Earth hour: a time to cut power and reflect

This year, people who participate in Earth Hour, by not using any electricity for an hour, starting at 8:30 p.m., March 26, are being asked to prolong that hour— and save a bit more power.

On Saturday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m., more than a billion people around the world will switch off their lights to observe Earth Hour — and take a stand against climate change.

“I would urge that we think of the Arctic and the people who live there, and not only turn off our lights for an hour, but ponder other ways that we can reduce the energy consumption that leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions on an ongoing basis. This will help send a message to all governments that the problems of climate change mitigation and adaptation must be addressed in significant and concrete ways here at home – now,” said Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Mary Simon in her ITK blog.

Earth Hour started in Australia in 2007 when more than two million households agreed to turn off their lights for an hour to fight climate change.

Today, the event has grown into an international awareness campaign to encourage households and businesses to cut down their energy use.

More than 1.3 billion people participated in Earth Hour last year.

Lights went off in a record 128 countries and territories, and global landmarks like the Colosseum in Rome and the CN tower in Toronto remained dark for an hour.

More than 10 million Canadians in more than 300 cites and towns observed Earth Hour in 2010. The City of Iqaluit also participated in Earth Hour, turning off its lights and computers to support the event (with the exception of some security lighting and servers), and encouraged Iqaluit residents to participate.

This year, the WWF, which promotes participation in Earth Hour, is asking participants to stay dark for more than a hour, under the slogan ”Go beyond the hour.”

The WWF is encouraging everyone to hold a minute’s silence at the beginning of their local Earth Hour to honour those who died in the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, “so that we can take a moment to remember all those affected by this humanitarian and environmental tragedy.”