24 June 2011: Earth Hour Ambassador Miranda Kerr has embraced the Beyond the Hour message and initiated a charity drive with eBay for the urgent and sustainable rehabilitation of the earthquake and tsunami stricken areas of Japan.
Miranda has asked her family and friends to join in the effort, including husband Orlando Bloom, indie rock gods Kings of Leon and actor Verne Troyer. They have all signed specially made T-shirts with ‘Have Courage Japan’ printed in Japanese text below the Earth Hour logo. The T-shirts will be auctioned off on eBay, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to WWF Japan’s dedicated rehabilitation fund for the Tohoku Disaster Recovery Project.
These coastal districts in Eastern Japan were the hardest hit following the earthquake and tsunami disaster that took place on 11 March 2011. Over 23,000 people were killed or are missing, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless. These communities are in even more urgent need, as another 6.7 magnitude inland earthquake has hit the area again in April. The ongoing fund hopes to provide vital support to restore and recover in an environmentally sound manner for these communities from these unprecedented natural disasters.
As an extra thank you to the winners, Miranda has offered to follow the winning bidders of the auction on her Twitter account. This is a unique way to connect with Miranda and to have the world know about the difference that is being made.
The auction is operating internationally and will end on Wednesday 29 June at 20:30 AEST /10:30 GMT.
For more information please visit:
www.earthhour.org
eBay Auction
High res image of Miranda Kerr © WWF/ Chris Colls: download
Interviews:
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global, E: winstons@earthhour.org
Or the Earth Hour Global media team on Ph: +61 404 929 243, E: newsdesk@earthhour.org
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Earth Hour launches Neighborhoodr Sydney and Melbourne
sydney.neighborhoodr.com
melbourne.neighborhoodr.com
9 June 2011: The innovative hyperlocal blog Neighborhoodr has just launched in Australia in collaboration with Earth Hour.
As the largest environmental campaign on the planet, Earth Hour is extending its presence in the digital by partnering with the Neighborhoodr platform to tap into the convenience of hyperlocal.
Earth Hour will play an instrumental role in networking embedded bloggers in Sydney and Melbourne, so the citizens of each Neighborhoodr community around the globe can stay in the know with what makes our cities tick.
Neighborhoodr is set up using the Tumblr interface, so users of the booming social blog site can just click the follow button to receive a direct feed of content that is uploaded from their favourite communities across the world.
What sets Neighborhoodr apart is that anyone, not only Tumblr users, can submit videos, images, links, event info and breaking news about their neighbourhoods!
Neighborhoodr creators Richard Blakeley and Anthony De Rosa hope to leverage Tumblr’s 7 billion hits per month, so that Neighborhoodr becomes the go-to hyperlocal aggregator for hundreds of international communities.
Dubbed by the New York Times as the undisputed king of Tumblr”, Anthony De Rosa is the creator of soupsoup.tumblr.com, which was ranked in the top 25 out of more than 2 million Tumblr blogs. Richard Blakeley is the editor of Gawker TV and the head of the Gawker Media video department. The pair has merged their talents to curate a creative platform for local news and information from cities around the world. De Rosa recently told FishbowlNY about what makes hyperlocal stand out.
“We spread the work out amongst the entire community and the updates are frictionless. Anyone can submit content and there’s a ton of content a click away for us to share. It allows us to get all the way down to the neighborhood level in even the smallest town without having to reinvent the wheel.”
In the age of content overload, those that can efficiently connect people, places and information are getting ahead. Hyperlocal communication lets people access the diverse content that’s been missing from standard local news platforms. It’s here to stay.
Already covering 60 neighbourhoods in the New York area, Neighborhoodr has expanded to cover over 100 cities around the world. The curators from these cities have attracted up-to-date photographers, designers, journalists, videographers, architects, environmentalists, students, professionals, local businesses and corporations.
Earth Hour is excited to get involved in encouraging the emergence of hyperlocal in Sydney and Melbourne, to see the dynamic local news our communities have to offer.
For more information please visit:
Earth Hour
Neighborhoodr
Media enquiries:
Please contact:
Winston Su,
Earth Hour Global
Ph: +61 (0) 410251241 E: winston@earthhour.org
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Iceland rock brings cool soundtrack to new Earth Hour video
www.facebook.com/earthhour
www.youtube.com/earthhour
26 May 2011: Earth Hour – the largest environmental campaign on the planet – today unveiled its new video for Earth Hour 2012, backed by acclaimed Icelandic rock band, Sigur Rós.
Created by Sydney-based award-winning design firm, Resolution Design, the Earth Hour 2012 video is a mosaic of professional and amateur imagery showcasing world famous landmarks switching off and the passion of this year’s Earth Hour participants from all corners of the globe, celebrating the planet and taking action Beyond The Hour.
As witnesses to a changing environment, Icelandic rock stars, Sigur Rós, were happy to donate their most successful single, “Hoppípolla”, as the backing track to the video.
"Living in Iceland we are perhaps more aware than most of the likely consequences of global warming, with our glaciers retreating, our winters disappearing and the doomsday scenario of the gulf streaming ceasing,” said a band spokesperson.
“But because we live with perpetual dark throughout the winter, we are also aware that light transforms our existences. This borrowed sunshine comes at a price, however, and Earth Hour does a uniquely valuable job in reminding us that with power comes responsibility," they added.
Featuring quotes from global Earth Hour Ambassadors including The Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr, the emotive three-minute video also provides a powerful illustration of Earth Hour’s ability to build a global community bound by the pursuit of a healthier planet, a community that is becoming ever more interconnected in the age of social media.
“We, for the first time in history, are reaching a point where our wish to connect behind a common purpose is matched by our ability to connect,” said Earth Hour Executive Director, Andy Ridley.
“Every individual has the power to change the world they live in,” he said.
Creative Director of the Earth Hour 2012 video, Tim Dyroff of Resolution Design, added that the use of technology to connect the world’s global citizens inspired the video’s direction.
“We were also involved in redefining the project's aesthetics, from designing a custom typeface, creating new backgrounds, to animating sections and graphics boards which reinforced Earth Hour's extension into social media,” said Dyroff.
"Resolution has always tried to help out with a good cause and even though we're often very busy, we try to do our bit for important causes that all of us here care about," he said.
Earth Hour 2011 embraced 5,251 cities and towns in 135 countries and territories, reaching 1.8 billion people worldwide. Since its release a year ago, the Earth Hour 2011 video has been viewed more than 1.5 million times on YouTube.
Earth Hour 2012 will take place at 8.30pm, Saturday, 31 March.
- ends -
Notes to editors
To view the Earth Hour 2012 video, please go to youtube.com/earthhour
For broadcast quality video & stills, please go to www.earthhour.org/media
For more information please visit:
Earth Hour – www.earthhour.org
Credits:
Art Direction: Resolution Design
Audio: Zigzag
Soundtrack: Sigur Rós
Media enquiries:
For Media enquiries and to interview Andy Ridley, Executive Director of Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global
Ph: +61 (0) 410251241 E: winston@earthhour.org
Members of Icelandic rock band, Sigur Rós
To interview Tim Dyroff, Earth Hour Creative Director, Resolution Design, please contact:
Tim Dyroff
Ph: +61 2 9360 9908
E: tim@resolutiondesign.com.au
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
www.youtube.com/earthhour
26 May 2011: Earth Hour – the largest environmental campaign on the planet – today unveiled its new video for Earth Hour 2012, backed by acclaimed Icelandic rock band, Sigur Rós.
Created by Sydney-based award-winning design firm, Resolution Design, the Earth Hour 2012 video is a mosaic of professional and amateur imagery showcasing world famous landmarks switching off and the passion of this year’s Earth Hour participants from all corners of the globe, celebrating the planet and taking action Beyond The Hour.
As witnesses to a changing environment, Icelandic rock stars, Sigur Rós, were happy to donate their most successful single, “Hoppípolla”, as the backing track to the video.
"Living in Iceland we are perhaps more aware than most of the likely consequences of global warming, with our glaciers retreating, our winters disappearing and the doomsday scenario of the gulf streaming ceasing,” said a band spokesperson.
“But because we live with perpetual dark throughout the winter, we are also aware that light transforms our existences. This borrowed sunshine comes at a price, however, and Earth Hour does a uniquely valuable job in reminding us that with power comes responsibility," they added.
Featuring quotes from global Earth Hour Ambassadors including The Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr, the emotive three-minute video also provides a powerful illustration of Earth Hour’s ability to build a global community bound by the pursuit of a healthier planet, a community that is becoming ever more interconnected in the age of social media.
“We, for the first time in history, are reaching a point where our wish to connect behind a common purpose is matched by our ability to connect,” said Earth Hour Executive Director, Andy Ridley.
“Every individual has the power to change the world they live in,” he said.
Creative Director of the Earth Hour 2012 video, Tim Dyroff of Resolution Design, added that the use of technology to connect the world’s global citizens inspired the video’s direction.
“We were also involved in redefining the project's aesthetics, from designing a custom typeface, creating new backgrounds, to animating sections and graphics boards which reinforced Earth Hour's extension into social media,” said Dyroff.
"Resolution has always tried to help out with a good cause and even though we're often very busy, we try to do our bit for important causes that all of us here care about," he said.
Earth Hour 2011 embraced 5,251 cities and towns in 135 countries and territories, reaching 1.8 billion people worldwide. Since its release a year ago, the Earth Hour 2011 video has been viewed more than 1.5 million times on YouTube.
Earth Hour 2012 will take place at 8.30pm, Saturday, 31 March.
- ends -
Notes to editors
To view the Earth Hour 2012 video, please go to youtube.com/earthhour
For broadcast quality video & stills, please go to www.earthhour.org/media
For more information please visit:
Earth Hour – www.earthhour.org
Credits:
Art Direction: Resolution Design
Audio: Zigzag
Soundtrack: Sigur Rós
Media enquiries:
For Media enquiries and to interview Andy Ridley, Executive Director of Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global
Ph: +61 (0) 410251241 E: winston@earthhour.org
Members of Icelandic rock band, Sigur Rós
To interview Tim Dyroff, Earth Hour Creative Director, Resolution Design, please contact:
Tim Dyroff
Ph: +61 2 9360 9908
E: tim@resolutiondesign.com.au
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
More than lights-out: Earth Hour success shows world ready to go Beyond the Hour
Media Release: 08:00 GMT, Sunday 2th March, 2011
As the lights come back on in the Cook Islands, the 134th country to celebrate Earth Hour 2011 – a record breaking year for the annual lights-out event – the global community has shown it is united in commitment to a sustainable future.
Around the world, Earth Hour was embraced by the global community, transcending race, culture, age and economics as individuals took leadership in their communities in the pursuit of a cleaner and safer planet. In 2011, Earth Hour asked the hundreds of millions of people taking part in the one hour switch-off to take the next step and go beyond the hour, using Earth Hour to commit to ongoing action for the planet.
“The Beyond the Hour call to action has been unanimously answered by people worldwide,” said Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour. “From school children in Singapore, to Heads of State from the UK, to Australia, Pakistan and Colombia, people have shown that Earth Hour has evolved beyond lights-out.
“This year’s event has illustrated without question what can be achieved when people unite with a common purpose and rally to action.”
