce your carbon footprint:
Attend a local Earth Hour event or organise your own by throwing an Earth Hour street party with your neighbours
Gather family and friends for a night picnic in your local park and look at the stars
Enjoy a family dinner by candlelight
Organise a treasure hunt in the dark
Take the dog for a night walk
Have a candle-lit bath
Sit in the dark and share stories
Organise a family night playing board games
Share a romantic night in with your loved one
Upload your 'on the night' photos and videos to flickr and YouTube respectively, and then add them to the Earth Hour flickr group and the global YouTube Group (links are available on the Earth Hour site)
Earth Hour executive director Andy Ridley is encouraging people to participate in whatever way they choose and to think beyond the hour.
"There are no hard and fast rules surrounding participation in Earth Hour. We only ask that you flick that switch and have fun doing whatever you choose to do during that time."
Find out what is happening near you by clicking on Australia in the map of the world on the Earth Hour site
TAKE ACTION
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