Earth Hour

Millions of people around the world will soon be participating in a global event that shines the light on the issue of climate change. It’s Earth Hour, an annual event observed each year on the last Saturday in March from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. local time.

It all began in 2007, when more than 2 million people participated in the first Earth Hour in Sydney, Australia. The following year, more than 35 countries and 50 million people turned off the lights. Participation continued to grow year after year. In 2011, 135 participated and in 2012, 152 countries took part in the annual event. Folks in 7,000 cities in 162 countries will be participating in Earth Hour 2015.

No matter who you are or where you live, anyone can join in on the "world's largest campaign for the planet." Whether you are a single, part of a large family, a small business owner or government employee, everyone is encouraged to participate in Earth Hour. A few famous places have even gotten in on the action. Famous landmarks and iconic buildings that have gone dark over the years include the Empire State Building, CN Tower, Buckingham Palace, the Golden Gate Bridge, Gateway Arch, Sky Tower and the Eiffel Tower, to name a few.

It really is amazing what a difference 60 minutes can make. You can help send a message. Spread the word to family and friends and ask them to turn off the power and go dark for an hour!