Earth Hour 2011 gathers steam crossing Atlantic
As Earth Hour progressed towards the conclusion of the 2011 lights off event across the planet the Americas celebrated the arrival of the global movement with a breadth of lights-off events across the region. Brazil continued the stronger showing for Earth Hour in emerging economies as the wildly successful call for action on the environment continued to roll around the globe.
Hundreds of millions in thousands of cities, towns and communities in a record 134 countries were expected to have participated by the time the lights out and pledge action beyond the hour completes its passage from New Zealand on one side of the International Date Line to former New Zealand dependency the Cook Islands on the other.
Brazil set its own record with 124 cities taking part this year compared to the still creditable 98 of 2010. This included around two-thirds of the state capitals and coverage across all five Brazilian regions. More cities and towns are likely to reveal Earth Hour activities in the coming days.
A huge and emotional event involving more than 3,000 was held in Rio, in front of Arcos da Lapa, a colonial era aqueduct which faded into darkness for the event for the first time. Popular Brazilian singer Toni Garrido warmed up the crowd for addresses from Brazil Environmental Minister, Izabella Teixeira, and Rio de Janeiro Mayor, Eduardo Paes.
The leading landmark to fade into the night sky was Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue, but it was accompanied by more than 300 others including the Copacabana Beach it looks down on, the National Congress (Brasilia), Estaida Bridge (São Paulo) and the Amazon Opera House (Manaus). Generous corporate support from Banco do Brasil, Coca-Cola, TIM, HSBC and Rossi supported the events. Online, the hashtag #horadoplaneta (Portugese for Earth Hour) was trending strongly on Twitter in Brazil.
In Juazeiro do Norte in north eastern Seará state, the leading attraction to go dark was the 27 metre statue of Padre (Father) Cicero, built in 1969 and the central focus of what is considered a major pilgrimage centre and grassroots religious centre.
Celebrations in Mato Gross do Sul, home to the Pantonal wetlands, kicked off in the state capital, Campo Grande. In the Praça (plaza) do Rádio a countdown led by the city mayor, Nelson Trad Filho marked Campo Grande’s third participation in Earth Hour. Capoeira circles, a samba school and a local band accompanied the switching off of various icons including the historical building Morada dos Baís. Companies also took their own initiative in switching off.
Special symbolism celebrated as Chico Mendes house goes dark
For the third year in a row, the Amazonas Theatre, one of the biggest icons of the city of Manaus, State of Amazonas, switched off its lights for an hour, as did many other "manauaras", symbols like the Praça da Saudade, the Amazonas Shopping and the State Prosecutor building. In the centre of the capital, artists recited poetry and short stories, and performed musical pieces. According to Michelle Andrews, the objective was to revive old Amazonian ways. "Like small talk on door steps, an exchange of ideas under candle light on a sidewalk," she said.
Capital Rio Branco and the towns of Xapuri, Santa Rosa do Purus and Sena Madureira in environmentally conscious Acre State took part officially in the Earth Hour movement. In Rio Branco, the state government palace had the lights turned off for one hour.
"It is not a matter of saving energy, but thinking about what we have been doing to the world", said state secretary for the Environment, Edgard de Deus, saying Acre's participation in Earth Hour shows a concern of the local society about conservation and environmental issues.
Celebrations in Xapuri including turning out the lights of the house where rubber tapper, environmentalist and union leader Chico Mendes was assassinated in 1988 for fighting deforestation. His life may have been extinguished but his example inspired a generation who have had a gradual but profound impact on deforestation levels and human rights across Brazil.
Elenira Mendes, daughter of Chico Mendes, is pleased that her father was honoured as part of the global lights-out event. "It's a unique symbolism, of great importance. My father, who has shown to the world the Amazon and the importance of the forest, would be very happy to know that our house has been part of this worldwide movement,” she said.
Girl Scouts lead US by example.
Girl Scouts across the United States of America - from Louisiana to Missouri to Utah and Indiana - led the action for Earth Hour. In Los Angeles, local troops gathered for a candlelit vigil while 500 Colorado Girl Scouts created a giant glowing ‘GS’ on the steps of the State Capital Building in Denver.
Also from LA, Earth Hour Ambassador Verne Troyer pledged to go beyond the hour and replace all his light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, and said, “Earth Hour brings attention to the need for environmental action. I believe that each one of us has the power to do more, especially in areas such as the conservation of our planet’s finite resources. I will go beyond the hour this year by replacing all the light bulbs in my home with energy efficient lighting. Make your footprint on this planet as small as mine.”
All 96 UN buildings in New York including its main headquarters flicked off for the occasion. Simultaneously, the lights of Broadway theatres dimmed their marquees and roof signs in honour of Earth Hour. Iconic sites including the Empire State Building and numerous buildings in Times Square also rose to the occasion by switching off.
US-based Australian model Miranda Kerr, who earlier this year signed up as a global ambassador for Earth Hour went further and committed to an action in keeping with the event’s ‘beyond the hour’ message, “This year I will be going beyond the hour by continuing to recycle and by buying organic produce from local farmers markets thereby cutting down on the pesticides and insecticides used on our planet and reducing food miles,” Kerr said.
Myspace has allowed Earth Hour ambassador Miranda Kerr to ‘Hijack’ the site for the three days in the lead-up to Earth Hour. Kerr is curating content on the Myspace homepage, including several playlists featuring past and present Earth Hour ambassadors and supporters Temper Trap, Tom Jones, Nelly Furtado, Alanis Morissette and Coldplay.
One of the biggest transitions from light to shadow occurred again along the Las Vegas strip - the scene for some of the world’s brightest stars over the years, with many hotels committing themselves to go beyond the hour by committing to everyday action for the planet. World famous Caesar’s, turned off its lights not only in Las Vegas, but in 40 of its worldwide locations, in addition to its ongoing sustainable business practices and environmental programs through CodeGreen, a comprehensive environmental strategy that focuses on critical issues of energy, waste, water and carbon management throughout the company's casino resorts.
"Caesars' leadership in the gaming industry and its steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship are reflected in our resorts' continued participation in Earth Hour," said Gary Loveman, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Caesars Entertainment.
In Southern California, the Queen Mary blasted its horn to indicate the beginning of Earth Hour. The Long Beach landmark followed by turning off lights on its smokestacks, the string of lights atop the ship, as well as encouraging guests staying in staterooms to do likewise.
In Chicago, another celebrated skyline dimmed as Earth Hour commenced. ComEd officials along with students from the Chicago Conservation Corps flipped the switch at Merchandise Mart, a Chicago landmark now the largest LEED-certified building in the U.S. Hundreds of other city buildings were also reported to have gone dark for one hour including Navy Pier, Willis Tower, Custom's House, the Prudential Centre, the John Hancock Building, and the Children's Museum.
American citizens across the US have also been embracing Earth Hour’s beyond the hour theme. One man in Stillwater, Oklahoma first took part in Earth Hour last year and whilst turning off the lights for that hour sparked the interest of his neighbours who over the year became increasingly inspired. Last night the neighbourhood and whole town of Stillwater participated in Earth Hour demonstrating the difference that one person can have in bringing people together as a community.
"Through the simple gesture of turning off the lights, Earth Hour has captured the world’s imagination, growing significantly year after year and 2011 is no exception. Our goal this year was for even more people to engage in Earth Hour, and the response has been simply amazing," said Terry Macko, chief marketing officer at WWF US. "We appreciate the individuals, communities, governments and organizations that are stepping up to the plate and 'owning' Earth Hour and helping spread the critical message of sustainable living across the world."
Canada embraces Earth Hour as never before
An impressive roll-call of 422 cities, municipalities and towns took part in Earth Hour 2011 - a pleasing outcome for a team that rightly thought it had done very well with 304 in 2010. Another 73 universities and 30 major landmarks from across the country including the CN Tower, Parliament Buildings, Niagara Falls and the Lions Gate Bridge, took part in this year’s event.
This year Canada highlighted a “clean energy” message, asking Canadians to “let their support for clean energy shine this Earth Hour”, helping to build awareness of clean energy as a key solution for climate change.
Earlier this week, WWF Canada’s Director General of Climate Change, Josh Laughren, presented the ‘Earth Hour List’; an honour roll of the top 10 leading cities on climate change in Canada. The prestigious accolade were given to recognise those cities that are going beyond the hour, the theme for this year’s Earth Hour, with the most active programs to reduce carbon emissions, promote renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.
In British Columbian community of Squamish, Earth Hour was marked with a screening of the documentary Aftermath: A World Without Oil, followed by a candlelight dinner featuring local foods and a night of music. Grand Palladium Jamaica and Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa in Lucea Hanover continued their support of Earth Hour by switching off. Embracing ‘beyond the hour’, both also committed to activities to become Green Globe Certified. Activities include recycling, water and energy management and staff training. Jamaican telco Digicel joined hundreds of thousands of companies and households across the world this evening in powering down in observance of Earth Hour.
This year was the first year that Trinidad and Tobago officially participated in Earth Hour, after University of the West Indies student Christopher Naranjit obtained approval to host an event on the night of Earth Hour. Businesses in the capital city (Port of Spain), and boroughs of Chaguanas, San Fernando and Arima supported the event, with whole neighbourhoods going dark. Four radio and TV stations held a minutes’ silence for Japan and devoted the hour to tips about Going Beyond the Hour. In Bermuda a public gathering was held at City Hall, a central location in the main City of Hamilton.
Latin America ups the ante
Venezuelan co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2007, Juan Carlos Sánchez, lent his support to Earth Hour 2011 whilst his motherland celebrated lights-out with a plethora of events; EcoStyle Fashion, an unplugged concert, and a series of plays were performed. Over 1,000 people in Plaza Alfredo Sadel in Caracas, led by the city’s Mayor, brought the Earth Hour logo slowly to life as volunteers lit over 500 candles to show their solidarity with the planet. Venezuelan Earth Hour ambassadors were out in force at the event with Karen Britton, Maickel Melamed, Jean Mary, Alejandro Leon and other prominent Venezuelans stating their commitments to go beyond the hour as part of the celebration. Performances by local theatre actors, musicians and dancers along with a fashion parade kept the crowd entertained as candlelight illuminated the streets of Caracas. Putting their money where their mouth is, Venezuelan organisers ensured that all materials used at the event were recycled or environmentally friendly - including all clothing that was part of the fashion parade and a ‘garden’ made from recycled plastic drink bottles. Also lending her support was Miss Venezuela Earth 2011.
In Colombia residents turned off their lights and other non-essential electrical devices for a symbolic "wave of darkness”. In the capital, Bogota, 500 people took part at a concert event in Usaquen Square as the lights flicked off at the Mayor's Building, the Presidential Palace, Gold Museum, Maloka Interactive Museum and Monserrate mountain overlooking Bogota. Medellin saw 4,000 people attend a performance by the Philarmonic Orchestra as EPM's Intelligent Building and Interactive Museum, the Bancolombia building and local TV station, TeleMedellin, all led the mass switch off. Mocoa and Cali also participated in the action with over 4,000 people turning out in support for environmental action, turning off the lights and enjoying community activities in celebration of their commitment.
