Cities Turn Off the Lights Tomorrow for Earth Hour

Creating a day of global solidarity, 2848 cities and towns in 83 countries across seven continents have signed up to observe Earth Hour by turning off their lights. (Photo, Sydney turned off its lights in 2008)

From the small island nations of the South Pacific to the densely populated cities of the Americas, millions of people from all walks of life and corners of the world will participate in the third annual Earth Hour, including 66 national capitals and 9 of the10 most populated cities: New York, London, Beijing, Paris, Moscow, Singapore, Berlin, Rome, Athens, Cairo. L.A., and Washington DC. 

The Great Pyramids of Giza, the world’s greatest symbol of the power of collective action, head up a list of 829 landmarks around the world switching off their lights for Earth Hour, including, the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Empire State Building, the Acropolis, the Colosseum in Rome, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Arc de Triomphe, Sydney’s Opera House, the Las Vegas Strip, Niagara Falls and the Sears Tower.

Reducing the CO2 levels by saving energy, is one of the best solutions to the climate change problem of Global Warming. Earth Hour was initiated for the first time in 2007 by the WWF in Australia when an estimated  2.2 million homes and businesses turned out the lights.

In 2008 (read the GNN report) 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 exploding, with groups and social networks working toward the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights. The Boy Scouts of America, representing millions have pledged to participate in the common cause.

You, too, can join in making a powerful statement on climate change that can’t be ignored. Turn off your lights on March 28, at 8.30pm in your time zone.

  (Writing assistance and editing by Geri)