Iconic landmarks, public figures, and residents across the Emirates join millions across the world to switch off the lights for Earth Hour 2011, celebrating action for the planet
United Arab Emirates, 23 March 2011: Just 3 days out from the global lights-out event, Earth Hour 2011, has reached record participation, with 131 countries and territories registered to take part, on all seven continents. The UAE, including its iconic landmarks and public figures, is set to join hundreds of millions across the world to celebrate action for the planet.
On Saturday 26 March at 8:30pm public events are planned to mark the time when iconic landmarks across the emirates will go dark for Earth Hour 2011 including the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, as well as the following landmarks across the world:
• Times Square, New York
• Eiffel Tower, Paris
• Milad Tower, Tehran
• Davis Station, in Antarctica
• Opera House, Sydney
• Parliament Palace in Bucharest, Romania
• Royal Palace, Thailand
• China World Trade Centre Tower 3
In 2010 hundreds of millions of people across the world, in 4,616 cities, in 128 countries took part in Earth Hour, but switching off lights was only the beginning. This year Earth Hour asks people to go beyond the hour, and use Earth Hour to commit to an action, big or small, that they will sustain for the future of our planet.
In the UAE the list of landmarks participating in the global switch-off event and number of participants is record breaking. More than 200 companies have signed up – most of whom pledged to go beyond the hour. With events set to take place across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, and Sharjah, EWS-WWF is calling for all UAE residents to take action and get involved. Earth Hour 2011 public events are planned across the emirates including:
• Abu Dhabi Earth Hour 2011 celebration at Corniche Beaches
• Dubai Festival City Earth Hour 2011 celebration at the Marina
• Burj Khalifa Earth Hour 2011 switch-off celebration and bazaar at Burj Plaza
• Sharjah, Al Qasba, Earth Hour 2011 celebration
• Fujairah, Earth Hour 2011 gathering at the Fujairah Fort.
EWS-WWF also asks individuals, governments, schools and companies to ‘Go Beyond the Hour’ by committing to enduring actions, big or small, that they will sustain for the future of our planet. To sign up for Earth Hour, go to www.ewswwf.ae/earthhour
**ENDS**
Earth Hour 2011 Events in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi will offer its first Earth Hour public event to be hosted by EWS-WWF in partnership with the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City. Head to the Abu Dhabi Corniche Beaches (at 30th and Corniche Roads). Events begin at 6:45 and continue past 9:30pm. Participants can exchange old incandescent light bulbs for a new energy saving bulb. Drum up support for Earth Hour and sustainable lifestyles by participating in community drumming with Dubai Drums, brought to you by Abu Dhabi Festival. The event will also include environmental awareness activities and musical performances.
ABU DHABI’S EARTH HOUR 2011 PUBLIC EVENT AT CORNICHE PUBLIC BEACH
6:45pm: Earth Hour Lantern Walk (bring your own lantern and candle, exchange old light bulbs for new energy saving bulbs)
Location: Corniche Beach visitor car park near the Hilton Hotel
7:00pm: Community Drumming with Dubai Drums
Location: Corniche Beach Main Stage (30th & Corniche Roads)
8:00pm: Various Environmental awareness activities
Location: Corniche Beach Main Stage (30th & Corniche Roads)
8:30pm: Musical Performances
Location: Corniche Beach Main Stage (30th & Corniche Roads)
9:30pm: End of Earth Hour Vigil
Location: Corniche Beach Main Stage (30th & Corniche Roads)
Notable Landmarks Confirming Switch Off:
Aldar Head Quarters
Yas Hotel (9pm – 10pm)
Emirates Palace
Sheikh Zayed Bridge
Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque
Masdar Institute
Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Al Mamoura Building
Marina Mall
Maqta and Mussaffah Bridges Beach Rotana
Abu Dhabi Hotels Switching Off:
Crowne Plaza
Fairmont Bab al Bahr
Hilton Hotel
InterContinental Abu Dhabi
Le Méridien Abu Dhabi
Liwa/ Mirfa Hotel
All Marriott hotels
One to One Hotel
Park Rotana & Park Arjaan
Sands Hotel
Sheraton Hotels
Abu Dhabi other participating organizations and/or landmarks
Abu Dhabi Airports Company (non-essential lighting)
Abu Dhabi Municipality Headquarters (aka Municipality of Abu Dhabi City)
Abu Dhabi Ports Company
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
Abu Dhabi University (ADU)
Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority
ADGAS
American International School Abu Dhabi
Al Wathba Center (ADM)
AL HOSN University
Department of Municipal Affairs
Environment Agency Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways
Etisalat
GASCO
KEO International
Khalifa Park
Mubadala
National Bank of Abu Dhabi
Union National Bank
Earth Hour 2011 Events in Dubai
Earth Hour in Dubai will be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai & Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. Earth Hour 2011 participants can choose between two public events: One at the Dubai Festival City Marina or a lantern walk hosted by DEWA at the Burj Khalifa.
