Comments

  1. Agree with you on the great value in using a simple, purposefully constrained, objective task to foster the conversation.

    Side Note: Google did test the possibility of going dark all the time, and found that it actually INCREASES power consumption (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/is-black-new-green.html) . I’m sure the awareness their swap has garnered with this Earth Hour stunt will far outweigh the momentary increase in power, though 😉

  2. heehe. Hey thanks for that link! I’ll send it to my editing guru…I love tidbits like that! 🙂

  3. “In the United States, Earth Hour was celebrated coast to coast, including in the flagship cities of Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL, Phoenix, AZ; and San Francisco, CA; as well as supporting cities Charlotte, NC; Denver, CO; Honolulu, HI; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Pittsburgh, PA and St. Louis, MO and in smaller U.S. cities, such as Arlington, VA; Columbia, MO; Homer Glen, IL; La Grange, TX; and Norman, OK. In each of these cities, individuals and businesses created events to engage, enlighten and spread the message that together, each one of us can make a difference on this global issue.

    Here is a sampling of results in each of Earth Hour 2008’s official participating cities:

    Atlanta

    Despite being hit by a highly unusual early spring tornado in the city’s downtown core two weeks ago, more than 400 buildings throughout metro Atlanta, including the storm-damaged Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel, participated in the first “lights out” event in Atlanta’s history. On the night the lights went out in Georgia, some of Atlanta’s most iconic buildings and landmarks, including the Bank of America Tower, Georgia Aquarium, CNN Center, and the Georgia State Capitol went dark for one hour when Mayor Shirley Franklin pulled the symbolic light switch as part of the city’s “Sustainable Atlanta” initiative.

    Chicago

    The City of Chicago was the first U.S. city to sign-on to Earth Hour, and the city continued to lead by example with more than 200 buildings in the central business district alone dimming their lights. Throughout the greater metropolitan area, more than 1,400 landmarks, businesses, and organizations went dark, including the Sears Tower, the John Hancock Center, Navy Pier, Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, theater marquees and the golden arches at nearly 500 McDonald’s restaurants. To support Chicago’s goal of being the greenest city in the nation, Mayor Richard M. Daley declared March 29, 2008 “EARTH HOUR DAY IN CHICAGO” and encouraged everyone to be aware of the effects of global warming and the need to address climate change in our daily lives. Local power company ComEd and advertising agency Leo Burnett were leaders in dimming Chicago’s soaring skyscrapers and beautiful skyline.

    Phoenix

    In the Valley of the Sun, city leaders took advantage of the NCAA West Regional basketball tournament at US Airways Center to darken the exterior lights and promote the event to attendees. In addition, Mayor Phil Gordon turned off Phoenix City Hall, as well as Chase Field (home of the Arizona Diamondbacks), the popular Dodge and Orpheum theatres and Arizona State University, where students led flashlight tours. Restaurants across downtown Phoenix lit candles, served “eco-tinis” and showed off glow-in-the-dark attire to guests enjoying organic Earth Hour menus.

    San Francisco

    In the city famous for having hearts left behind, thousands of lights were left off in the City by the Bay as San Franciscans embraced Earth Hour 2008. Iconic landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, Ghirardelli Square, and Alcatraz all went dark, as well as dozens of local restaurants. More than 70 buildings throughout downtown San Francisco’s Financial District turned off their lights, while the SF Parks Department celebrated Earth Hour with a Family Campfire and Star-gazing along the shores of the San Francisco Bay at Crissy Field.

    At the San Francisco Ferry Building, a group of San Francisco dignitaries and volunteers enjoyed a program MC’d by Olympic Gold Medalist and Bay Area native Brian Boitano. The evening was capped off by comments from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and a private performance by Beach Blanket Babylon’s Tammy Nelson. Beach Blanket Babylon is a San Francisco original and the longest running musical revue in theatre history.”

    COOL!!!!

    Meanwhile…I watched my view of S.F. on the water from watching the lights dim across the Bay to see if I could note a difference in the S.F. skyline and the Oakland Hills/East Bay/Alameda environs…

    As I said earlier, out there in my parka, with my golden retriever at my side, it SEEMED like there was far less light pollution than usual, (even though the freakin’ golf driving range lights seem to stay fully lit ’til all hours nearby!)

    I take it as a positive sign. Call me Pollyanna. I don’t care. Sue me for optimism.

  4. i always participate whenver there is an Earth Hour event. it is a good thing that the World Wildlife Fund organized an event like this.

  5. earth hour is really a great way to promote environmental awareness;’.

  6. we always join the Earth Hour because it is one of the ways that you can show your support on the environment .

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