Today is Earth Hour Day, when more than 5,000 cities in 135 countries are expected to switch off their lights for an hour.
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when more than two million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.
A year later, more than fifty million people in 35 countries/territories participated, with global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and Rome’s Colosseum being plunged into darkness for an hour.
By 2010, 128 countries and territories joined in, from Asia Pacific and Africa to Europe and the Americas, and this year more than 5,000 cities in 135 countries are expected to “switch off”.
Earth Hour 2011 takes place today at 8.30 pm local time. So, unless you feel that Eskom has already forced you to into clocking up a few Earth Hour credits, do your bit for the planet and turn your lights off for an hour at 8.30 pm tonight.