This Saturday, March 26 at 8:30pm, the global community turns their lights off for Earth Hour 2011.  Earth Hour started in 2007 in the beautiful Sydney, Australia by the WWF-Australia (World Wildlife Fund) and it has evolved to become a worldwide movement to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions.  Basically, for the hour, countries participating around the world are lights out.  This includes numerous iconic landmarks and monuments like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Colosseum in Rome, the CN Tower in Toronto, Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, and the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) in Beijing.   For Earth Hour 2011, well over 1 billion people will demonstrate their solidarity and support to this global initiative.

Since it all began in 2007 in Sydney, the growth is remarkable.  Here is an Earth Hour time capsule:

Earth Hour 2007 – It all begins in Sydney, Australia
“WWF-Australia, in partnership with advertising agency Leo Burnett and Fairfax Media, initiated the first ever Earth Hour.  The idea was to make a bold symbolic statement about the critical issue of climate change and to engage Australians in taking action.  Approximately 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses in Sydney took part in this first year, switching off their lights in a clear signal to government and industry that there’s a demand and a need for change.” (earthhour.org.au)

Earth Hour 2008 – Earth hour becomes a global sustainability movement with over 35 countries and 50 million people participating by turning off their lights.

Las Vegas before Earth Hour 2010

Earth Hour 2009 – Hundreds of millions of people in over 4000 cities in 88 countries pledged their support by switching off to support the planet.  This officially made Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

Earth Hour 2010 – Earth Hour 2010 was supported by 1.3 billion people worldwide. A record 128 countries and territories united making it the largest voluntary action ever observed. The long-term health of our planet can symbolize world unity as participation continues to grow from Asia to Africa to the Americas.

Las Vegas during Earth Hour 2010

Earth Hour 2011 – On March 26 at 8:30pm you can show your support for the planet by the simple task of turning off your lights for one hour.  A voluntary one hour blackout.  Easy, right?

Can’t visualize the impact?  Check out the pictures of the Las Vegas Strip (the city of lights) during Earth Hour 2010.

Living in Ontario, Canada, I wanted to learn if we’re living up to our friendly Canadian image by acting environmentally friendly.  I was pleased to discover that over half of the Canadian adult population participated in Earth Hour 2010.  Even my local energy supplier reported at 9.1% reduction during Earth Hour 2010.

Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on climate change.   It’s a call to action and the action is simple – you have the ‘power’ to make it happen.  Join the fight against global warming.  On March 26th at 8:30pm, pledge your support to Earth Hour 2011 and turn off your lights for one hour.

Take inspiration from these words in the WWF ads endorsing Earth Hour 2011 (watch the ad on youtube below).

In only 3 years

What started as a simple act in one country

Has become a global call to action

On climate change

By over 1 billion people worldwide

Switch off your lights and join the movement

Towards clean energy