Earth Hour

Posted by Victoria Anisman-Reiner Mar 5, 2008

In 2007, the World Wildlife Fund of Australia and the Sydney Morning Herald created Earth Hour. 2.2 million people shut off their lights for an hour on the evening of March 31, 2007 in recognition of the drain our energy consumption places on the Earth and the role each of us can take to slow climate change.

In 2008, Earth Hour goes global, with people all over the world signing up to participate - in events, or from home - in the hour-long energy shutdown on March 29, 2008.

Earth Hour has been criticised for misrepresenting the amount of energy saved on March 31, 2007 as well as for implying that one night of decreased energy usage makes a real difference in fighting global pollution and resource consumption.

Regardless, the project seems worthwhile simply for the amount of attention it has drawn and for bringing these issues back into the spotlight. Earth Hour promotes energy-saving initiatives that can be used year-round, as well as during the event itself.

Learn more: Lights Off for Earth Hour