Earth hour: switching off the lights and making love with Mother Nature

It’s the time of the year again when the whole world unite and switch off their lights for one environmentally cause.

Hundreds of millions of people, businesses and governments around the world unite each year to support the largest environmental event in history – Earth Hour

Last year, more than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011 alone, showing the power to change the world they live in with just one switch.

” With the invitation to ‘switch off’ extended to everyone, Earth Hour quickly became an annual global event. It’s scheduled on the last Saturday of every March – closely coinciding with the equinox to ensure most cities are in darkness as it rolled out around the Earth.” - Earth Hour

This year, we are again sending powerful message for action on climate change. Come March 31 2012, people across the globe will come together for a common cause; proving great things will be achieved if we commit to lasting action for the planet.

The climate challenges facing our planet are so significant that change needs to be global.
“In 2011, Earth Hour saw hundreds of millions of people across 135 countries switch off for an hour. But it also marked the start of something new – going Beyond the Hour to commit to lasting action on climate change. And with the power of social networks behind the Earth Hour message, we hope to attract even more participation so we can build a truly global community committed to creating a more sustainable planet.” – Earth Hour

For Philippines’ preparation, the cities of Makati, Cebu and Davao will lead the switch-off ceremonies. Other cities and towns are also expected to hold well-organized events to observe the switch-off.

”WWF-led switch-off ceremonies are slated for– though Makati City’s Ayala Triangle Gardens shall be the central hub for Luzon. At 6:30 PM on 31 March, glow-in-the-dark dance troupe Bailes de Luces and the Caracol dancers shall form the vanguard of an Earth-themed parade which starts at the Makati fire station and ends at Ayala Tower One – where WWF-Philippines National Ambassador Rovilson Fernandez shall host a programme with performances from El Gamma Penumbra, Brigada and other groups. No less than Earth Hour founder Andy Ridley shall lead the country’s main switch-off event, hosted by WWF with the help of Ayala Land and the Makati City Government.” - WWF Organizers

Cebu City’s Plaza Independencia shall be the chief switch-off site for the Visayas, while SM Davao shall be the main switch-off site for Mindanao. 



“We’re extremely excited for this year’s switch-off ceremonies. Though the Visayas and Mindanao have always observed their own unique switch-off ceremonies, WWF has traditionally celebrated Earth Hour from Manila. To commemorate our country’s fifth Earth Hour, we thought it high time for WWF to observe the movement across the archipelago – which has always been what we’ve aimed for.” Earth Hour Philippines National Director Atty. Gia Ibay shared.