Lost city Machu Picchu an Earth Hour site
Cities, towns and buildings neighbouring the lost City of the Incas, Lake Titicaca and the largest Ramsar Site in the Amazon went dark for 60 minutes joining world icons like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.
Mayor Susana Villarán led the Earth Hour 2011 celebrations turning out the lights of all the monuments and major buildings of the Historic Centre of Lima (Cultural Heritage of Humanity), in a ceremony that was replicated in 35 of the main cities of Peru, including Arequipa, Trujillo and Tarapoto. Mayor Villarán announced the environmental commitments from her administration to take Earth Hour beyond the hour, including a strong commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of the Municipality. Her call was supported by both current president Alan Garcia as well as next month’s leading presidential National Election candidate, Alejandro Toledo.
The historic Sacred Valley of the Incas along the Urubamba River in Cuzco went dark, and the lights of the only building in the remote region of Lake Titicaca in Puno, Casa Andina Hotel, were switched off to mark the hour.
The Datem del Marañon district in Loreto is not only one of the most isolated in the Amazon, but also home to indigenous Kandozi, Ashuar and Quechua peoples, and hosts the largest wetland throughout the Amazon acknowledged as a conservation priority site by the Ramsar Convention: the Abanico del Pastaza. Although the district’s capital, San Lorenzo, has only a few hours of electricity per day, its authorities sent a powerful message by turning the lights out, and committed to take Earth Hour beyond the hour by implementing a solid waste management program which will help recover one of the most important rivers in the Peruvian Amazon.45 of the country's leading businesses, joined the global initiative, using it to launch ‘beyond the hour’ eco-efficiency policies and environmental management practices.
Earth Hour celebrations in Chile spanned the length of the country with tens of thousands of Chileans taking part in the capital, Santiago, as well as major regional centres Valdivia, Punta Arenas, Concepcion and Temuco. A raft of famous Chileans lent their name to the cause as Earth Hour ambassadors including María Ignacia Benitez (Environment Minister), Amaya Forch (singer and actress), Amarils Horta (Director for the Centre of 'Bicycle Culture') and Andrea Obaid, Chile's leading science and technology journalists. The lights went out across Santiago as candlelit Earth Hour celebrations lit up the capital at landmarks such as the La Moneda Presidential Palace, Entel Tower, Constitution Place and Plaza De Armas. A huge canvas of 260 square meters was also illuminated with candles to mark the occasion.
In Mexico City, a candlelit event was held at the Monument to the Revolution, with other monuments in the Mexican capital including El Angel de la Independencia, la Diana Cazadora and the National Government Palace switched off their lights. In Cancun and La Paz, activities began with environment workshops followed by a local group performing batucada. Plaza Forum in Cancun, a major tourist destination, went dark in an event that took place with the support of local venues.
Other cities switching off included Guaymas, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Campeche, Puebla, Nogales, Chihuahua, Delicias, Estado de Mexico, San Luis Potosi and Reynos - where scores of volunteers rallied through Facebook and other social media channels to make Earth Hour a huge success.
In Argentina, an Earth Hour competition earlier this month saw supporters get creative fashioning a ‘60’, representing the 60 minutes of Earth Hour and submitting photos through Facebook. The first prize winner made a 60 out of 1000 plastic lids. Saturday night’s Earth Hour celebrations featured singer Elena Roger, a group show of taiko (Japanese percussion), in commemoration of the earthquake and tsunami, and a groupe of jugglers and fire twirlers created the ‘60’ from flames. Argentina’s landmarks united with the nation’s people - the Obelisk, Puente de la Mujer, and Piramide de Mayo (the oldest national monument in Buenos Aires), all standing in darkness in support of action for the environment.
In the Bolivian capital, La Paz, an eco-torch parade to the Plaza del Bicentenario was led by the Mayor Ing. Luis Revilla, who also led a countdown to the 8:30pm switch-off. Simultaneous events were held in Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Potosi, Oruro, Trinidad City, Quijarro, Puerto Suarez, San Matias and Sucre, where organisers and volunteers held celebrations featuring lanterns, musical performances, and traditional dance.
Earth Hour ambassador and First Lady of Belize Mrs Kim Barrow hosted a Black and White Gala event for Earth Hour on behalf of her non-profit organisation, the Lifeline Foundation, with lights switching off for 60 minutes. Participants at the Gala event included the Prime Minister of Belize as well as other dignitaries.
-ends-
Interviews:
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global, E: winstons@earthhour.org
Or the Earth Hour Global media team on Ph: +61 404 929 243, E: newsdesk@earthhour.org
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
As the lights come back on in the Cook Islands, the 134th country to celebrate Earth Hour 2011 – a record breaking year for the annual lights-out event – the global community has shown it is united in commitment to a sustainable future.
Around the world, Earth Hour was embraced by the global community, transcending race, culture, age and economics as individuals took leadership in their communities in the pursuit of a cleaner and safer planet. In 2011, Earth Hour asked the hundreds of millions of people taking part in the one hour switch-off to take the next step and go beyond the hour, using Earth Hour to commit to ongoing action for the planet.
“The Beyond the Hour call to action has been unanimously answered by people worldwide,” said Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour. “From school children in Singapore, to Heads of State from the UK, to Australia, Pakistan and Colombia, people have shown that Earth Hour has evolved beyond lights-out.
“This year’s event has illustrated without question what can be achieved when people unite with a common purpose and rally to action.”
Earth Hour 2011 gathers steam crossing Atlantic
As Earth Hour progressed towards the conclusion of the 2011 lights off event across the planet the Americas celebrated the arrival of the global movement with a breadth of lights-off events across the region. Brazil continued the stronger showing for Earth Hour in emerging economies as the wildly successful call for action on the environment continued to roll around the globe.
Hundreds of millions in thousands of cities, towns and communities in a record 134 countries were expected to have participated by the time the lights out and pledge action beyond the hour completes its passage from New Zealand on one side of the International Date Line to former New Zealand dependency the Cook Islands on the other.
Brazil set its own record with 124 cities taking part this year compared to the still creditable 98 of 2010. This included around two-thirds of the state capitals and coverage across all five Brazilian regions. More cities and towns are likely to reveal Earth Hour activities in the coming days.
A huge and emotional event involving more than 3,000 was held in Rio, in front of Arcos da Lapa, a colonial era aqueduct which faded into darkness for the event for the first time. Popular Brazilian singer Toni Garrido warmed up the crowd for addresses from Brazil Environmental Minister, Izabella Teixeira, and Rio de Janeiro Mayor, Eduardo Paes.
The leading landmark to fade into the night sky was Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue, but it was accompanied by more than 300 others including the Copacabana Beach it looks down on, the National Congress (Brasilia), Estaida Bridge (São Paulo) and the Amazon Opera House (Manaus). Generous corporate support from Banco do Brasil, Coca-Cola, TIM, HSBC and Rossi supported the events. Online, the hashtag #horadoplaneta (Portugese for Earth Hour) was trending strongly on Twitter in Brazil.
In Juazeiro do Norte in north eastern Seará state, the leading attraction to go dark was the 27 metre statue of Padre (Father) Cicero, built in 1969 and the central focus of what is considered a major pilgrimage centre and grassroots religious centre.
Celebrations in Mato Gross do Sul, home to the Pantonal wetlands, kicked off in the state capital, Campo Grande. In the Praça (plaza) do Rádio a countdown led by the city mayor, Nelson Trad Filho marked Campo Grande’s third participation in Earth Hour. Capoeira circles, a samba school and a local band accompanied the switching off of various icons including the historical building Morada dos Baís. Companies also took their own initiative in switching off.
Special symbolism celebrated as Chico Mendes house goes dark
For the third year in a row, the Amazonas Theatre, one of the biggest icons of the city of Manaus, State of Amazonas, switched off its lights for an hour, as did many other "manauaras", symbols like the Praça da Saudade, the Amazonas Shopping and the State Prosecutor building. In the centre of the capital, artists recited poetry and short stories, and performed musical pieces. According to Michelle Andrews, the objective was to revive old Amazonian ways. "Like small talk on door steps, an exchange of ideas under candle light on a sidewalk," she said.
Capital Rio Branco and the towns of Xapuri, Santa Rosa do Purus and Sena Madureira in environmentally conscious Acre State took part officially in the Earth Hour movement. In Rio Branco, the state government palace had the lights turned off for one hour.
"It is not a matter of saving energy, but thinking about what we have been doing to the world", said state secretary for the Environment, Edgard de Deus, saying Acre's participation in Earth Hour shows a concern of the local society about conservation and environmental issues.
Celebrations in Xapuri including turning out the lights of the house where rubber tapper, environmentalist and union leader Chico Mendes was assassinated in 1988 for fighting deforestation. His life may have been extinguished but his example inspired a generation who have had a gradual but profound impact on deforestation levels and human rights across Brazil.
Elenira Mendes, daughter of Chico Mendes, is pleased that her father was honoured as part of the global lights-out event. "It's a unique symbolism, of great importance. My father, who has shown to the world the Amazon and the importance of the forest, would be very happy to know that our house has been part of this worldwide movement,” she said.
Girl Scouts lead US by example.
Girl Scouts across the United States of America - from Louisiana to Missouri to Utah and Indiana - led the action for Earth Hour. In Los Angeles, local troops gathered for a candlelit vigil while 500 Colorado Girl Scouts created a giant glowing ‘GS’ on the steps of the State Capital Building in Denver.
Also from LA, Earth Hour Ambassador Verne Troyer pledged to go beyond the hour and replace all his light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, and said, “Earth Hour brings attention to the need for environmental action. I believe that each one of us has the power to do more, especially in areas such as the conservation of our planet’s finite resources. I will go beyond the hour this year by replacing all the light bulbs in my home with energy efficient lighting. Make your footprint on this planet as small as mine.”
All 96 UN buildings in New York including its main headquarters flicked off for the occasion. Simultaneously, the lights of Broadway theatres dimmed their marquees and roof signs in honour of Earth Hour. Iconic sites including the Empire State Building and numerous buildings in Times Square also rose to the occasion by switching off.
US-based Australian model Miranda Kerr, who earlier this year signed up as a global ambassador for Earth Hour went further and committed to an action in keeping with the event’s ‘beyond the hour’ message, “This year I will be going beyond the hour by continuing to recycle and by buying organic produce from local farmers markets thereby cutting down on the pesticides and insecticides used on our planet and reducing food miles,” Kerr said.
Myspace has allowed Earth Hour ambassador Miranda Kerr to ‘Hijack’ the site for the three days in the lead-up to Earth Hour. Kerr is curating content on the Myspace homepage, including several playlists featuring past and present Earth Hour ambassadors and supporters Temper Trap, Tom Jones, Nelly Furtado, Alanis Morissette and Coldplay.
One of the biggest transitions from light to shadow occurred again along the Las Vegas strip - the scene for some of the world’s brightest stars over the years, with many hotels committing themselves to go beyond the hour by committing to everyday action for the planet. World famous Caesar’s, turned off its lights not only in Las Vegas, but in 40 of its worldwide locations, in addition to its ongoing sustainable business practices and environmental programs through CodeGreen, a comprehensive environmental strategy that focuses on critical issues of energy, waste, water and carbon management throughout the company's casino resorts.
