Earth Hour 2009

On March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm the World Wildlife Fund sponsored Earth Hour (www.EarthHourUS.org). Earth Hour was a chance for citizens of the world the make their concerns about climatic changes known. People voiced their concern over global warming through the click of a light switch, as over 2.2 billion persons turned off their lights for one hour. Earth Hour 2009 is the largest climate awareness event in history as 88 countries and more than 4000 cities participated in the event. Lights dimmed around such well known landmarks such as: Coca Cola billboard in Times Square, the United Nations Headquarters (UN) in New York, the Golden Gate Bridge, in San Francisco, CN Tower in Toronto, the Danish Royal Palace in England, Tower in France, the Sphinx and Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Rome's Colosseum, Vatican City and the Sydney Opera House to name a few.

Earth hour's origin is Sydney, Australia. In 2007, little over 2 million when homes and businesses turned off their lights for one hour. By 2008, this country's environmental event had grown in to a global event. At that time, 50 million people let world leaders know that they were concerned about global warming as well as some of the iconic landmarks listed above participated.

This year, the WWF hope is that the results of the world's wishes, expressed by participation in Earth Hour, are sent at the December 2009, Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The conference purpose to discuss changes to the Kyoto Protocol, which is the current governmental policies regarding climate change. "Earth Hour is an unprecedented global vote for the future of our planet," said Dr. Richard H. Moss, vice president for climate change at WWF, "From Indiana to Indonesia, people around the world are getting engaged, making their voices heard and telling their leaders that they want action on climate change".

Critics of the event believe Earth Hour wastes more energy from the increased use of battery powered flashlights; these are less energy efficient than lighting powered by electricity. The rebuttal of representatives Earth Hour is that the purpose of the event was to be a wake-up call to action not a solution in and of itself.

Hopefully, one of the significant messages delivered at December 2009, Global Climate Change Conference is the proof that energy is saved when the world works in unison towards a solution. Ontario experienced a 6% decrease in electrical power usage during Earth Hour and Toronto a 15% decrease. Con Edison the electrical supplier in New York City states that city residents saved 65 megawatt hours. This is of energy can power 65,000 homes.

Although March 28, 2009 has past, it isn't too late to make your concerns about climate change known to politicians. On the home page of Earth Hour US http://www.earthhourus.org/main.php there is a link for a pre-written letter is available for you to send to a politician. Pictures from the event are at the site along with other news articles. Other ways to voice your opinion, participate, and get your children involved are available there too.

Sources:

Earth Hour www.EarthHourUS.org
World Wildlife Federation www.worldwildlife.org
www.pr-inside.com/bipartisan-e arth-hour-resolution-introduce d-r1146885.htm