A bright idea to highlight Earth’s hour of darkness

A SYMBOLIC act guaranteeing vital attention for environmentally friendly policies, or a well-meaning but ultimately pointless move that does nothing to solve a genuine problem?

Tonight, you get to decide. Just make sure to be sitting in the dark when you do.

Between 8.30pm and 9.30pm, millions of people across the globe will be plunged into darkness as part of Earth Hour.

The project started as a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) initiative in Sydney five years ago in an attempt to highlight growing climate change concern.

In the intervening period, 128 countries have signed up to Earth Hour, with millions of people deciding to turn off all electrical appliances for 60 minutes every year as part of an environmentally friendly measure.

Among the world-renowned landmarks due to be plunged into darkness this evening are the pyramids in Egypt, Sydney Harbour in Australia and the Colosseum in the heart of Rome.

A similar situation will take place in Ireland, with events planned for Dublin, Cork, Galway and other parts of the country.

The Irish Earth Hour initiatives will include six cyclists powering an open-air cinema at South King Street in Dublin, and the turning off of lights at Leinster House, the Four Courts and Stormont in Belfast, where a ghost tour will be held.

Cork city’s Blackrock Observatory will show a special screening of award-winning Shell to Sea campaign documentary The Pipe, while Kinsale beach will hold a child-friendly sky lanterns launch.

Despite the support, however, Earth Hour enthusiasts may be facing an uphill struggle to ensure the majority of the population signs up to the event this year. At the same time as the annual initiative is taking place, the Republic of Ireland will be playing FYR Macedonia in a crunch Euro 2012 qualifier at the Aviva Stadium — which, barring a floodlight disaster, will not be participating in the event.

“We think many people will probably not turn off the TV for the match, but they may like to make some gesture, turn off all other lights, electrical equipment in the house,” accepted environmentalist Duncan Stewart.

However, he added that the symbolism of the event is still essential to highlighting the world’s climate change woes.

“For me Earth Hour means that once a year, for one hour, we celebrate our environment and the need to protect our environment,” he said.

“It is a time to communicate with everyone else on our streets — even in country areas — to show we care.” he said.

www.earthhour.org or www.culgreen.ie