"Caesars' leadership in the gaming industry and its steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship are reflected in our resorts' continued participation in Earth Hour," said Gary Loveman, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Caesars Entertainment.
In Southern California, the Queen Mary blasted its horn to indicate the beginning of Earth Hour. The Long Beach landmark followed by turning off lights on its smokestacks, the string of lights atop the ship, as well as encouraging guests staying in staterooms to do likewise.
In Chicago, another celebrated skyline dimmed as Earth Hour commenced. ComEd officials along with students from the Chicago Conservation Corps flipped the switch at Merchandise Mart, a Chicago landmark now the largest LEED-certified building in the U.S. Hundreds of other city buildings were also reported to have gone dark for one hour including Navy Pier, Willis Tower, Custom's House, the Prudential Centre, the John Hancock Building, and the Children's Museum.
American citizens across the US have also been embracing Earth Hour’s beyond the hour theme. One man in Stillwater, Oklahoma first took part in Earth Hour last year and whilst turning off the lights for that hour sparked the interest of his neighbours who over the year became increasingly inspired. Last night the neighbourhood and whole town of Stillwater participated in Earth Hour demonstrating the difference that one person can have in bringing people together as a community.
"Through the simple gesture of turning off the lights, Earth Hour has captured the world’s imagination, growing significantly year after year and 2011 is no exception. Our goal this year was for even more people to engage in Earth Hour, and the response has been simply amazing," said Terry Macko, chief marketing officer at WWF US. "We appreciate the individuals, communities, governments and organizations that are stepping up to the plate and 'owning' Earth Hour and helping spread the critical message of sustainable living across the world."
Canada embraces Earth Hour as never before
An impressive roll-call of 422 cities, municipalities and towns took part in Earth Hour 2011 - a pleasing outcome for a team that rightly thought it had done very well with 304 in 2010. Another 73 universities and 30 major landmarks from across the country including the CN Tower, Parliament Buildings, Niagara Falls and the Lions Gate Bridge, took part in this year’s event.
This year Canada highlighted a “clean energy” message, asking Canadians to “let their support for clean energy shine this Earth Hour”, helping to build awareness of clean energy as a key solution for climate change.
Earlier this week, WWF Canada’s Director General of Climate Change, Josh Laughren, presented the ‘Earth Hour List’; an honour roll of the top 10 leading cities on climate change in Canada. The prestigious accolade were given to recognise those cities that are going beyond the hour, the theme for this year’s Earth Hour, with the most active programs to reduce carbon emissions, promote renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.
In British Columbian community of Squamish, Earth Hour was marked with a screening of the documentary Aftermath: A World Without Oil, followed by a candlelight dinner featuring local foods and a night of music. Grand Palladium Jamaica and Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa in Lucea Hanover continued their support of Earth Hour by switching off. Embracing ‘beyond the hour’, both also committed to activities to become Green Globe Certified. Activities include recycling, water and energy management and staff training. Jamaican telco Digicel joined hundreds of thousands of companies and households across the world this evening in powering down in observance of Earth Hour.
This year was the first year that Trinidad and Tobago officially participated in Earth Hour, after University of the West Indies student Christopher Naranjit obtained approval to host an event on the night of Earth Hour. Businesses in the capital city (Port of Spain), and boroughs of Chaguanas, San Fernando and Arima supported the event, with whole neighbourhoods going dark. Four radio and TV stations held a minutes’ silence for Japan and devoted the hour to tips about Going Beyond the Hour. In Bermuda a public gathering was held at City Hall, a central location in the main City of Hamilton.
Latin America ups the ante
Venezuelan co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2007, Juan Carlos Sánchez, lent his support to Earth Hour 2011 whilst his motherland celebrated lights-out with a plethora of events; EcoStyle Fashion, an unplugged concert, and a series of plays were performed. Over 1,000 people in Plaza Alfredo Sadel in Caracas, led by the city’s Mayor, brought the Earth Hour logo slowly to life as volunteers lit over 500 candles to show their solidarity with the planet. Venezuelan Earth Hour ambassadors were out in force at the event with Karen Britton, Maickel Melamed, Jean Mary, Alejandro Leon and other prominent Venezuelans stating their commitments to go beyond the hour as part of the celebration. Performances by local theatre actors, musicians and dancers along with a fashion parade kept the crowd entertained as candlelight illuminated the streets of Caracas. Putting their money where their mouth is, Venezuelan organisers ensured that all materials used at the event were recycled or environmentally friendly - including all clothing that was part of the fashion parade and a ‘garden’ made from recycled plastic drink bottles. Also lending her support was Miss Venezuela Earth 2011.
In Colombia residents turned off their lights and other non-essential electrical devices for a symbolic "wave of darkness”. In the capital, Bogota, 500 people took part at a concert event in Usaquen Square as the lights flicked off at the Mayor's Building, the Presidential Palace, Gold Museum, Maloka Interactive Museum and Monserrate mountain overlooking Bogota. Medellin saw 4,000 people attend a performance by the Philarmonic Orchestra as EPM's Intelligent Building and Interactive Museum, the Bancolombia building and local TV station, TeleMedellin, all led the mass switch off. Mocoa and Cali also participated in the action with over 4,000 people turning out in support for environmental action, turning off the lights and enjoying community activities in celebration of their commitment.
Lost city Machu Picchu an Earth Hour site
Cities, towns and buildings neighbouring the lost City of the Incas, Lake Titicaca and the largest Ramsar Site in the Amazon went dark for 60 minutes joining world icons like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.
Mayor Susana Villarán led the Earth Hour 2011 celebrations turning out the lights of all the monuments and major buildings of the Historic Centre of Lima (Cultural Heritage of Humanity), in a ceremony that was replicated in 35 of the main cities of Peru, including Arequipa, Trujillo and Tarapoto. Mayor Villarán announced the environmental commitments from her administration to take Earth Hour beyond the hour, including a strong commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of the Municipality. Her call was supported by both current president Alan Garcia as well as next month’s leading presidential National Election candidate, Alejandro Toledo.
The historic Sacred Valley of the Incas along the Urubamba River in Cuzco went dark, and the lights of the only building in the remote region of Lake Titicaca in Puno, Casa Andina Hotel, were switched off to mark the hour.
The Datem del Marañon district in Loreto is not only one of the most isolated in the Amazon, but also home to indigenous Kandozi, Ashuar and Quechua peoples, and hosts the largest wetland throughout the Amazon acknowledged as a conservation priority site by the Ramsar Convention: the Abanico del Pastaza. Although the district’s capital, San Lorenzo, has only a few hours of electricity per day, its authorities sent a powerful message by turning the lights out, and committed to take Earth Hour beyond the hour by implementing a solid waste management program which will help recover one of the most important rivers in the Peruvian Amazon.45 of the country's leading businesses, joined the global initiative, using it to launch ‘beyond the hour’ eco-efficiency policies and environmental management practices.
Earth Hour celebrations in Chile spanned the length of the country with tens of thousands of Chileans taking part in the capital, Santiago, as well as major regional centres Valdivia, Punta Arenas, Concepcion and Temuco. A raft of famous Chileans lent their name to the cause as Earth Hour ambassadors including María Ignacia Benitez (Environment Minister), Amaya Forch (singer and actress), Amarils Horta (Director for the Centre of 'Bicycle Culture') and Andrea Obaid, Chile's leading science and technology journalists. The lights went out across Santiago as candlelit Earth Hour celebrations lit up the capital at landmarks such as the La Moneda Presidential Palace, Entel Tower, Constitution Place and Plaza De Armas. A huge canvas of 260 square meters was also illuminated with candles to mark the occasion.
In Mexico City, a candlelit event was held at the Monument to the Revolution, with other monuments in the Mexican capital including El Angel de la Independencia, la Diana Cazadora and the National Government Palace switched off their lights. In Cancun and La Paz, activities began with environment workshops followed by a local group performing batucada. Plaza Forum in Cancun, a major tourist destination, went dark in an event that took place with the support of local venues.
Other cities switching off included Guaymas, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Campeche, Puebla, Nogales, Chihuahua, Delicias, Estado de Mexico, San Luis Potosi and Reynos - where scores of volunteers rallied through Facebook and other social media channels to make Earth Hour a huge success.
In Argentina, an Earth Hour competition earlier this month saw supporters get creative fashioning a ‘60’, representing the 60 minutes of Earth Hour and submitting photos through Facebook. The first prize winner made a 60 out of 1000 plastic lids. Saturday night’s Earth Hour celebrations featured singer Elena Roger, a group show of taiko (Japanese percussion), in commemoration of the earthquake and tsunami, and a groupe of jugglers and fire twirlers created the ‘60’ from flames. Argentina’s landmarks united with the nation’s people - the Obelisk, Puente de la Mujer, and Piramide de Mayo (the oldest national monument in Buenos Aires), all standing in darkness in support of action for the environment.
In the Bolivian capital, La Paz, an eco-torch parade to the Plaza del Bicentenario was led by the Mayor Ing. Luis Revilla, who also led a countdown to the 8:30pm switch-off. Simultaneous events were held in Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Potosi, Oruro, Trinidad City, Quijarro, Puerto Suarez, San Matias and Sucre, where organisers and volunteers held celebrations featuring lanterns, musical performances, and traditional dance.
Earth Hour ambassador and First Lady of Belize Mrs Kim Barrow hosted a Black and White Gala event for Earth Hour on behalf of her non-profit organisation, the Lifeline Foundation, with lights switching off for 60 minutes. Participants at the Gala event included the Prime Minister of Belize as well as other dignitaries.
-ends-
Interviews:
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global, E: winstons@earthhour.org
Or the Earth Hour Global media team on Ph: +61 404 929 243, E: newsdesk@earthhour.org
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Lights out on Bosphorus Bridge marks Earth Hour transition into Europe
Media Release: Sunday 27th March 2011
Lights going out on Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge was a fitting way to mark Earth Hour’s transition from Asia to Europe.
The symbolic action of turning lights out for an hour in an expression of concern for the environment is in the process of being officially observed in thousands of communities across 134 countries and territories on all continents.
In Turkey, one of only a few countries to straddle two continents, the lights had earlier been switched off in capital Ankara’s Opera House. WWF-Turkey enlisted 250 businesses and corporations and 2,000 online supporters to support its Earth Hour efforts.
The CEO of WWF-Turkey Tolga Baştak, made his Earth Hour press speech while the lights of the Bosphorus Bridge were going dark.
“This year, the lights are going off for a different cause,” Baştak said, “we put great pressure on the natural resources of our planet and our ecological footprint exceeds the biological capacity by 50 per cent.
“If we continue living and consuming as usual, we would need two planets by 2030 and 2.8 planets by 2050. It is getting harder and more difficult each day to survive in our ‘global home’. We should try living in the resources that the planet supplies and respect the limits of one planet.
“Today, we ask everyone to take this opportunity to question how they can contribute to a living planet by making small changes in their lifetsyles and habits.”
With Russia’s main Earth Hour events in Moscow still eight hours away, WWF-Russia’s Polar Bear Patrol were commemorating Earth Hour by setting out from their base in the small village of Lavrentiy to the even smaller Uelento, the nation’s easternmost settlement on the Dezhnev Cape.
