Earth Hour 2009: Tune In, Turn Out, Drop In

In the world of mainstream environmentalism, 2007 was “The Year of the Lightbulb.” In 2009, we may be evolving from this sort of consumer-style activism with “The Year of the Light Switch.” On March 28th, people from all over the world will be uniting together in a simple action that doesn’t cost money or energy, and actually saves us plenty of both- turning out the lights for a single hour.

World Wildlife Fund has painstakingly organized citizens, businesses, and communities around the world to turn off their lights at 8:30pm local time for Earth Hour. Earth Hour began two years ago in Australia, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. Last year, along with 50 million individuals, major landmarks all over the planet helped to make this statement of conservation, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Roman Colosseum, Sydney Opera House, and one of the longest running digital billboards in Times Square.

For 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote for government action on climate change.

More than 80 countries will be participating, including over 150 cities in the US alone. Here in Los Angeles, there has been major celebrity sign-on: Will.I.Am, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Janeanne Garofolo, Alanis Morissette, the Los Angeles Kings, as well as national television shows like Entertainment Tonight, CSI, and the Price Is Right. (Go CBS!) Los Angeles landmarks from City Hall to the iconic pylon light installation at LAX, Capital Records, and The Getty Museum will go dark for Earth Hour. Angelenos will be celebrating together at LA Live at the Nokia Plaza, in a night of music and education hosted by Mayor Villaraigosa. Performances will include Gina Rene (an extraordinary cross between Alicia Keys and Lauren Hill) singing her soulful ballad “Be The Change” as the official anthem for Earth Hour LA.

WWF plans to present the results of this historic global statement to world leaders meeting at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. America busted ass to get Barack Obama elected. Now it’s time to go before all the government leaders of the planet and VOTE EARTH.

Take Action…

1. Turn out your lights for one hour at 8:30pm on March 28th.
2. Get your friends to do it, too. Share this link with them on Facebook and MySpace: http://www.earthhour.org/
   
3. Get our government involved. Write the First Lady and ask her to include the White House in Earth Hour 2009. (She turned the White House fountain green on St. Patty’s Day, for godssake.)
   The White House
   Attn: First Lady Michelle Obama
   1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
   Washington, DC 20500
4. Sign Up Now!