A flick of the switch to do your part

We all may find ourselves singing along with Ms. Furtado on March 29th, when Prince Rupert joins other communities around the world in a one hour dedication of conservation known as the Earth Hour.

Originated by the World Wildlife Federation the first city to join up with the cause was Syndey, Australia which was quick to turn off the lights when the campaign launched last year.

Since then the list of cities has grown with a number of North American cities joining in on the plans for one hour of darkness.

Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond explained how the city has been working hard to become a Green city and will participate in Earth hour, they will turn off all unnecessary electronics and lights in its facilities, however street lights will be left on for safety reasons.

The Daily News featured some of the background of the event in Wednesday's paper.

Bright idea looks to illuminate world on warming
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Pages one and three

The city of Prince Rupert has agreed to join forces with cities around the globe and turn off its lights for one hour at 8 p.m. on March 29.

Known as Earth Hour, the symbolic measure was started by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the city of Sydney Australia in 2007 and has since grown to a worldwide phenomenon, said Jennifer Rice a member of Prince Rupert's Green Advisory Task Force and the WWF's Prince Rupert community programs coordinator.

"It demonstrates concern for a changing climate and that people can make a difference," said Rice.

The list of participating cities this year includes Toronto, Mississauga, Chicago, Yellowknife, Tel Aviv and many more.

In Sydney in 2007, almost 2,000 businesses participated and 60,000 households took part.
The city's goal was a five per cent reduction in power demand from the grid. They managed to double this with a decrease of consumption by some 10.2 per cent.

And the sight of some of Sydney's landmarks plunged into darkness generated world-wide media attention.

"Put in real terms, it was the equivalent of removing 48,000 cars from the road for an hour," said Rice.

City council agreed to participate in Earth Hour and to encourage all local businesses and citizens to do the same.

In addition, they will contact B.C. Hydro to see if it is possible to measure the overall reduction in power usage for the one hour.

Prince Rupert is one of the first cities in British Columbia to join on to the Earth Hour campaign.
"The city has been working hard at becoming a much greener community. Prince Rupert is becoming known as a green port and the city is striving to become a green city," said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.

"Council has established a Green Task Force to develop both a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan and a corporate energy plan as part of our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and the members of our Task Force have a great set of skills, experience, knowledge and enthusiasm to be successful."

The city itself will turn off all unnecessary electronics and lights in its facilities, however street lights will be left on for safety reasons.

James Leape, director general of WWF, said the idea behind the campaign is to show that one person, one community or one business can make a difference when it comes to climate change.
"Earth Hour reminds us that each of us can be part of the solution to climate change," Leape said.

"The event in Sydney created a powerful global message that it's possible for individuals to take meaningful action on climate change - and that's the message we now intend to take to people all around the world," said WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne.

"Reducing the world's emissions is a shared responsibility. Each city must commit to reducing its carbon output and every single person, business and community should take it upon themselves to participate."