“We know Earth Hour very well,” said a spokesperson for the patrol unit. “As we get to Uelen, we will tell the villagers about this action and I'm sure, they will support us. We are glad that the ones who keep peace between the bears and humans and protect the Arctic animals will be the first ones in Russia to celebrate this global event.”
As the event traversed 11 timezones, riders in 20 cities saddled up on bicycles adorned with LED lamps - with the northernmost ride in Murmansk going ahead despite the forecasts of a strong snowstorm. The westernmost ride was staged in Archangelsk near the Finnish border. Over the border, the lights went out at the distinctive Helsinki cathedral, Finland and a special Tampere market place Energiatehdas (Energy factory) was set up with the energy being provided by dancers and stationary cyclists.
“These cyclists are heroes,” said WWF’s Russia office. “In Moscow it is minus eight degrees.”
Interviews:
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global, E: winstons@earthhour.org
Or the Earth Hour Global media team on Ph: +61 404 929 243, E: newsdesk@earthhour.org
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Lights going out on Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge was a fitting way to mark Earth Hour’s transition from Asia to Europe.
The symbolic action of turning lights out for an hour in an expression of concern for the environment is in the process of being officially observed in thousands of communities across 134 countries and territories on all continents.
In Turkey, one of only a few countries to straddle two continents, the lights had earlier been switched off in capital Ankara’s Opera House. WWF-Turkey enlisted 250 businesses and corporations and 2,000 online supporters to support its Earth Hour efforts.
The CEO of WWF-Turkey Tolga Baştak, made his Earth Hour press speech while the lights of the Bosphorus Bridge were going dark.
“This year, the lights are going off for a different cause,” Baştak said, “we put great pressure on the natural resources of our planet and our ecological footprint exceeds the biological capacity by 50 per cent.
“If we continue living and consuming as usual, we would need two planets by 2030 and 2.8 planets by 2050. It is getting harder and more difficult each day to survive in our ‘global home’. We should try living in the resources that the planet supplies and respect the limits of one planet.
“Today, we ask everyone to take this opportunity to question how they can contribute to a living planet by making small changes in their lifetsyles and habits.”
With Russia’s main Earth Hour events in Moscow still eight hours away, WWF-Russia’s Polar Bear Patrol were commemorating Earth Hour by setting out from their base in the small village of Lavrentiy to the even smaller Uelento, the nation’s easternmost settlement on the Dezhnev Cape.
“We know Earth Hour very well,” said a spokesperson for the patrol unit. “As we get to Uelen, we will tell the villagers about this action and I'm sure, they will support us. We are glad that the ones who keep peace between the bears and humans and protect the Arctic animals will be the first ones in Russia to celebrate this global event.”
As the event traversed 11 timezones, riders in 20 cities saddled up on bicycles adorned with LED lamps - with the northernmost ride in Murmansk going ahead despite the forecasts of a strong snowstorm. The westernmost ride was staged in Archangelsk near the Finnish border. Over the border, the lights went out at the distinctive Helsinki cathedral, Finland and a special Tampere market place Energiatehdas (Energy factory) was set up with the energy being provided by dancers and stationary cyclists.
“These cyclists are heroes,” said WWF’s Russia office. “In Moscow it is minus eight degrees.”
Interviews:
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global, E: winstons@earthhour.org
Or the Earth Hour Global media team on Ph: +61 404 929 243, E: newsdesk@earthhour.org
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Emerging economies boost Earth Hour participation
Media Release: 17:00 GMT, Saturday 26th March, 2011
Earth Hour has now swept into Europe, bringing with it a host of significant commitments of action on the environment from across Oceania and Asia.
The symbolic action of turning lights out for an hour in an expression of concern for the environment is in the process of being officially observed in thousands of communities across 134 countries and territories on all continents.
“We are seeing a boom in participation in many of the world’s emerging economies this year, an encouraging sign as these countries begin to take an increasingly prominent place on the world stage,” said WWF International Director General Jim Leape, present at India’s official switch off event at India Gate in New Delhi.
“The incredible participation in Earth Hour this year, especially right here in New Delhi, is testimony to a great concern about the health of the living resources on which we all depend, and a recognition that each of us can play a part in building a sustainable future.”
Korea’s largest search engine supports Earth Hour
Korea's largest search engine - Naver - launched the day with a special logo (doodle) and featured the event on the five million user social network "Me2day". Some 156 cities participated in the event, with the President’s office being dimmed for the occasion.
Human rights lawyer, Wonsoon Park, a recipient of the Ramon Hagsaysay Award - Asia’s closest equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize - was the official Ambassador for Earth Hour and led 500 people gathered in front of Seoul Tower for a countdown ceremony and the observance of a minute of silence for the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Chengdu launches citywide bicycle plan, Shenyang opts for reforestation
In mainland China, 84 cities committed to go beyond the hour, with major urban centres from the southwest to northeast taking action for the planet.
In Chengdu, the symbolic lights-out event will be followed by an initiative that will see up to 60,000 low-cost rental bicycles made available for public use at over 1000 rental points city-wide. Meanwhile, on the other end of the country, Shenyang - a former industrial powerhouse - has pledged to reforest 96,000 acres this year to combat deforestation.
Beijing’s most famous landmarks including the Olympic sites – Bird's Nest and Water Cube have turned out their lights off for an hour. This is in addition to the China World Trade Centre Tower 3, the tallest building in Beijing.
The Shanghai World Financial Centre (the tallest building in all of China); the Jin Mao Tower; the Oriental Pearl Tower and People’s Square all switched off the lights in Shanghai. Furthermore, the city will create 1,000 hectares of new urban green space.
“WWF deeply appreciates the commitments cities are making across the country,” said Jim Gradoville, CEO of WWF-China. “These cities are keeping track of an evolving Earth Hour global movement, and rising to meet the need for real action for the environment. We welcome more cities to do the same.”
Chinese musical duo and Earth Hour China Ambassadors Yu Quan also released a Chinese-language theme song for Earth Hour 2011: “Turn off the Light”.
Hai Quan, one-half of the musical duo Yu Quan, said of the track: “The song comes from the heart. Our lyrics mention polar bears, and your heart lighting up when you help the Earth because those are things we think about and have experienced. We care deeply about the environment, and as musicians, one of the best ways we can protect it is through our craft’s ability to reach and touch people.”
In Hong Kong, the Victoria Harbour waterfront was plunged into darkness as the world’s largest permanent light and sound show was suspended for the evening. The Culture Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui hosted the official countdown ceremony which featured performances from Earth Hour Ambassadors Andox and Box. Government House switched off for Earth Hour for the first time this year, and National Geographic Asia suspended its normal programming for the hour.
5000 Mongolians brave minus five degrees
Mongolia celebrated its second Earth Hour with over 5,000 people ignoring temperatures of minus five degrees Celsius around a vast candle-lit Earth Hour logo in the main square of capital, Ulaan Baatar. All buildings around Sukbaatar Square coordinated a switch-off for the crowd and 10 national television stations. The hour of darkness was marked by recording commitments to Beyond the Hour actions, musical performances, and a fire show.
Vietnam also turned out impressively for Earth Hour, with 30 provinces and cities officially participating - nearly double the number of 2010. Lights went out on the Huc Bridge, Thap Rua, Ngoc Son Temple, and The Hanoi Opera House.
An event held by WWF in association with The People’s Committee of Hue City in Nghinh Luong Temple, saw the participation of leaders of Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, leader of Hue city, representatives of departments, businesses, organizations, volunteers, citizens and media agencies. All held a minute’s silence to acknowledge the crisis in Japan and government representatives gave speeches.
Hue Television broadcast a concert directed by artist Huy Tuan that featured many talented, environmentally concerned singers including Mai Khoi, Le Cat Trong Ly, Ngoc Anh, Minh Chuyen, Manh Ninh, and Nguyen Duc Cuong and Earth Hour Vietnam ambassador Van Mai Huong, runner-up of Vietnam Idol 2010.
Glowing dancers light up darkened Malaysia
In Malaysia, WWF-Malaysia Executive Director/CEO Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma joined celebrities, the media and members of the public in a day-long Earth Hour throw-down featuring an eco-bazaar and live performances at Sunway Pyramid, a larger-than-life recreational theme park and shopping centre near the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
The Petronas Towers stood in darkness as Sunway switched off at 8:30pm, and “Dance in the Dark” for Earth Hour 2011 got underway, led by dancers from WWF-Malaysia and supported by students from local colleges. Covered from head to toe in glow-in-the-dark paint, the troupe of 60 dancers entertained the crowd with a routine that had been posted on WWF-Malaysia’s Facebook page the week before.
“From now until Earth Hour 2012, WWF-Malaysia is urging everyone across the nation to take Earth Hour beyond the hour by pledging online to ‘Live Green: One switch at a time’ towards more sustainable lifestyles,” Dr Sharma said. “The more people who make this pledge, the more powerful our efforts to protect our living planet become.”
Singapore keeps it cool with air conditioning pledge and “Walk in the Dark” event
This year in Singapore over 3,000 people including celebrity supporters Nadya Nutagalung, Utt, Felicia Chin, Tung Soo Hua, Pan ling ling and Huan Shinan took part in the first Earth Hour “Walk in the Dark”, circling the city’s historic Marina Bay. An Earth Hour event featured a live concert with popular duo Jack and Rai, Dawn Ho and Syltra Lee, and a carnival and outdoor movie screening. At the carnival, participants could exchange one litre of used cooking oil for a face towel, personalise kites with wishes for a healthy planet and patronise stalls selling eco-friendly products. The Guest of Honour was Dr Amy Khor, Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
The impressive list of national monuments and landmarks that supported Earth Hour in Singapore include the Lion City’s national emblem, The Merlion, Marina Bay Sands, Orchard Road, Resorts World Sentosa, Changi Airport and the Singapore Flyer.
Even more impressive is the success of WWF-Singapore’s “Beyond the Hour” campaign, which calls for businesses and individuals across the island to set their air conditioning at 24ºC or higher. Enterprises meeting the energy-saving challenge include Fullerton Heritage properties, the Marina Bay Sands Complex and Resorts World Sentosa.
Brunei staged a plastic bag free day and pledged to drop taxes on hybrid cars by five per cent and small engined cars (under 1.8 litres) by 15 per cent. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Yayasan Complex and the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery extinguished their lights to mark Earth Hour. The Minister of Tourism for Borneo, Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohamed lent his support to the event.
WWF-Indonesia commits to bringing renewable light to far off places
Indonesia’s Presidential Palace may have extinguished its lights for Earth Hour but WWF-Indonesia has committed itself to lighting up some isolated areas with renewable power. “With the support from OSO Group, we built a Micro Hydro Power Plant (PLTMH) in Harowu village, Central Kalimantan. The operation of the 15 KW plant is expected to generate power for 60 households in the village,” said WWF-Indonesia CEO Dr. Pak Efransja.
Other landmarks to go dark in South East Asia’s most populous city (population 18.7 million) included the Jakarta City Hall, the National Monument (Monas), the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle, the Arjuna Wiwaha Statue and Pemuda Statue. Other Indonesian cities also came on board this year, including Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta and Surabaya.
