‘Perth Hour’ will make it’s debut this year alongside the inaugural WWF Earth Hour Awards, as the sister cities of Perth Australia, Scotland and Canada all switch off their lights and pledge to do more “beyond the hour” in a bid to save the planet.
With Earth Hour 2011 fast approaching on Saturday, March 26, at 8.30pm, Awards nominations will close on Sunday, March 6. Nominations can be made online at www.earthhour.org.au
Anyone can take part in the Earth Hour Awards, with five categories drawing on different ways people might take action. A People’s Choice Award will be drawn from the pool of finalists.
Last year’s Earth Hour was celebrated in 4,616 cities and towns in 128 countries and territories, as part of a global movement to inspire people to live more sustainably.
A record number of cities, towns, homes, office buildings, iconic landmarks and public spaces around the world are expected to switch off their lights for one hour as part of the fifth anniversary of Earth Hour, which was first launched by WWF-Australia in Sydney in 2007.
This year, WWF is asking people around the world to go “beyond the hour” and take action to make their lives more sustainable.
“Individuals, towns and cities form the backbone of Earth Hour,” said Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour. “City mayors have been among our strongest supporters and continue to play an important role in engaging their communities to take positive action.
“Earth Hour gives cities and towns an opportunity to showcase what their community has done for the environment and commit to the actions they will sustain for Earth beyond the hour.”
In a unique link-up, Perth in Western Australia will coordinate with Perth in Scotland to switch off the lights at their respective concert halls, while Perth in Canada will turn off its Town Hall lights.
Other landmarks along WA’s Perth city skyline will also be dimmed, including the Bell Tower, Kings Park, the Narrows Bridge decorative lights, and Council House, which is also planning a colourful LED light message after the event urging residents to save energy “beyond the hour”.
“Perth has often been called the City of Light, but turning off our lights for 60 minutes will send out a message that we need to change our ways when it comes to conserving energy,” said WA’s Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi, a committed supporter of Earth Hour since its inception.
“We cannot be in a state of denial about the real impact of climate change. But it goes beyond turning our lights off on one evening – we can all find ways of reducing the impact we are having on the planet.”
WWF-Australia chief executive Dermot O’Gorman said he was proud to be part of a global event originally conceived in Australia.
“The phenomenal thing about Earth Hour is the changes it has inspired people to make in their everyday lives,” Mr O’Gorman said. “It is not about one hour of darkness; it is about a lifetime of sustainability. We know that to create a sustainable planet, we all need to play our small part.
“Australians continue to show leadership on this important issue, therefore we look forward to seeing some of Australia’s best examples of people going beyond the hour.”
Cities can register their participation in the iconic ‘lights out’ event by visiting www.earthhour.org or emailing contact@earthhour.org if interested in becoming an official Earth Hour organiser.
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About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Notes to editors
Earth Hour 2011 will take place at 8.30pm (various local times), Saturday, 26 March, 2011.
A special Earth Hour ‘60+’ logo reflecting the call to go ‘beyond the hour’ in 2011 can be obtained in hi-res at the following link: http://www.divshare.com/direct/13222108-5e9.zip
Interviews:
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Jaya Myler, Earth Hour Global, 0422 202 881, jaya@earthhour.org
Media Contacts:
WWF-Australia Media Officer (NSW) Jonathon Larkin, 0410 221 410, jlarkin@wwf.org.au
WWF-Australia Media Officer (WA) Cortlan Bennett, 0404 700 001, cbennett@wwf.org.au
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