Join Earth Hour 2009

It's as simple as a flick of the switch.

The lights will go off for one hour on March 28 at 8:30 pm in key cities in the Philippines and all over the world. It's called Earth Hour.

This lights-out initiative, which began in Sydney in 2007 as a one-city environmental campaign, has evolved into a grassroots action that has attracted worldwide attention. In 2008, 371 cities across 35 countries turned their lights out in a united call for action on climate change and energy conservation. Global landmarks – such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome's Colosseum, and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square – all stood in darkness, symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

Earth Hour 2009 aims to reach one billion people in 1,000 cities all over the world. To help reach this goal, a global sign-up campaign and competition is again being launched worldwide. Last year, the Philippines ranked 9th in terms of total sign-ups. All Filipinos are urged to sign up at Earth Hour's global website: http://www.earthhour.org. Earth Hour Philippines 2009 hopes to involve 10 million Filipinos and 500 businesses in key cities across the country.

Earth Hour 2009 is a global call to action to every individual, every business, and every community. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, and to get actively involved in working towards a sustainable future. People across the world will turn off their lights and join together in creating a vital conversation about the future of our precious planet.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Green Army Philippines Network, and the SWITCH movement have joined hands with the Department of Energy to spread public awareness of the Earth Hour message to cities and communities all over the country.

"2009 is a destiny year for the entire planet," declared Lory Tan, President and CEO of WWF-Philippines. "This is the year that we decide the future of humanity. Earth Hour is a message of hope and action and we hope it sends a powerful message to both local and world leaders. It is a global movement that proves that each one of us can make a difference. Imagine what we can do if we act together."

Recognizing the vital role of the energy community—particular ly in terms of sustainable electric power generation, clean transport fuels, and best energy practices across sectors—DOE Secretary Angelo T. Reyes expressed full support for Earth Hour. "This grassroots initiative is an opportunity for individuals from all corners of the globe to unite and, in a single voice, highlight the urgent need for dramatic lifestyle changes and best energy practices to save our planet. This is a cause that should unite us as Filipinos and as citizens of the world."

The first step is just turning off a light.

Join us for Earth Hour 2009! Turn off your lights at 8.30pm on Saturday, March 28, and sign-up here to be counted.