In Cambodia, a host of hotels, restaurants and attractions in the main tourist area along Sisowat Quay darkened for Earth Hour. “
As individuals, we can do our own little part to reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere and take action on climate change for 365 days,” said Cambodian actor, Yuth Darachhany. Colleague Mr Tep Rindaro, a legendary figure who has been in the Cambodian film industry for 30 years, also lent his profile, encouraging Cambodians to take action for the planet.
In Bangkok, the Royal Palace led a list of landmarks observing Earth Hour, along with Arun Rachawararam Temple, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, and the city hall which hosted an exhibition of beyond the hour activities by Thai companies. Lights were also extinguished along Patong Beach in Phuket, and the old gates and three kings monument in Changmai. Other provinces taking part included Khonkean, Nakorn Rachasrima and Prathumthanin.
“Each one of us has the power to make a difference”: Indian actress Vidya Balan
Earth Hour in India has nearly doubled over last year’s record effort, with 47 cities across 12 states confirmed to take part before the event, compared to the 27 cities participating in 2010.
“For Earth Hour 2011, I pledge to not just switch off but to go beyond the hour,” said well-known Bollywood actor Vidya Balan. "Each one of us has the power to make a difference. We just need to be conscious of it and make wise choices. When each of us takes simple steps, together these actions add up. I am supporting the fight against climate change by adopting some of these steps. It's time you do too."
Balan joined the Honorable Chief Minister of India, Smt Sheila Dikshit, along with Vidya Balan, Jim Leape, Director General of WWF-International and Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO of WWF-India in turning off the ceremonial switch at New Dehli’s India Gate - although the monument continued to glow by candlelight even as its floodlights cooled. Palash Sen, the lead vocalist of the popular Indian band Euphoria was the star of a spectacular musical evening around the monument.
In Mumbai, popular landmarks such as Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Bandra Worli Sea Link, ITC Maratha, and Taj Lands End switched off lights. So too did headquarters of several public and private sector organisations like Air India, ICICI and HSBC, to name a few. The city of Bangalore too showcased its support towards Earth Hour, turning off lights in Brigade Road, ING Vysya, Infosys and at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
“Looking at the huge impact of this extraordinary campaign, one can assess the power of individual action for a better tomorrow,” said Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, WWF-India.
In Colombo, Sri Lanka, 4,000 people have gathered outside the cricket grounds to observe Earth Hour while watching the world cup semi final - and rejoiced in a Sri Lanka triumph. Music moguls Bathiya and Santhus exhorted their fans.
“We call all our fans to add their voice to a global call for action against Climate Change and join us in going beyond the hour and changing our lifestyles to reduce the environmental footprint, which will help us lead the way to a greener tomorrow.”
Plastics ban, energy efficient lights and tree-planting for Lord Buddha’s birthplace
The Government of Nepal has made one of the largest ‘beyond the hour’ commitments for Earth Hour with an undertaking to put a complete stop to tree-felling in the 23,000 sq km Churiya Range. These striking hills are a key watershed for the rich Terai Arc landscape in southern Nepal - an area where WWF has long worked to improve the conditions of the people and the rich wildlife.
Earth Hour commemorations will also take place at the nearby birthplace of Lord Buddha in Lumbini, near the Indian border. Highlights of this event will include commitments to install compact fluorescent bulbs in all of the Lumbini Gardens monasteries and planting 108,000 trees in Lumbini Gardens this year (as an Earth Hour and Year of Forests pledge) with an ultimate target of one million trees within a span of ten years. The World Heritage site is also to be declared a plastic free zone.
At celebrations at Boudhanath Stupa in capital Kathmandu, an Earth Hour logo drawn with 1000 traditional butter fat candles lit the sky, while Salil Subedi and EarthBeat engaged the audience in a performance of didgeridoo and drums.
Mr. Anil Manandhar, Country Representative of WWF-Nepal said, “Earth Hour is not just about the 60 minutes of solidarity for the environment. This year, Earth Hour will go beyond the hour, marking a moment where every individual, government and business can make their commitment to environmentally sustainable actions for the forthcoming year.”
Sustain life: Pakistan Prime Minister
In Pakistan, Sindh has been declared an Earth Hour Province, with the provincial assembly building going dark and Karachi leading the list of 15 cities taking part.
Pakistan’s main Earth Hour celebration was held at the Tomb of Qiad-e-Azam, noted as the burial place of Muhammad al-Jinnah and others of Pakistan’s founding figures. “Our world is a global village with finite resources which must be used in a manner that brings maximum good to maximum number of people,” said Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari, while Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf raza Gilani said the event is meant to show the world our respect to the Earth, which sustains life for human as well as other living beings.”
Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram has made a personal commitment to stop using plastic bags, to recycle and reuse, and to use his high profile to promote and encourage the same behaviour throughout Pakistan and the rest of the world.
Going dark for the first time is Iran’s tallest tower, the 435 metre Milad Tower in Tehran. Iran’s first official participation in Earth Hour followed hard on the heels of celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the signing in the country of the first global environment agreement - the Ramsar international convention for the protection of world wetlands crucial to migratory birds.
Rivalry was set aside in Kazakhstan, as capital city Astana and largest city Almaty led 86 cities and towns in 10 provinces taking part in Earth Hour in the Central Asian republic. President Nursultan Nazarbayez and Prime Minister Karim Massimov, along with the Ministries of Environment Protection, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Communication and Information joined in support for the global initiative.
World’s tallest building going dark in Dubai, Empire Statement in support
The newly completed Burj Kalifa tower in Dubai - at 828 metres the world’s tallest building - led a list of many of the world’s tallest buildings going dark for Earth Hour when it turned off about half a million lightbulbs. Six of the world’s 10 tallest buildings had registered their participation before the event - Taipei 101 in Taiwan, at 508 metres the world’s second tallest building, the Shanghai World Financial Centre (3rd at 492 metres), the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia (5th and 6th at 492 metres) and the Chicago, US, Willis Tower (8th at 442 metres). Making an Empire Statement for the environment for the third time is the world’s most famous tall building - holder of the title for 40 years (1931-1971), New York’s 381 metre tall Empire State Building now still ranks 17th.
Burj Kalifa also leads an impressive roll call of buildings going dark in the United Arab Emirates, from the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace and bridges and beaches of Abu Dhabi to many of the landmarks of Dubai including city symbol the Burj al Arab.
Earth Hour in the United Arab Emirates is also going well beyond the hour, in Dubai under the patronage of Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. An unusual initiative is solar powered Earth Hour recycling bins on public streets. The record number of United Arab Emirates participants in Earth Hour are also innovating beyond the hour, sharing pictures of themselves with their commitments for continuing environmental action.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, Kuwait celebrated its national day and Earth Hour by flicking the switch on the Twin Towers that are the country’s most noted landmark. At the Jeddah Hilton, Saudi Arabia, the Gullf Environmental Forum (GEF) has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant 50 trees in Haiti for every speaker at its event.
Jordan’s enthusiastic participation will be marked with the lights going out on the Jabal al-Qal'a, the citadel occupying a site in use since Neolithic times and in a host of the buildings and businesses it looks down on in capital city Amman. There will be darkness in the desert as well, when the floodlights illuminating Saladin’s huge 12th century fortress at Aljoun are turned off.
Amman’s Intercontinental Hotel will also be leading a global environmental software programme called Green Engage to guide reductions in wastage and energy use by comparing performance and highlighting best practice in similar hotels. Early trials have shown potential savings of up to 25 per cent and the system allows guests to input suggestions on greener technologies and practices.
Also taking part further north is the World Heritage listed Maiden Tower in Baku Old City on the Caspian Sea, the most noted symbol of Azerbaijan, a first time participant in Earth Hour.
Israel marked its fourth Earth Hour early on Thursday 24 March to avoid conflict with Shabbat, with hundred of Tel Aviv students familiarising themselves with nature in an urban environment, scouts commencing an environmental education program and promotions in community gardening fields. The main event was a green energy concert featuring leading Israeli bands operating off batteries powered by stationary bicycles and a bio-diesel fuel generator.
-ends-
Notes to editors
Earth Hour 2011 will take place at 8.30pm, Saturday, 26 March, 2011.
Interviews:
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global, E: winstons@earthhour.org
Or the Earth Hour Global media team on Ph: +61 404 929 243, E: newsdesk@earthhour.org
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Earth Hour has now swept into Europe, bringing with it a host of significant commitments of action on the environment from across Oceania and Asia.
The symbolic action of turning lights out for an hour in an expression of concern for the environment is in the process of being officially observed in thousands of communities across 134 countries and territories on all continents.
“We are seeing a boom in participation in many of the world’s emerging economies this year, an encouraging sign as these countries begin to take an increasingly prominent place on the world stage,” said WWF International Director General Jim Leape, present at India’s official switch off event at India Gate in New Delhi.
“The incredible participation in Earth Hour this year, especially right here in New Delhi, is testimony to a great concern about the health of the living resources on which we all depend, and a recognition that each of us can play a part in building a sustainable future.”
Korea’s largest search engine supports Earth Hour
Korea's largest search engine - Naver - launched the day with a special logo (doodle) and featured the event on the five million user social network "Me2day". Some 156 cities participated in the event, with the President’s office being dimmed for the occasion.
Human rights lawyer, Wonsoon Park, a recipient of the Ramon Hagsaysay Award - Asia’s closest equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize - was the official Ambassador for Earth Hour and led 500 people gathered in front of Seoul Tower for a countdown ceremony and the observance of a minute of silence for the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Chengdu launches citywide bicycle plan, Shenyang opts for reforestation
In mainland China, 84 cities committed to go beyond the hour, with major urban centres from the southwest to northeast taking action for the planet.
In Chengdu, the symbolic lights-out event will be followed by an initiative that will see up to 60,000 low-cost rental bicycles made available for public use at over 1000 rental points city-wide. Meanwhile, on the other end of the country, Shenyang - a former industrial powerhouse - has pledged to reforest 96,000 acres this year to combat deforestation.
Beijing’s most famous landmarks including the Olympic sites – Bird's Nest and Water Cube have turned out their lights off for an hour. This is in addition to the China World Trade Centre Tower 3, the tallest building in Beijing.
The Shanghai World Financial Centre (the tallest building in all of China); the Jin Mao Tower; the Oriental Pearl Tower and People’s Square all switched off the lights in Shanghai. Furthermore, the city will create 1,000 hectares of new urban green space.
“WWF deeply appreciates the commitments cities are making across the country,” said Jim Gradoville, CEO of WWF-China. “These cities are keeping track of an evolving Earth Hour global movement, and rising to meet the need for real action for the environment. We welcome more cities to do the same.”
Chinese musical duo and Earth Hour China Ambassadors Yu Quan also released a Chinese-language theme song for Earth Hour 2011: “Turn off the Light”.
Hai Quan, one-half of the musical duo Yu Quan, said of the track: “The song comes from the heart. Our lyrics mention polar bears, and your heart lighting up when you help the Earth because those are things we think about and have experienced. We care deeply about the environment, and as musicians, one of the best ways we can protect it is through our craft’s ability to reach and touch people.”
In Hong Kong, the Victoria Harbour waterfront was plunged into darkness as the world’s largest permanent light and sound show was suspended for the evening. The Culture Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui hosted the official countdown ceremony which featured performances from Earth Hour Ambassadors Andox and Box. Government House switched off for Earth Hour for the first time this year, and National Geographic Asia suspended its normal programming for the hour.
