Observe earth hour tonight, turn off your light for one hour


Earth Hour is set for 8:30 today, Saturday, March 31 -- whether you’re in the world or in space.( at participant's local time. )

On earth, 147 countries are expected to participate in the 60-minute switch-off, Earth Hour co-founder and executive director Andy Ridley said in an interview with Rappler.More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries and territories participated in the movement in 2011, reaching 1.8 billion people across the globe, added Ridley.And for the first time, the International Space Station has signed up for the cause, organizers declared.Stationed approximately 400 kilometers above earth, astronaut André Kuipers will capture the impact of the biggest environmental action in human history.

At 8:30 pm tonight, we will join millions of people across the globe by switching of the lights for one hour. Join us by turning off the lights at your home during this one hour and share the moment with your family & friends. Consider how YOU too can commit to an action that benefit the one thing we have in common – Our Planet Earth.




What is earth hour?
Earth Hour is a worldwide event that is organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, encouraging households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change. Earth Hour was conceived by WWF and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, when 2.2 million residents of Sydneyparticipated by turning off all non-essential lights.Following Sydney's lead, many other cities around the world adopted the event in 2008.Earth Hour 2012 will take place on March 31, 2012 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at participant's local time.

Beyond the hour
"This year through digital media, we are offering a greater opportunity to connect people with the desire to take much-needed action for the environment,” Ridley said.
"We are beginning to explore the possibility that we can have a global voice where the issue is felt strongly enough by the people," he added. 
But Ridley would also like to usher the campaign beyond the hour.
"We  can go beyond voice to action, and we can go beyond action to change," Ridley said, emphasizing that Earth Hour is owned by its participants, from a kid in a classroom to a political leader fighting for a clean energy future.
The 60-minute event gathers individuals, businesses and governments across the globe, encouraging them to be responsible for their ecological footprint and to provide solutions to pressing environmental issues.
What can be done?
Rappler will facilitate online conversations about how you can meaningfully observe Earth Hour 2012 and beyond. Here are 3 ways by which you can participate:
1. Submit a 15-second video clip explaining how you can help save and protect the environment to  move.ph@rappler.com. Entries will be put together as a montage.
2. Join the Twitter discussion that will be held on March 31, from 4:30-8:30 pm using the hashtag #BeyondEarthHour. The discussion will end with a call-out to switch off lights.
3. Let's continue the conversation beyond the hour. Link up with Move.PH, Rappler's citizen journalism arm. Share stories that inspire action and sustainable solutions. - Rappler.com



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