As a symbol of commitment to the planet, “Earth Hour” is a worldwide movement for the planet organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
“Earth Hour” is held every year all over the world encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. in a location’s local time on the last Saturday in March.
WWF started Earth Hour in 2007 to unite the world and make a stand against climate change. Today, Earth Hour is the world’s largest environmental movement for the planet that involves more than 162 countries and 7000 cities worldwide.
Earth Hour is more than a one hour event. It aims to empower an interconnected global community to achieve tangible environmental outcomes for our living planet.
In 2007, the event was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, since then it has grown to engage more than 7000 cities and towns worldwide.
Organisers said this year’s demonstration would be the biggest yet. Sudhanshu Sarronwala, chair of Earth Hour global said: “Climate change is not just the issue of the hour; it’s the issue of our generation. The lights may go out for one hour, but the actions of millions throughout the year will inspire the solutions required to change climate change.”
Some the world’s most famous landmarks will turn their lights out. The UN building in New York will join London’s Houses of Parliament, Rio de Janeiro’s Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. In Bulgaria a giant Danube sturgeon fish will be drawn in fire in the capital, Sofia. Millions of other, more humble, participants will take part by simply switching from electricity to candlelight for an hour.
In 2014, Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza were plunged into darkness for the first time since 2009 to mark Earth Hour with dozens of other famous landmarks across the globe.
The “Plus” sign on the Earth Hour logo symbolises that the campaign is beyond just 60 minutes.
Egypt’s city of Giza was among 7,000 cities in 162 countries participating in Earth Hour at 8:30PM in local time.
Egypt is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with the World Health Organization reporting that breathing the air in Cairo for just one day, is equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes.
Will Egypt participate in “Earth Hour “this year again? Will you join this event tomorrow by turning your home’s light off for only one hour? Will you save the planet?