Challenge for All of Us

http://viznine.blogspot.com/2009/03/earth-hour-global-event-on-climate.html

Earth Hour - The First Global Vote for the Planet

On March 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m., hundreds of millions of people in more than 500 cities and 75 countries around the world will come together once again to make a bold statement of concern about climate change by turning off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. An event that symbolizes by working together, each of us can make a positive impact in the fight against climate change.

Here in the U.S., it sends a message that Americans care about this issue and stand with the rest of the world in seeking to find solutions to the escalating climate crisis. With every flick of a light-switch, a vote is cast for lasting action and solutions to the escalating climate crisis.From melting glaciers to increasingly intense weather patterns, climate change is already impacting life on our planet. To alter the course of climate change, we must act now.

Earth Hour Expands its Reach in 2009Cities around the world have already committed to Earth Hour 2009. US cities include Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Dallas, New York and San Francisco. They will join international cities such as Beijing, Copenhagen, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Moscow and Paris. Organizations endorsing Earth Hour include 4-H, Astronomical League and the National Education Association. Celebrities pledging support include recording artists Alanis Morissette, Kathy Mattea, Wynonna Judd, KT Tunstall, Gavin DeGraw, Rise Against and Jo Dee Messina, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett and Janeane Garofalo.

Teaching guides, toolkits for colleges, communities and businesses and links to Earth Hour’s communities on the social Web sites Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube, and the limited edition Shepard Fairey “Vote Earth” poster are available for download at www.EarthHourUS.org.

An Historic Event Earth Hour was first celebrated two years ago in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million people and thousands of businesses turned out their lights for one hour. In March 2008, an estimated 36 million Americans joined the effort, with more than 400 cities and 50 million people participating worldwide. Earth Hour captured the public’s imagination with lights going out at some of the world’s most iconic landmarks including the Coliseum in Rome and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and symbols such as Cola-Cola’s famous billboard in Times Square and the Google homepage. Stories were featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC Nightly News, Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, CNN, NPR, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Time.com and more.

One hour - Earth Hour. Turn off. Take action. Vote Earth.