5000 Mongolians brave minus five degrees
Mongolia celebrated its second Earth Hour with over 5,000 people ignoring temperatures of minus five degrees Celsius around a vast candle-lit Earth Hour logo in the main square of capital, Ulaan Baatar. All buildings around Sukbaatar Square coordinated a switch-off for the crowd and 10 national television stations. The hour of darkness was marked by recording commitments to Beyond the Hour actions, musical performances, and a fire show.
Vietnam also turned out impressively for Earth Hour, with 30 provinces and cities officially participating - nearly double the number of 2010. Lights went out on the Huc Bridge, Thap Rua, Ngoc Son Temple, and The Hanoi Opera House.
An event held by WWF in association with The People’s Committee of Hue City in Nghinh Luong Temple, saw the participation of leaders of Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, leader of Hue city, representatives of departments, businesses, organizations, volunteers, citizens and media agencies. All held a minute’s silence to acknowledge the crisis in Japan and government representatives gave speeches.
Hue Television broadcast a concert directed by artist Huy Tuan that featured many talented, environmentally concerned singers including Mai Khoi, Le Cat Trong Ly, Ngoc Anh, Minh Chuyen, Manh Ninh, and Nguyen Duc Cuong and Earth Hour Vietnam ambassador Van Mai Huong, runner-up of Vietnam Idol 2010.
Glowing dancers light up darkened Malaysia
In Malaysia, WWF-Malaysia Executive Director/CEO Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma joined celebrities, the media and members of the public in a day-long Earth Hour throw-down featuring an eco-bazaar and live performances at Sunway Pyramid, a larger-than-life recreational theme park and shopping centre near the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
The Petronas Towers stood in darkness as Sunway switched off at 8:30pm, and “Dance in the Dark” for Earth Hour 2011 got underway, led by dancers from WWF-Malaysia and supported by students from local colleges. Covered from head to toe in glow-in-the-dark paint, the troupe of 60 dancers entertained the crowd with a routine that had been posted on WWF-Malaysia’s Facebook page the week before.
“From now until Earth Hour 2012, WWF-Malaysia is urging everyone across the nation to take Earth Hour beyond the hour by pledging online to ‘Live Green: One switch at a time’ towards more sustainable lifestyles,” Dr Sharma said. “The more people who make this pledge, the more powerful our efforts to protect our living planet become.”
Singapore keeps it cool with air conditioning pledge and “Walk in the Dark” event
This year in Singapore over 3,000 people including celebrity supporters Nadya Nutagalung, Utt, Felicia Chin, Tung Soo Hua, Pan ling ling and Huan Shinan took part in the first Earth Hour “Walk in the Dark”, circling the city’s historic Marina Bay. An Earth Hour event featured a live concert with popular duo Jack and Rai, Dawn Ho and Syltra Lee, and a carnival and outdoor movie screening. At the carnival, participants could exchange one litre of used cooking oil for a face towel, personalise kites with wishes for a healthy planet and patronise stalls selling eco-friendly products. The Guest of Honour was Dr Amy Khor, Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
The impressive list of national monuments and landmarks that supported Earth Hour in Singapore include the Lion City’s national emblem, The Merlion, Marina Bay Sands, Orchard Road, Resorts World Sentosa, Changi Airport and the Singapore Flyer.
Even more impressive is the success of WWF-Singapore’s “Beyond the Hour” campaign, which calls for businesses and individuals across the island to set their air conditioning at 24ºC or higher. Enterprises meeting the energy-saving challenge include Fullerton Heritage properties, the Marina Bay Sands Complex and Resorts World Sentosa.
Brunei staged a plastic bag free day and pledged to drop taxes on hybrid cars by five per cent and small engined cars (under 1.8 litres) by 15 per cent. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Yayasan Complex and the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery extinguished their lights to mark Earth Hour. The Minister of Tourism for Borneo, Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohamed lent his support to the event.
WWF-Indonesia commits to bringing renewable light to far off places
Indonesia’s Presidential Palace may have extinguished its lights for Earth Hour but WWF-Indonesia has committed itself to lighting up some isolated areas with renewable power. “With the support from OSO Group, we built a Micro Hydro Power Plant (PLTMH) in Harowu village, Central Kalimantan. The operation of the 15 KW plant is expected to generate power for 60 households in the village,” said WWF-Indonesia CEO Dr. Pak Efransja.
Other landmarks to go dark in South East Asia’s most populous city (population 18.7 million) included the Jakarta City Hall, the National Monument (Monas), the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle, the Arjuna Wiwaha Statue and Pemuda Statue. Other Indonesian cities also came on board this year, including Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta and Surabaya.
In Cambodia, a host of hotels, restaurants and attractions in the main tourist area along Sisowat Quay darkened for Earth Hour. “
As individuals, we can do our own little part to reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere and take action on climate change for 365 days,” said Cambodian actor, Yuth Darachhany. Colleague Mr Tep Rindaro, a legendary figure who has been in the Cambodian film industry for 30 years, also lent his profile, encouraging Cambodians to take action for the planet.
In Bangkok, the Royal Palace led a list of landmarks observing Earth Hour, along with Arun Rachawararam Temple, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, and the city hall which hosted an exhibition of beyond the hour activities by Thai companies. Lights were also extinguished along Patong Beach in Phuket, and the old gates and three kings monument in Changmai. Other provinces taking part included Khonkean, Nakorn Rachasrima and Prathumthanin.
“Each one of us has the power to make a difference”: Indian actress Vidya Balan
Earth Hour in India has nearly doubled over last year’s record effort, with 47 cities across 12 states confirmed to take part before the event, compared to the 27 cities participating in 2010.
“For Earth Hour 2011, I pledge to not just switch off but to go beyond the hour,” said well-known Bollywood actor Vidya Balan. "Each one of us has the power to make a difference. We just need to be conscious of it and make wise choices. When each of us takes simple steps, together these actions add up. I am supporting the fight against climate change by adopting some of these steps. It's time you do too."
Balan joined the Honorable Chief Minister of India, Smt Sheila Dikshit, along with Vidya Balan, Jim Leape, Director General of WWF-International and Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO of WWF-India in turning off the ceremonial switch at New Dehli’s India Gate - although the monument continued to glow by candlelight even as its floodlights cooled. Palash Sen, the lead vocalist of the popular Indian band Euphoria was the star of a spectacular musical evening around the monument.
In Mumbai, popular landmarks such as Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Bandra Worli Sea Link, ITC Maratha, and Taj Lands End switched off lights. So too did headquarters of several public and private sector organisations like Air India, ICICI and HSBC, to name a few. The city of Bangalore too showcased its support towards Earth Hour, turning off lights in Brigade Road, ING Vysya, Infosys and at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
“Looking at the huge impact of this extraordinary campaign, one can assess the power of individual action for a better tomorrow,” said Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, WWF-India.
In Colombo, Sri Lanka, 4,000 people have gathered outside the cricket grounds to observe Earth Hour while watching the world cup semi final - and rejoiced in a Sri Lanka triumph. Music moguls Bathiya and Santhus exhorted their fans.
“We call all our fans to add their voice to a global call for action against Climate Change and join us in going beyond the hour and changing our lifestyles to reduce the environmental footprint, which will help us lead the way to a greener tomorrow.”
Plastics ban, energy efficient lights and tree-planting for Lord Buddha’s birthplace
The Government of Nepal has made one of the largest ‘beyond the hour’ commitments for Earth Hour with an undertaking to put a complete stop to tree-felling in the 23,000 sq km Churiya Range. These striking hills are a key watershed for the rich Terai Arc landscape in southern Nepal - an area where WWF has long worked to improve the conditions of the people and the rich wildlife.
Earth Hour commemorations will also take place at the nearby birthplace of Lord Buddha in Lumbini, near the Indian border. Highlights of this event will include commitments to install compact fluorescent bulbs in all of the Lumbini Gardens monasteries and planting 108,000 trees in Lumbini Gardens this year (as an Earth Hour and Year of Forests pledge) with an ultimate target of one million trees within a span of ten years. The World Heritage site is also to be declared a plastic free zone.
At celebrations at Boudhanath Stupa in capital Kathmandu, an Earth Hour logo drawn with 1000 traditional butter fat candles lit the sky, while Salil Subedi and EarthBeat engaged the audience in a performance of didgeridoo and drums.
Mr. Anil Manandhar, Country Representative of WWF-Nepal said, “Earth Hour is not just about the 60 minutes of solidarity for the environment. This year, Earth Hour will go beyond the hour, marking a moment where every individual, government and business can make their commitment to environmentally sustainable actions for the forthcoming year.”
Sustain life: Pakistan Prime Minister
In Pakistan, Sindh has been declared an Earth Hour Province, with the provincial assembly building going dark and Karachi leading the list of 15 cities taking part.
Pakistan’s main Earth Hour celebration was held at the Tomb of Qiad-e-Azam, noted as the burial place of Muhammad al-Jinnah and others of Pakistan’s founding figures. “Our world is a global village with finite resources which must be used in a manner that brings maximum good to maximum number of people,” said Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari, while Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf raza Gilani said the event is meant to show the world our respect to the Earth, which sustains life for human as well as other living beings.”
Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram has made a personal commitment to stop using plastic bags, to recycle and reuse, and to use his high profile to promote and encourage the same behaviour throughout Pakistan and the rest of the world.
Going dark for the first time is Iran’s tallest tower, the 435 metre Milad Tower in Tehran. Iran’s first official participation in Earth Hour followed hard on the heels of celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the signing in the country of the first global environment agreement - the Ramsar international convention for the protection of world wetlands crucial to migratory birds.
Rivalry was set aside in Kazakhstan, as capital city Astana and largest city Almaty led 86 cities and towns in 10 provinces taking part in Earth Hour in the Central Asian republic. President Nursultan Nazarbayez and Prime Minister Karim Massimov, along with the Ministries of Environment Protection, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Communication and Information joined in support for the global initiative.
World’s tallest building going dark in Dubai, Empire Statement in support
The newly completed Burj Kalifa tower in Dubai - at 828 metres the world’s tallest building - led a list of many of the world’s tallest buildings going dark for Earth Hour when it turned off about half a million lightbulbs. Six of the world’s 10 tallest buildings had registered their participation before the event - Taipei 101 in Taiwan, at 508 metres the world’s second tallest building, the Shanghai World Financial Centre (3rd at 492 metres), the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia (5th and 6th at 492 metres) and the Chicago, US, Willis Tower (8th at 442 metres). Making an Empire Statement for the environment for the third time is the world’s most famous tall building - holder of the title for 40 years (1931-1971), New York’s 381 metre tall Empire State Building now still ranks 17th.
Burj Kalifa also leads an impressive roll call of buildings going dark in the United Arab Emirates, from the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace and bridges and beaches of Abu Dhabi to many of the landmarks of Dubai including city symbol the Burj al Arab.
