Earth Hour

A new global movement of cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is being planned called Earth Hour. Scheduled for March 29, two dozen cities around the world plan to turn their lights off for one hour later this year in a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about global warming. The event is based on the first “Earth Hour” last March, when Sydney dimmed its skyline when residents, businesses and the local government took part in the first "Earth Hour" event that asked people to think about cutting their energy use. The International Herald Tribune of February 18, 2008 reported that the event is organized by the World Wildlife Fund, and is designed to continue to help remind people about the problem of global warming. Although the actual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from this event will be minimal, the importance of the event is the cities that are participating in the event and the awareness they will generate. The Agence French Presse of February 28, 2008 reports that so far, 23 other cities from the Asia Pacific, North America, Europe and the Middle East had now signed up to be part of the 2008 event. The Associated Press of the same date lists the cities participating so far as Atlanta, San Francisco and Phoenix in the US; Thailand's capital Bangkok; Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal in Canada and Dublin in Ireland and Australian cities Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide; Denmark's Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg and Odense; the Philippine capital Manila, Fiji's biggest city Suva, Christchurch in New Zealand; Chicago; Tel Aviv and Toronto. Such an effort in so many cities across the world will spread much needed global warming awareness across the world.


So, even if your city isn't doing it, participate none the less!