Switch off and celebrate earth

 

What will you be doing as the rest of the world celebrates Earth Hour this Saturday 28 March? Between 8.30pm and 9.30pm millions of people around the world will choose to vote earth by switching their lights off for one hour.

 

 

Participants who have signed up to Earth Hour have plenty of ideas for spending the hour in the dark from board games by torch light and candlelit dinners to star gazing.

 

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Rome’s Colosseum, and the Sydney Opera House all stood in darkness.

In 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. To support this global message, Whitianga organisation Transition Town Whitianga has organised an acoustic music session featuring local musicians at Memorial Park, Whitianga, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. Thames-Coromandel District Council is also involved in the initiative, with Mercury Bay and Tairua Library both offering story telling by torchlight.

 

At Tairua Library a fun story time by torch-light is being hosted for children between 8.00pm and 8.30pm, and then Earth Hour will also be celebrated with an acoustic music session featuring local musicians. Anyone interested in playing music should contact Alison Smith at TCDC to find out more.

 

In Mercury Bay there will be activities at Soldier’s Memorial Park from 7.30 to 9.30.

 

The evening begins with a night time story time organised by the Mercury Bay Library, this will be held in a circle of tents in the park, and runs form 7.30 to 8.30. Children and their families are encouraged to bring a torches and a picnic tea. From 8.30 to 9.30 there will be a variety of acoustic musicians, jugglers and performers in the park, organised by Transition Town Whitianga. If it’s raining on the night, these events will be held in the Mercury Bay Hall.

 

This is a community evening and a chance for people to leave their lights off at home, and come down with torches and candles in hand to show their support for earth hour.

 

Toyota New Zealand is also a supporter of the event - offering a stylish black Toyota Prius hybrid car to one lucky winner who signs up to the event. Earth Hour supporters should visit www.earthhour.org/newzealand to enter and to record what Earth Hour means to them.