Filed under: Activism, Climate Change

It's hard to believe that Earth Hour started just three years ago, in 2007. In this short period of time, a one hour, one-time action by two million people in Sydney, Australia, has grown into an international movement with nearly one billion participants.

The idea is simplicity itself: Everyone, at the same time, all over the world, turns off their lights for one hour. It's a symbolic gesture to show that people can work together to address the climate crisis.

Last year there were participants in 87 countries. Some of the major landmarks that shut off their lights for an hour included the Parthenon in Athens, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament in London, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and of course the Sydney Opera House. According to the Earth Hour site, it was the largest mass action in human history.

With that kind of user adoption, and all of the demand for action that came out of COP in Denmark, you can expect Earth Hour 2010 to be equally big.

The World Wildlife Fund organized the original Earth Hour with the Sydney Morning Herald. They continue to lead the action with a great site that has more information about Earth Hour events happening around the world.

You can find a complete tool kit for organizing a local event, plus a great interactive area for kids with games and fun facts about energy conservation. It's easy to learn more and get involved.

The event will take place on Sunday, March 27th, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time, wherever you are. Here in the U.S. you can expect to see the lights go dim on the Vegas Strip and Mount Rushmore -- and perhaps your house?

Earth Hour 2010 originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Activism, Climate Change

Admit it, we're all suckers for cute, smart kids. And when they're saying things like "really cool animals like polar bears and walruses will lose their habitat" and "we have to be brave right now" -- ahem, could some pass a tissue? I think some future hope for our planet just got caught in my eye.

The World Wildlife Fund made this video, which stars the kids of WWF staffers making a personal request to President Obama to go -- and lead -- the Copenhagen Climate Conference next month.

In the video the kids review the widely acknowledged fact that climate change will have catastrophic impact on the environment, and that the effects are already being seen, with weather changes and habitat loss.
The habitats of really cool animals. Where do I sign up to help?

I don't know how President Obama can resist these kids, but just in case he needs more pressure, you can also add your voice to the exhortations for him to attend COP15 and advocate for big change.

The easiest way to do this is go to the WWF site and complete their online form to send the president an email. You can even personalize it, letting him know that you want the U.S.A. to be a leader in solving the climate change crisis.

Kids Want Obama to go to COP15 originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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