Join Earth Hour 2009

Join Earth Hour 2009 for Largest Climate Event in History
Sat. March 28 at 8:30 p.m.

The Wakefield Climate Action Project (WCAP) invites all individuals, schools, businesses and organizations in Wakefield to join millions of people around the world to switch off lights for one hour—Earth Hour—at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28 and send a powerful global message that we care enough about climate change to take action. The Earth Hour event is hosted by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

From Amman to Warsaw, city skylines will go dark for one hour as individuals, businesses, government buildings, schools and major landmarks turn off non-essential lighting in what will be the largest climate event in history. The list of participating cities in the US includes Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville with more signing up every day.

“As lights go out in cities around the U.S. and the world on March 28th, Earth Hour will provide world leaders with an unmistakable mandate to negotiate a new international climate change agreement,” said WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts. “The climate crisis threatens the ability of our planet to support its inhabitants, and it has never been more urgent that the voice of the people be heard on this issue. Earth Hour not only focuses global attention on the need to find solutions to climate change, but demonstrates the power that each of us has to make a difference in the future of our planet.”

During Earth Hour 2008, more than 50 million people in 400 cities on all seven continents turned off their lights as major icons also went dark, including the Sydney Opera House, the Coliseum in Rome, Stockholm’s Royal Castle, the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Google turned its homepage black for an entire day in tribute.

WWF says per capita emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels in the U.S. are more than four times the world average and are increasing steadily. WWF says “Earth Hour may be just an hour, but it’s also an opportunity to make resolutions to reduce your carbon footprint—and put them into action. Every action you take to lower your emissions helps.”

WWF gives these action tips to save energy and help prevent climate change: 1) Turn down the thermostat on your water heater and central heating. 2) Conduct an audit. Look around your home for opportunities to insulate spaces and eliminate drafts. 3) Plant native deciduous trees on the south side of your house to shade it and reduce air conditioning use. 3) Replace incandescent with fluorescent bulbs. Remember to turn off when not in use! 4) Unplug electronics such as TVs, computers, stereos and even cell phone chargers when not in use. They still use energy if they are plugged in when turned off. 5) Contact your utility company and sign up for “green power”—electricity generated by sources with low or no routine CO2 emissions. 6) Replace old appliances with high-efficiency models. 7) Install low-flow showerheads—less hot water means less energy use. 8) Drive less. Resolve to use public transportation, join a car pool, ride your bike or walk.

What will your family do for one hour in the dark? This is a chance to shut off the TV and computer and do something different. Some ideas are to have a “lights-out” party, take the dog for a night walk, have a treasure hunt, tell stories, read or play games by candlelight, or check out the night sky. Take photos and share what you did at www.earthhourus.org .

Be flexible to make Earth Hour work for you. Families with young children should feel free to turn their lights off earlier than 8:30 p.m. and for those having too much fun in the dark during the hour, don’t feel you have to limit yourself to one hour and switch back on at 9:30 p.m. If you are already committed to another worthwhile event that night such as Blossoms at the Beebe, pick a different night to enjoy ‘lights out’ with friends and family.

Join this global effort to make an impact on climate change. Visit www.earthhour.org to register and see the difference you can make. Turn off your lights, celebrate the planet, enjoy the moment and cast your vote for Earth. For a fun challenge, check out www.carbonrally.com .