What is this Earth Hour?
WWF’s EARTH HOUR takes place 8-9pm, Saturday March 29, 2008, and the momentum is building.
(BTW, it all sounds very sensible to me, so I think we’ll try this—an evening get-together with friends would be pleasant, with a good bottle of wine, of course!)
According to Richard Moss, Managing Director and Vice President, Climate Change of WWF, the Earth Hour idea has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world. It’s a global movement to shut off the lights for one hour to make a statement about climate change. More and more individuals, businesses, and even cities (for example, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Toronto, Melbourne, Brisbane, Copenhagen) are planning to participate and deliver a powerful message to the citizens and leaders of the world about the need for action on climate change.
Earth Hour is an opportunity to take action, to influence others and start a wave of change that alters the course of climate change. Shutting off non-essential lights for WWF’s Earth Hour on March 29 will give people some time to think about how they can be smarter about the Earth’s resources.
But turning off lights is just the beginning. What can one person do in the face of a global challenge? Richard Moss offers some easy tips to help you make a big impact:
You don’t have to sit alone in the dark. Talking about protecting the planet for future generations can make for a very pleasant evening. Couple your conversation with some organic chocolate (dark, of course!) and make Earth Hour a night to remember. Get outside and gaze at the night sky.
Check in with a local astronomy club about star gazing events. The night sky provides its own light show–and here’s your chance to take a break and soak up the view.
Earth Hour is on a Saturday night. If the weather’s good, try a picnic under the stars. Ask your favorite restaurant or bar to dim their lights and participate in Earth Hour.
Plan a get-dark party for Earth Hour. The younger crowd can host a slumber party complete with scary stories, hold an acoustical jam session or bring friends together to do some dancing in the dark. Don’t worry about decorations–it will be dark!
You can still text in the dark. Make a list of all the ways you are going to reduce your energy consumption: unplug unused appliances; change to compact fluorescent bulbs; properly inflate tires; adjust your thermostat. Text your list to others and challenge them to make their own lists. Check other lists for ideas you may have forgotten.
For more information, go to http://www.earthhour.org
