It’s time to go beyond the hour

Saturday, 26 March 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

This year, when the lights go back on, organisers want us to think about what we can change in our daily life that will benefit the planet. To share stories, thoughts and ideas with the organisers and to get inspiration from what others are doing tell us what you’re going to do and we’ll tell the world. This can be done by logging onto the official website www.earthhour.lk.

Earth Hour engages hundreds of millions of people from all corners of the globe to take positive actions for the environment and celebrate their commitment with the people of the world by switching off their lights for one designated hour.

Earth Hour 2011 aims to show the actions that people, businesses and governments across the globe are making an effort to reduce their environmental impact thereby establishing and encouraging others to join an interconnected global community engaged in dialogue and resource sharing that generates real solutions to environmental challenges.

At precisely 8.30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011, hundreds of millions of people from community, business and government, all over the world will turn off their lights for Earth Hour, transcending all barriers of race, religion, culture, society, generation and geography in a global celebration of their commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all the planet.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries/territories participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries/territories officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

On Saturday 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Earth Hour is organized by WWF. With almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries/territories, it’s one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature. (www.earthhour.org)