On March 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m., hundreds of millions of people in more than 500 cities and 75 countries around the world will come together once again to make a bold statement of concern about climate change by turning off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. An event that symbolizes by working together, each of us can make a positive impact in the fight against climate change.
Here in the U.S., it sends a message that Americans care about this issue and stand with the rest of the world in seeking to find solutions to the escalating climate crisis. With every flick of a light-switch, a vote is cast for lasting action and solutions to the escalating climate crisis.
From melting glaciers to increasingly intense weather patterns, climate change is already impacting life on our planet. To alter the course of climate change, we must act now.
Earth Hour was first celebrated two years ago in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million people and thousands of businesses turned out their lights for one hour. In March 2008, an estimated 36 million Americans joined the effort, with more than 400 cities and 50 million people participating worldwide.
Earth Hour captured the public’s imagination with lights going out at some of the world’s most iconic landmarks including the Coliseum in Rome and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and symbols such as Cola-Cola’s famous billboard in Times Square and the Google homepage.
Stories were featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC Nightly News, Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, CNN, NPR, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Time.com and more.