Don't be alarmed tomorrow evening if the lights in your city are suddenly a lot dimmer. More than 2,000 cities across the globe will be turning off lights to observe "Earth Hour." It's a worldwide event in which you're supposed to turn off your lights for one hour beginning at 8:30 p.m. in your local time zone.
The idea came about two years ago in Sydney, Australia, when more than 2.2 million people turned out their lights at the same time. Last year, lights were flicked off in about 400 cities.
According to organizers, switching off the lights like this is a "vote" against climate change. That's great, but I'm mostly excited by the thought of the nifty Google Earth photos that will result (although things probably won't get quite as dim as they did in this photo of the New York City blackout in 2003).
Zach Patton -- Executive Editor. Zach has written about a range of topics, including social policy issues and urban planning and design. Originally from Tennessee, he joined GOVERNING as a staff writer in 2004. He received the 2011 Jesse H. Neal Award for Outstanding Journalism
E-mail: zpatton@governing.com 
Written and compiled by staff writers and editors, GOVERNING View is an on-the-ground, and sometimes behind-the-scenes, look at the topics we're covering in print and online. From notes on what's up in statehouses, county courthouses and city halls, to encounters with people, places and things, GOVERNING View is a window into the side of state and local government you don't always see.
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved. |