BURJ KHALIFA EARTH HOUR 2011 PUBLIC EVENT (Hosted by DEWA)
5:00pm: Traditional Bazaar with cooking stations and handicrafts
Location: Burj Khalifa Plaza
8:30 to 9:30pm: Lantern march
Location: Contact DEWA for meeting point
DUBAI FESTIVAL CITY EARTH HOUR 2011 PUBLIC EVENT
All evening: CANDLE LIGHT DINING
Locations:
Brooklyn Dinner
Chi’Zen (Licensed)
Chocopologie
Burj Al Hamam Esfahan
Fish & Co
India Palace
Jamie’s Italian Leil N’Har
Le relais de L’Entrecote
Orchestra Cafe
Red Mango
Royal Orchid
Saquella
March 24th to 26th 5:00pm onwards: A special school art exhibition called “Going Beyond the Hour” will be showcased.
Location: Dubai Festival City Atrium.
8:30 to 9:30pm: A Candle light and floating lantern Celebration for the planet. Music and entertainment sponsored by HP and Dubai Festival City will keep the crowd entertained.
Location: Dubai Festival City Marina
Candle light dinner in celebration of Earth Hour 2011 also available at Wafi Gourmet, More Café, Karam Beirut (Licensed), All restaurants at the SAS Radisson Hotel
Notable Landmarks Confirming Switch Off:
Burj Khalifa
Burj Al Arab
Dubai Airports
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Dubai Festival City
Dubai Municipality
Dubai World Trade Centre
Emirates Towers
Etisalat
First Select International
Ministry of Education (Dubai): Building and Educational Facilities Department
Ministry of Finance (Dubai) Fairmont Dubai Hotel
Dubai Hotels Switching Off:
Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
Hyatt Regency Dubai and Galleria
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Jumeirah Emirates Towers
All Marriott hotels
Madinat Jumeirah
Grand Hyatt Dubai
Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek
Radisson Blu Residence, Dubai Marina
Sheraton Deira Hotel
Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers
Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort & Towers
Traders Hotel Dubai
Dubai other participating organizations and/or landmarks
Canon Middle East, Dubai Airports Company (non-essential lighting), Dubai Municipality, Dubai Drums, Dubai Golf, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Properties Group, Dubai World Trade Centre, Ducab, Dulsco LLC, Emirates Diving Association, First Select International, Leil’n Hair, Nokia Middle East, Red Mango, Royal Orchid, The One
EARTH HOUR IN OTHER EMIRATES
SHARJAH EARTH HOUR 2011 PUBLIC EVENT
All non-essential lights inside and outside Al Qasba will be switched off from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, including the restaurants and the Etisalat building, Eye of the Emirates, the popular Sharjah entertainment destination, is showing solidarity with the world in saving energy to combat global warming.
Landmarks to observe:
Al Qasba
Delhi Private School
Our Own English High School Sharjah Boy's Branch
Sharjah Mega Mall
Sharjah Science Museum
Hotel:
Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah
FUJAIRAH EARTH HOUR 2011 PUBLIC EVENT
Gathering next to Fujairah Fort. Kamal Musalam band will perform modern Arabic music during the event. Fujairah Fort will switch off and candle lanterns will float into the air. The event starts at 7.00 PM and lasts til 9.30 PM.
Notes to the Editor:
Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to switch off their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 through a partnership between WWF Australia, Leo Burnett and Fairfax Media, when 2 million people in one city switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
Earth Hour in the UAE
Earth Hour 2011 has already been receiving immense support from government institutions, businesses and individuals throughout several emirates, a sign that this year’s participation will exceed last year’s. The list of UAE landmarks taking part in this global climate event includes dozens of organizations across the emirates. Organizations are adding their support daily. For the most up-to-date list visit: http://www.ewswwf.ae/earth_hour/supporters/
To sign up for Earth Hour, go to www.ewswwf.ae/earthhour
Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF)
Emirates Wildlife Society is a national (UAE) environmental non-governmental organization. EWS is established under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western region and Chairman of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD). EWS works in association with WWF, one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with more than 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. EWS-WWF has been active in the UAE since 2001 and has initiated and implemented several conservation and education projects in the region. The mission of EWS-WWF is to conserve the natural heritage of the UAE and to promote sustainable lifestyles.
For more information please visit http://www.ewswwf.ae/
Interviews:
To interview Ida Tillsch, Acting Director of EWS-WWF, please contact:
Iman Issa, Hill & Knowlton, E: Iman.Issa@hillandknowlton.com, T: +971 04 334 4930
To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:
Darain Faraz, Earth Hour Global, E: darain@earthhour.org
Jaya Myler, Earth Hour Global, T: +61 (0) 422 202 881, E: jaya@earthhour.org
A NOTE OF APPRECIATION
EWS-WWF would like to extend a special thank you to our event sponsors and partners, who have helped make Earth Hour 2011 possible in the UAE:
Partners
Municipality of Abu Dhabi City
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
Sponsors
Environment Agency Abu Dhabi
HP
Masdar
Nubani Electrical and Trading
TwoFour54
Union National Bank
Dubai Festival City
SAS Radisson
Canon Middle East
Supporters
Abu Dhabi EcoChicks
Abu Dhabi Festival
John Buck International
Abu Dhabi Police
ADCO
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