Delusions of... Everything: Earth Hour

On March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm, tens of millions of people around the world will
turn out their lights for one hour — Earth Hour — to demonstrate concern for our
living planet and send a loud message to our leaders that they support action on
climate change. Here are a few ideas for things to do in the dark…by yourself or
with others:

1. Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner with someone special using organic or
sustainably grown food items.

2. Invite friends and family over for a “lights-out” party and serve green-themed
snacks and drinks—green tea or apple martinis anyone?

3. Turn off the lights and power down the computer and cell phone. Use the
quiet time to take a break from a “plugged-in” world by meditating or resting.

4. Take a bubble bath by candlelight.

5. Use the hour for practical tasks that you never seem to have time for. Test
essential items in your emergency preparedness kit like flashlights, radios,
and cell phones. Change out all your light bulbs to energy-efficient CFLs.
Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Think about how you would
evacuate your house in an emergency in the dark.

6. Read a book set in an era without electricity. Marvel that the Romans
conquered much of the world without a single cell phone and that
Shakespeare wrote masterpieces without a laptop or the Internet.

7. Turn off the computer and write a letter by candlelight the old-fashioned way
using pen and paper.

8. Invite friends over to play charades or Scrabble by candlelight.

9. View the night sky via telescope--the reduced “light pollution” may make
some stars more visible.

10. Take photos of how you spent Earth Hour and upload them to the Earth Hour
pages on Facebook, Myspace and YouTube. Keep it clean please!

Ten Things to Know About Earth Hour 2009

1. Earth Hour 2009 takes place on March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm—local time.

2. The date was set in March because it is close to the Spring Equinox, a period when
the most number of countries around the world will experience darkness in the 8
o’clock hour.

3. Earth Hour isn’t about how much energy is saved during one hour. The idea behind
Earth Hour is that by working together, each one of us can make a difference on the
issue of climate change. By doing something as simple as turning off the lights, we
send a visual symbol to the world’s leaders that we are counting on them to work
together to find solutions to climate change.

4. Earth Hour is a non-partisan event. When it comes to caring about the future of our
planet, we all have a stake as citizens of the world regardless of other political
beliefs and affiliations.

5. Earth Hour turns off non-essential lighting only. Lights necessary for public safety
will not go out. Earth Hour has been conducted safely and without incident in more
than 100 cities around the world.

6. Earth Hour is an inclusive event and everyone is invited to participate. WWF will
provide tools online to enable any town, community, school, individual or
organization to be part of the event.

7. WWF has designated a limited number of “flagship cities” in the US where it will
devote resources to make sure the lights actually do go out. In 2009 those cities
include: Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Dallas, New
York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. In addition, WWF will be seeking the
support of Washington DC and the federal government.

8. Many US cities will also participate as “supporting cities.” To become an official
supporting city, a proclamation or some type of official confirmation that the event is
supported by the local governing body of that community must be sent to WWF.

9. More than 750 cities throughout the world have already agreed to participate in
Earth Hour 2009.

10. World Wildlife Fund is the organization behind Earth Hour, but many other groups
and NGOs are supporting Earth Hour in 2009.