Lights Out! Portland Goes Semi-Dark – for Earth Hour March 28, 2009

An international event sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour is a global effort to encourage individuals, families, businesses and governments to shut "non-essential" lights off for one hour to focus awareness on climate change. Earth Hour began in Australia in 2007. That year 2.2 million homes and businesses turned off their lights for one hour. In 2008, in a world-wide global sustainability event 50 million people switched off their lights.  

This year organizers hope that one billion people will turn off their lights in what they are calling a global vote in favor of the earth and against global warming.

According to the Earth Hour site, over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009. The National Geographic site says 84 countries will participate.

Earth Hour takes place Saturday, March 28, 2009, 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time.

Scheduled to go dark in Portland are the Rose Garden Arena (scrolling marquee lights) Oregon Convention Center (the tower and exterior lights), the Made in Oregon sign, Purdy Painting tools and the Mayor's house.

Around the world well known buildings and landmarks that will shut off all or most of their lights include the Eiffel Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, the United Nations headquarters, Sydney Australia Opera House, the Empire State Building, the Las Vegas strip, the Eiffel Tower, Rio de Janiero's statue of "Christ the Redeemer," Athens's Acropolis, Egypt's Great Pyramids, and Rome's Colosseum.

Here are some ways you can easily participate in Earth Hour.

At home: turn off your lights, light a candle, enjoy flickering light from your fireplace, invite friends for a candlelight dinner.

Out and about: Find a view spot and see how many lights actually do go out.  Are there any differences during the hour? Take some photos of darkened buildings and upload to the Earth Hour Flickr group.

And oh, look for the stars.