The lights will go out on the Empire State Building in New York, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Kremlin and Red Square in Russia and many many more well-known buildings in over 160 countries on Saturday from 8.30-9.30 p.m. local time.
Earth Hour started in 2007 as an Australian initiative to raise awareness about climate-change and the event is growing. Each year, many more landmarks are added to the list of places where the lights will go out.
Popular Earth Hour activities include candlelight dinners with your significant other or candle light sit-ins with music and friends or neighbors. Many people take the opportunity to go for a walk or bike ride to see how their cities and the night sky transform in the relative darkness. Environmental publication Inhabitat adds meditation to the list.
Critics of the event state that one hour will not make a significant impact on nature and that it demonizes electricity and a technology supported, comfortable lifestyle. They say that suddenly switching many lights on and off and using petroleum candle lights is actually harmful.
*Image of Earth Hour celebration via Shutterstock
