Hilltown Families 
Global Sustainability Movement: Earth Hour
Vote Earth: Your Light Switch is Your Vote
Last year we lit candles and placed them through out the house as we shut the lights off for one hour. We were participating in a global statement to take action against global warming called Earth Hour (www.earthhour.org). We invite other families and businesses in Western Massachusetts (and beyond!) to join us this year on Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm by switching off your lights too.
Local organizers have suggested we go one step further, and replace our conventional light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs when we turn them back on to keep the benefits and energy savings going beyond the single hour. Just think of the fun you could have with your family: eat a candlelight dinner, read ghost stories with your kids, have a candlelit music jam, go for a night walk or get out a star chart and star gaze. What are your plans for Earth Hour? Share with us in our comment box below.
[EarthHour.org] – This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.
For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.
This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.
Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.
In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.
We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.
VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.
Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.
I happened upon your website this evening and saw your info on Earth Hour. I decided to write and let you know that I participated in Earth Hour. I live in Kamloops, British Columbia. We are a city of approx. 80,000 people. Look us up on a map.
Some of our friends took part in E.H. but many people were not really aware of when it was happening. Not well advertised in the local media. I think the Mayor and City Council should participate more in this type of event, also the provincial and federal government.
I spoke with a number of people today to find out if they had taken part. A number of them had but some said they knew of it but didn’t remember the date.
I had a quite meditation for the hour. It felt great to sit there in the darkness with only a single candle burning.
I promise I will do more next year to promote Earth Hour. It’s wonderful to know that people all over the world were turning off their power to VOTE EARTH.
Peace and love Artha Sun
“Living Sustainably in the Hilltowns – What’s Your Next Step?”
Saturday, March 28 at 7 pm (lights out at 8:30 for Earth Hour)
West Cummington Congregational Church
27 West Main St., Cummington
Join us for a warm evening of music and face-to-face with some of the most vibrant, committed and passionate folks in the Hilltowns – People who are on the cutting edge of creating a more ecological, realistic, balanced, rooted, connected and nourishing way of life, right here.
Earth Hour has become one of the world’s biggest climate change initiatives. At 8:30 pm on March 28, people around the world will turn their lights off for one hour in a global effort to show that it’s possible to take action on global warming. Bring a candle in a jar! http://www.earthhour.org
Earth Hour event $5 – $10 for employed adults/ $1-5 for unemployed adults and students. (Kids in a quiet mood are welcome!)
A portion of the proceeds goes to the Hilltown Food Pantry in Goshen
More information at http://www.sarahstockwell.com
or music+earthhour@sarahstockwell.com
Check out the Earth Hour Kids web site too:
http://www.earthhourkids.org