14 DAY TRIAL // People who want to participate in this year's iteration of Earth Hour can do so by turning off their lights and unplugging their electronics equipments tonight, March 26, starting at 8:30 pm local time.
The event is officially scheduled to last for about an hour, but participants may keep their electricity consumption low or down to zero for as much as they can afford to. Organizers expect that millions of people will join this year's movement in making a statement.
At first, the event was held in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and attracted some 2.2 million people. Over the next few years, it extended around the world, first incorporating major landmarks, and then spreading through the general population.
Millions upon millions joined on the fun of spending one hour in the dark, returning to activities that exposure to modern technology has since rendered obsolete. Some have even begun extending their commitment beyond a single hour of activism.
An added advantage to Earth Hour is that it promotes itself among people who never heard of it. When millions turn off their lights, their neighbors become curious as to the reasons why. A large number of participants were attracted into supporting the event by the ideas it stands for.
For 2011, organizers expect that a new participation record will be set. In 2010, some 1 billion people took part in the initiative, but now more than 131 countries have already announced that they will take part in the delivering this message to.
Niagara Falls, Times Square, Mount Rushmore, the Big Ben, the Brandenburg Gate, the Eiffel Tower, the Queen’s Palace in Madagascar and the Opera House of Sydney will be just some of the most important monuments whose managers announced will participate in Earth Hour 2011.
But this year's iteration also asks participants to commit to a personal plan of action, no matter how big or small. The goal is to start taking steps to protect the planet from the grassroots, if politicians seem determined to let the environment fall apart.
“Earth Hour is a chance for people and communities across the globe to join together with the common purpose of a sustainable future for our planet” explains Andy Ridley.
“This year Earth Hour asks people to commit to an action, big or small, for the coming year, taking Earth Hour beyond the hour,” adds the official, who is the co-founder and executive director of Earth Hour. The action was created by the WWF and The Sydney Morning Herald.
But the event is also providing an added benefit that no one expected, which is reduced light pollution, and the chance for astronomers to conduct their observations in peace for a full hour. There are currently about 8,479 stars visible in the night sky, of which many are drown out by stray light.