Significant numbers of Guyanese have been indicating that they will support Earth Hour observances this year by switching off electricity in their homes for one hour from 20:30hrs on March 27 next. The symbolic act is in support of Earth Hour, a global initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to draw the attention of governments and policy makers worldwide to the  need to take more urgent  action to combat climate change.

Local WWF Official Ms. Janice Bollers said that her office has received several telephone calls from members of the public who want to effectively participate in the observances since information supplied by the WWF  was aired on television and published in this newspaper earlier this week.

Ms. Bollers said that worldwide the symbolic act of turning off electricity for one hour has  done a lot to raise awareness of climate change issues.
This is the first time the event is to be observed locally.
“ The real significance  of Earth Hour, though,” she added, “  lies in its educational value.  Earth Hour reminds us that everyone can take steps to reduce our environmental impacts.”

She said that the timing for the blackout is important, so that it coincides with all others around the world.

She had earlier disclosed that Earth Hour observances started in 2007  in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take their stand against climate change.

In 2008, Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating.

During the observances that year, she said, global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the CN Tower in Toronto, and The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for the cause of reduction of global warming.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour with over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switching off their lights for one hour.