This Saturday, March 26, 2011, people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour, starting at 8:30 pm, in honor of Earth Hour, described by its founding organization, the World Wildlife Fund, as "a worldwide collective display of commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all – the planet." Earth Hour began in Australia in 2007 with 2.2 million individuals and over 2,000 businesses turning off their lights for one hour. Since its first year, Earth Hour has grown exponentially. In its second year, an estimated 50 million people participated in the event. 2010 marked Earth Hour's biggest participation yet, including people in 128 countries and territories and numerous landmarks worldwide. The Earth Hour sustainability effort has gained the support of numerous world leaders, including United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, quoted as stating, "[a]ll over the world individuals, communities, businesses and governments are creating new examples for our common future – new visions for sustainable living and new technologies to realize it. Tomorrow, let us join together to celebrate this shared quest to protect the planet and ensure human well-being. Let us use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light."
For more information on Earth Hour, go to the Earth Hour website.