Telford & Wrekin Council to mark Earth Hour
Telford & Wrekin Council will join hundreds of millions of people across the globe in switching off non essential lights for one hour to celebrate Earth Hour this evening.
Taking place at 8.30pm Earth Hour is the world’s largest public action for the environment.
Telford & Wrekin Council say its participation in the global “lights out” event acknowledges its commitment to actions that benefit the planet.
Council leader Kuldip Sahota said: “Organisations have a responsibility to operate in a way that doesn’t jeopardise the environment or deplete the world’s natural resources.
“That is why we are supporting Earth Hour and – as far as possible – the council will switch off non essential lighting around the borough to mark the event.
“I would also ask people to help back the campaign by switching off non essential lights and unplugging non essential equipment and also turning their lights off at home.”
Earth Hour began as a single city initiative in Sydney, Australia, and has since grown into a global movement with more than 5,000 cities and towns in 135 countries switching off their lights.
Famous landmarks that have stood in darkness during previous years as a powerful symbol of landmark environmental action include China’s Forbidden City, Eiffel Tower, Table Mountain, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Buckingham Palace, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Niagara and Victoria Falls, the Empire State Building and Sydney Opera House.
“In its sixth year, with hundreds of millions of people taking part in Earth Hour, we want to go beyond the hour to encourage positive action for the environment,” said Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley.
“We have created a new element, ‘I Will If You Will’, to offer the incentive to share the dream amongst us all. The power of social media enables us to unite the global community in the endeavour to protect the planet,” he said.
More information about Earth Hour can be found at www.earthhour.org.
