Vote for your Planet with Earth Hour 2009

The USA elections 08 are long over, South African elections 09 loom, but come 28 March 2009 we can all Vote Earth - possibly the most important election you can participate in this year.

Do you remember as a child wondering what would happen if everyone in the world jumped up and down at exactly the same moment – if it was true that the world would shift on its axis? Did you also feel amazed that it could take something so small (one jump each) to make such an incredibly huge thing happen?

 

 

That’s what I thought of when I heard about Earth Hour – a seemingly small action by many individuals that could actually make a difference to the world.

 

 

 

What is Earth Hour?

 

On 28 March 09 the movement is hoping that a total of 1 billion people worldwide will turn off their lights for one hour, from 20h00 to 21h00 (SA time), for Earth Hour 2009, a global event using mass action to campaign against global warming and climate change.

 

Earth Hour is not about saving electricity. According to the official website,

 

“it’s much broader than that – it is a symbolic action to show governments that the people of the world want an effective global climate deal at the end of 2009.”

 

South Africa''s Involvement

 

South Africa will be actively participating in Earth Hour 2009. The event is endorsed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu who is the patron of Earth Hour 2009, and Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille.  Major landmarks in Cape Town, such as TableMountain, will be plunged into darkness for the campaign.

 

A Brief History

 

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia, 2 years ago. More than 2.2 million families and businesses turned off their lights for Earth Hour on 31 March 2007.

 

A year later Earth Hour had reached 370 cities and towns in over 35 countries across 18 timezones turning the event into a global sustainability movement. The 2008 Earth Hour saw between 50 and 100 million people worldwide flicking off light switches. Famous landmarks such as Rome’s Coliseum, the Coke participated.

 

Earth Hour 2009

 

This year, Earth Hour is hoping that 1 billion people in more than 1000 cities, including business, government and the community, will participate in the world’s largest global action on climate action on 28 March 2009. So far, 77 countries and 680 cities have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the world''s first global election between Earth and global warming.

 

Be Involved

 

If you want to be a part of the call for change, sign-up as an individual and / or on behalf of your company, school or organization - and place a reminder on your calendar / Blackberry / cell phone to turn off all your lights on 28 March at 8 p.m.

 

You can also follow @earthhour on Twitter and join the Earth Hour 2009 group on Facebook.

 

 

1 Response to Vote for your Planet with Earth Hour 2009

What a great way to make a point!! I''m just a little disappointed in South Africa''s enthusiam for it...surely we can all get a bit more involved, especially as Desmond Tutu is the Patron this year!

We''re trying to organise an event in Hermanus to promote Earth Hour, but are lacking in ideas. Would be grateful for some inspiration...?!

Steph,
Hermanus

By Stephanie Austin (5 years ago)

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