Your Light Switch is Your Vote
Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— Climate change is perhaps the most significant issue facing our planet today. We are beginning to witness dramatic impacts as a result of the amount of carbon we load into the atmosphere. To alter the current course of climate change we must act now.
That’s why you are invited to join thousands of your Chicago friends, neighbors and businesses and millions of people around the world to make a bold statement about climate change on Saturday, March 28, 2009, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., local time, whereever you live on planet earth.
Turn out your lights for one hour. Earth Hour.
As World Wildlife Fund’s flagship city for the United States, Chicago, a leader in environmental initiatives, is encouraging its residents across the region to make the pledge to help fight global warming by voluntarily turning off their lights for 60 minutes. Signature skyscrapers, key landmarks, theater marquees and shops on the Magnificent Mile will voluntarily turn off their lights.
Earth Hour’s not just about cutting back for one hour. It’s about taking a stand and thinking ahead about what you, your neighbors and your city can do to slow climate change.
VOTE EARTH
This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.
For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.
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.
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 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.
We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.
VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.
Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.
Seize the Earth Hour moment and change some of your outdated energy-wasting light bulbs to new, efficient and inexpensive compact fluorescents. Think of other ways you can cut your energy usage and trim your electric bill after Earth Hour has passed.
One person can make a difference. Cities, working together, can change the world.
Earth Hour is going global this year with many cities from around the globe taking part including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Chicago, Toronto, Tel Aviv, Copenhagen, Christchurch, Manila and Suva. It’s a global event and all the world’s citizens can join in. Anyone can participate by turning off the lights on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. for one hour.
Earth Hour is about taking simple steps everyday that collectively reduce carbon emissions – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.
10 Things to do During Earth Hour
Here are ten different ways to spend Earth Hour and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions:
- Gather family & friends for a night picnic
- Dine in one of the many Earth Hour participating restaurants by candlelight
- Organize a family night playing board games
- Throw an Earth Hour street party with your neighbors
- Arrange a house party lit by torches
- Take the dog for a night walk
- Hand write a letter to loved one by lantern
- Sit in the dark and share stories
- Read a book using a book light
- Share a romantic night in with your loved one
One hour, Park Forest. Earth Hour.
Around the world – in Bangkok, Copenhagen, Manila, Sydney, Toronto and more, visit earthhour.org
Source: EarthHour.org
