The world’s largest grassroots environmental movement, Earth Hour is almost upon us!  This Saturday, March 31, the Velazquez family here in Alpharetta, Georgia, USA and hundreds of millions of environmentally aware people across our planet  will once again show their commitment to the Earth and voluntarily turn off all their non-essential lights for Earth Hour, 8:30 – 9:30 pm local time.

Started in 2007 when WWF-Australia inspired Sydney to show their support for climate change action, Earth Hour has grown from a one-city initiative to a 5,251 city strong global movement.  In 2011 it encompassed 1.8 billion people in 135 countries across all seven continents.

This year Earth Hour has a new campaign – “I Will If You Will” – using YouTube as their video platform youtube.com/earthhour to encourage people to share a personal dare with the world by asking “What are you willing to do to save the planet?” Earth Hour’s Co-Founder and Executive Director says:

“I Will If You Will gives every individual the opportunity to inspire their friends, colleagues and neighbours to take sustainability actions not just on the hour but beyond the hour.

The challenges we are seeing from all walks of life are truly inspiring” ~ Andy Ridley

Of course, they want us to go beyond the hour, using this event as a catapult to inspire more action.  Watch this cool Earth Hour 2012 video below from YouTube:

You can download a wallpaper, or even send an e-card to your friends and family here.

About Earth Hour

Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative in partnership with WWF and Leo Burnett. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 31, 2012 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action.  In 2012, Earth Hour’s I Will If You Will concept invites individuals and organisations to challenge others to an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour.  Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2011 reached over 1.8 billion people in 135 countries across every continent, receiving reports as “˜the World’s largest campaign for the planet.’

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries.  WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Earth Hour aims to encourage an interconnected global community to share the opportunities and challenges of creating a sustainable world.  We couldn’t agree more!  Enter your pledge for Earth Hour 2012, see how you can create buzz for this worldwide event, and learn  more.

Happy greening, and Make sure to turn off your lights this Saturday night  on March 31, 2012, at 8:30pm, wherever you are!

~ Linda V.