Earth Hour in the United Arab Emirates is also going well beyond the hour, in Dubai under the patronage of Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. An unusual initiative is solar powered Earth Hour recycling bins on public streets. The record number of United Arab Emirates participants in Earth Hour are also innovating beyond the hour, sharing pictures of themselves with their commitments for continuing environmental action.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, Kuwait celebrated its national day and Earth Hour by flicking the switch on the Twin Towers that are the country’s most noted landmark. At the Jeddah Hilton, Saudi Arabia, the Gullf Environmental Forum (GEF) has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant 50 trees in Haiti for every speaker at its event.
Jordan’s enthusiastic participation will be marked with the lights going out on the Jabal al-Qal'a, the citadel occupying a site in use since Neolithic times and in a host of the buildings and businesses it looks down on in capital city Amman. There will be darkness in the desert as well, when the floodlights illuminating Saladin’s huge 12th century fortress at Aljoun are turned off.
Amman’s Intercontinental Hotel will also be leading a global environmental software programme called Green Engage to guide reductions in wastage and energy use by comparing performance and highlighting best practice in similar hotels. Early trials have shown potential savings of up to 25 per cent and the system allows guests to input suggestions on greener technologies and practices.
Also taking part further north is the World Heritage listed Maiden Tower in Baku Old City on the Caspian Sea, the most noted symbol of Azerbaijan, a first time participant in Earth Hour.
Israel marked its fourth Earth Hour early on Thursday 24 March to avoid conflict with Shabbat, with hundred of Tel Aviv students familiarising themselves with nature in an urban environment, scouts commencing an environmental education program and promotions in community gardening fields. The main event was a green energy concert featuring leading Israeli bands operating off batteries powered by stationary bicycles and a bio-diesel fuel generator.
-ends-
Notes to editors
Earth Hour 2011 will take place at 8.30pm, Saturday, 26 March, 2011.
Interviews:
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global, E: winstons@earthhour.org
Or the Earth Hour Global media team on Ph: +61 404 929 243, E: newsdesk@earthhour.org
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Hundreds of millions get set to switch off and go beyond the hour
Media Release: Saturday 26 March, 2011
Within hours, people in a record 134 countries and territories across the globe will switch off their lights for an hour in a unified show of support for action towards a sustainable future for our planet.
Hundreds of landmarks in thousands of cities will go dark at 8:30pm Saturday local time, as hundreds of millions of people take part in the world’s largest voluntary action for the environment. And with individuals, organisations and governments this year pledging to take their Earth Hour commitment beyond the hour, it won’t end when the lights come back on.
“As we head into the fifth Earth Hour, with a record number of countries and territories taking part, it is inspiring to see what we can achieve when we come together for a common purpose,” said Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour. “Imagine what we can achieve if we go beyond the hour.”
The event will traverse the globe over 24 hours, from the first lights being dimmed across Fiji and New Zealand to lights being turned on again in Samoa. The transition will last longest in Russia, where 11 time zones are covered.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has pledged his support for Earth Hour saying: “Let us join together to celebrate this shared quest to protect the planet and ensure human well-being. Let us use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light.”
Instantly recognisable landmarks across the world that will stand in darkness for the hour include the Eiffel Tower, the London Eye and Big Ben, the Empire State Building, Dubai’s Burj al Arab hotel, Grenada’s Alhambra, Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue, Athens’ Acropolis, India Gate, Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the Sydney Opera House.
Four of the world’s five tallest buildings will also turn out their lights, with the switch-off in the tallest, the 828 metre Burg Khalifa in Dubai involving around half a million lights.
Also darkening for the occasion are floodlights on outstanding natural wonders such as Niagara and Victoria Falls and Table Mountain in South Africa.
Royal and presidential residences, castles and palaces in Peru, Thailand, Sweden, Madagascar and Honduras will turn off lights for an hour. Also taking part is Africa’s largest single housing estate, the Gwarimpa Housing Estate in Lagos, Nigeria.
This year, a swell of support in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Americas has seen a number of countries taking part officially in Earth Hour for the first time including: Jamaica, Uganda, Swaziland, Iran, Tajikistan, Chad, Azerbaijan, Palestine, Suriname, Gibraltar, Uzbekistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Lesotho and Lebanon.
Nathi Mzileni, a 15-year-old boy was inspired to take action in 2010 when he realised his town did not participate in Earth Hour. He started a group at his High School called Green Enviro to educate people about climate change, and this year will make Earth Hour a reality in his town of Shimunye, Swaziland, with the support of 16 young volunteers.
Social media and online search will once again play a crucial role in Earth Hour, bringing together an interconnected global community that are mobilising for environmental action.
Naver, the Korea’s leading search engine, will switch off the lights of its headquarters as well as hosting a special Earth Hour logo on its website for the day of Earth Hour, linking to an Earth Hour micro-site, and it will also promote Earth Hour with a logo on Me2Day its twitter-like Social Network.
A YouTube customised doodle will run across the site for Earth Hour, while a light switch will appear on the watch page, allowing you to click and manually darken the page.
Myspace has allowed Earth Hour ambassador Miranda Kerr to ‘Hijack’ the site for the three days in the lead-up to Earth Hour. Kerr is curating content on the Myspace homepage, including several playlists featuring past and present Earth Hour ambassadors and supporters Temper Trap, Tom Jones, Nelly Furtado, Alanis Morissette and Coldplay.
Leading Chinese internet company Baidu has pledged to go beyond the hour this Earth Hour, by reducing office resource consumption, including paper, water and electricity, by 30 percent from 2010 levels.
This year, Earth Hour asks individuals, companies and governments to go beyond the hour by committing to lasting action after the annual lights-out event. An online platform HYPERLINK "http://www.earthhour.org/beyondthehour" www.earthhour.org/beyondthehour has been created to collect and showcase the actions of people and organisations around the world.
In Uganda various individuals and organisations that are committing to go beyond the hour are planting over 16,000 trees, while in Lumbini, Nepal, 108,000 trees will be planted.
In China, all of the 83 mainland cities taking part in Earth Hour have gone "beyond the hour" with "one change" for the planet, including: Shanghai, where the city will create 1,000 hectares of new urban green space, Chengdu where the government will distribute 60,000 bicycles in central areas across the city and establish over 1,000 bike rental stations.
In the Philippines, where over 1,500 cities, towns and municipalities are taking part in Earth Hour, a candle-lighting ceremony being held tonight will see guests light a candle and make a pledge for the year ahead, continuing Earth Hour beyond the hour in their daily lives.
-ends-
Notes to editors
Earth Hour 2011 will take place at 8.30pm, Saturday, 26 March, 2011.
Images and video footage are available from the Earth Hour Global media centre
Interviews:
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global, E: winstons@earthhour.org
Or the Earth Hour Global media team on Ph: +61 404 929 243, E: newsdesk@earthhour.org
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Within hours, people in a record 134 countries and territories across the globe will switch off their lights for an hour in a unified show of support for action towards a sustainable future for our planet.
Hundreds of landmarks in thousands of cities will go dark at 8:30pm Saturday local time, as hundreds of millions of people take part in the world’s largest voluntary action for the environment. And with individuals, organisations and governments this year pledging to take their Earth Hour commitment beyond the hour, it won’t end when the lights come back on.
“As we head into the fifth Earth Hour, with a record number of countries and territories taking part, it is inspiring to see what we can achieve when we come together for a common purpose,” said Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour. “Imagine what we can achieve if we go beyond the hour.”
The event will traverse the globe over 24 hours, from the first lights being dimmed across Fiji and New Zealand to lights being turned on again in Samoa. The transition will last longest in Russia, where 11 time zones are covered.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has pledged his support for Earth Hour saying: “Let us join together to celebrate this shared quest to protect the planet and ensure human well-being. Let us use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light.”
Instantly recognisable landmarks across the world that will stand in darkness for the hour include the Eiffel Tower, the London Eye and Big Ben, the Empire State Building, Dubai’s Burj al Arab hotel, Grenada’s Alhambra, Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue, Athens’ Acropolis, India Gate, Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the Sydney Opera House.
Four of the world’s five tallest buildings will also turn out their lights, with the switch-off in the tallest, the 828 metre Burg Khalifa in Dubai involving around half a million lights.
Also darkening for the occasion are floodlights on outstanding natural wonders such as Niagara and Victoria Falls and Table Mountain in South Africa.
Royal and presidential residences, castles and palaces in Peru, Thailand, Sweden, Madagascar and Honduras will turn off lights for an hour. Also taking part is Africa’s largest single housing estate, the Gwarimpa Housing Estate in Lagos, Nigeria.
This year, a swell of support in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Americas has seen a number of countries taking part officially in Earth Hour for the first time including: Jamaica, Uganda, Swaziland, Iran, Tajikistan, Chad, Azerbaijan, Palestine, Suriname, Gibraltar, Uzbekistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Lesotho and Lebanon.
Nathi Mzileni, a 15-year-old boy was inspired to take action in 2010 when he realised his town did not participate in Earth Hour. He started a group at his High School called Green Enviro to educate people about climate change, and this year will make Earth Hour a reality in his town of Shimunye, Swaziland, with the support of 16 young volunteers.
Social media and online search will once again play a crucial role in Earth Hour, bringing together an interconnected global community that are mobilising for environmental action.
Naver, the Korea’s leading search engine, will switch off the lights of its headquarters as well as hosting a special Earth Hour logo on its website for the day of Earth Hour, linking to an Earth Hour micro-site, and it will also promote Earth Hour with a logo on Me2Day its twitter-like Social Network.
A YouTube customised doodle will run across the site for Earth Hour, while a light switch will appear on the watch page, allowing you to click and manually darken the page.
Myspace has allowed Earth Hour ambassador Miranda Kerr to ‘Hijack’ the site for the three days in the lead-up to Earth Hour. Kerr is curating content on the Myspace homepage, including several playlists featuring past and present Earth Hour ambassadors and supporters Temper Trap, Tom Jones, Nelly Furtado, Alanis Morissette and Coldplay.
Leading Chinese internet company Baidu has pledged to go beyond the hour this Earth Hour, by reducing office resource consumption, including paper, water and electricity, by 30 percent from 2010 levels.
This year, Earth Hour asks individuals, companies and governments to go beyond the hour by committing to lasting action after the annual lights-out event. An online platform HYPERLINK "http://www.earthhour.org/beyondthehour" www.earthhour.org/beyondthehour has been created to collect and showcase the actions of people and organisations around the world.
In Uganda various individuals and organisations that are committing to go beyond the hour are planting over 16,000 trees, while in Lumbini, Nepal, 108,000 trees will be planted.
In China, all of the 83 mainland cities taking part in Earth Hour have gone "beyond the hour" with "one change" for the planet, including: Shanghai, where the city will create 1,000 hectares of new urban green space, Chengdu where the government will distribute 60,000 bicycles in central areas across the city and establish over 1,000 bike rental stations.
In the Philippines, where over 1,500 cities, towns and municipalities are taking part in Earth Hour, a candle-lighting ceremony being held tonight will see guests light a candle and make a pledge for the year ahead, continuing Earth Hour beyond the hour in their daily lives.
-ends-
Notes to editors
Earth Hour 2011 will take place at 8.30pm, Saturday, 26 March, 2011.
Images and video footage are available from the Earth Hour Global media centre
Interviews:
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Winston Su, Earth Hour Global, E: winstons@earthhour.org
Or the Earth Hour Global media team on Ph: +61 404 929 243, E: newsdesk@earthhour.org
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
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