Earth Hour: around the world in 10 celebrations

WWF’s ‘Earth Hour’ is on Saturday at 8.30pm. You can take part, wherever you are, but who is celebrating it the best?

By Sophie Yeo

Earth Hour will sweep across the globe on Saturday, with millions turning off their lights to raise awareness the environmental issues threatening the planet.

At 8.30pm, people and organisations across the world will take part in this Mexican Wave of darkness. This hour is an opportunity to sit alone in darkness, pondering the earth’s gloomy future.

Alternatively, you could hang out with Spider Man, attend a reggae concert, or jump from the top of a shopping mall.

These are just some of the ways in which Earth Hour will be celebrated around the globe. There are many more. For those of you with carbon-neutral rocket ships, we’ve planned an itinerary around some of the best.

1. 8.30am happens first in New Zealand

Auckland’s Sky Tower will be the first monument to turn off its lights as Earth Hour begins its journey around the globe.

2. Save the Great Barrier Reef in Australia

Australia celebrates Earth Hour next, where the focus will be on the challenges facing the iconic Great Barrier Reef. Australian band Axis of Awesome have even made jaunty rap song in honour of the event.

3. Hang out with Spider Man in Singapore

Divert your course north to Marina Bay in Singapore, and you’ll find the cast of The Amazing Spider Man 2, who will be switching off the lights across the skyline.

4. Fight for water in Iran

The Zayanderud River means “giver of life” in Persian  – but for the past few years, there has not been a continuous flow of water due to climate change and inadequate water management. An Earth Hour event in front of the Khaju Bridge in Isfahan, Iran, will raise awareness of the issue.

5. Jump off a tall building in Kuwait

Kuwaiti athlete Refaei plans to base jump from the Olympia Mall in Kuwait, where Earth Hour will be celebrated. He has high expectations: yesterday, he tweeted: “Can not wait for this Saturday to be part of it and save the world”.

6. Sit in a darkened room with Putin in Russia

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin has a lot on his mind right now, but that’s not stopping the Kremlin taking part in Earth Hour. The lights will also go out on Red Square.

7. Have a party in a living room in Belgium

The party really begins in Belgium, where WWF-Belgium has enlisted some of the country’s best known bands, including Suarez, Hush Hush and Alek et les Japonaises, to play at unplugged parties in the living rooms of 40 Earth Hour supporters.

8. Write a message on your hand in the Netherlands

You can take the message on climate change to the government, the United Nations … or you could just write it on your hand. Dutch activists will take photos of missives they’ve written on their hands, explaining how they are reducing their ecological footprint, which will then be turned into a photo mosaic.

9. Honour the memory of Bob Marley in Jamaica

In Jamaica, Earth Hour will be dedicated to the memory of Bob Marley. A special concert will see female vocalists cover songs by the reggae legend.

10. Swap rubbish for music in Tahiti

Wind up in Tahiti 23 hours later, where the final Earth Hour will be celebrated with a massive acoustic concert, where 5,000 people will gain access by handing over a piece of recyclable waste they’ve saved from landfill.