Earth Hour - March 28th, 2009

From 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. this Saturday, March 28, 2009, Earth Hour is being celebrated around the globe. From the Earth Hour website:

VOTE EARTH: YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming.

The Ann Arbor City government is taking part in the Earth Hour "election". The Ann Arbor News reports:

It will be lights out, or at least dim, in Ann Arbor on Saturday, March 28 as the city participates in Earth Hour - a worldwide event meant to make a statement about climate change.

Begun in Australia in 2007, Earth Hour is a project of the World Wide Fund for Nature/World Wildlife Fund. It calls for individuals and communities across the globe to turn off lights for 60 minutes, 8:30-9:30 p.m.

The goal is to have 1 billion people participate and signal their support for action to address global warming.

It's also an opportunity to encourage home and business owners to reduce their carbon footprints and conserve energy, according to Ann Arbor City Council Members Sandi Smith, Carsten Hohnke and Margie Teall, who promoted the city's participation.

With the full City Council's support, Ann Arbor will turn off - or dim - all non-essential lights in city government buildings and streetlights along Main Street during Earth Hour

The steps should serve as rallying point for the energy conservation citywide Earth Hour and beyond, supporters said.

The council decision followed a vote on another energy and environment issue Monday. Council members also approved a resolution establishing the city's opposition to the continued use of coal to generate electricity.

More information from the City of Ann Arbor can be found HERE.

An event is also planned at the Touchstone Cohousing community in Scio Township. Contact Tom Idzikowski at (517) 712-3934 for more information.

Earlier this month Ann Arbor-area Representative Rebekah Warren (53rd House District) introduced House Resolution 0046 (2009) to "encourage the citizens of the state of Michigan to participation in Earth Hour 2009."