All 50 States and the Nation's Capital Join the World in Turning Out for WWF's Earth Hour This Evening

WASHINGTON, March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced today that Earth Hour will be officially observed in all 50 states, uniting the country in the single largest call to action on climate change in history. 

Non-essential lighting in more than 3,500 cities in 125 countries around the world will be turned off this evening, Saturday, March 27 at 8:30 pm local time. Of that total, 36 countries will be participating for the first time, 58 nations' capital's, including Washington, D.C., all of the G20 nations, and seven of the most populated cities in the world are turning off their lights for Earth Hour.

In the United States, governors from both sides of the aisle, mayors, state legislators, government officials, celebrities, business, religious and community leaders, university presidents, teachers and individuals are joining together to demonstrate their commitment to fighting climate change and creating solutions for the future of the planet. Collectively, they will turn off the lights at governors' residences and state capitol buildings, iconic landmarks, businesses, schools and homes, for one hour, Earth Hour.

"Earth Hour sends a clear message that Americans care about their country and the planet. By turning the lights off on pollution and climate change, we will make the switch to a cleaner, safer and more secure world," said Earth Hour US Managing Director Leslie Aun.

The lights at the governors' residences and/or state capitol buildings will go dark in 33 states; Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

More than 45 national and local monuments and landmarks across the U.S. will be turning off their lights during Earth Hour including:

• Mount Rushmore in South Dakota
• The Las Vegas Strip in Nevada
• Niagara Falls in New York
• National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
• Smithsonian Castle in Washington D.C.
• Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
• Space Needle in Seattle
• Empire State Building
• Chrysler Building
• Queen Mary Hotel in Los Angeles
• The Pylons at L.A. International Airport
• Santa Monica Pier
• St. Louis Gateway Arch
• The United Nations Building in New York
• Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis
• Duluth Aerial Bridge in Minnesota
• Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall in Alaska
• Montezuma Castle in Arizona
• The Wrangler in Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Milwaukee Public Market in Wisconsin
• Chase Tower in Dallas
• The National Aquarium in Baltimore
• Sears/Willis Tower in Chicago

More than 150 cities, towns and counties will dim the lights at buildings in their municipalities including; Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Huntsville, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sioux Falls, Spokane, St. Louis, and Winston-Salem. In each of these cities individuals, businesses and organizations are participating in activities to engage, enlighten and spread the Earth Hour message. 

Some examples of how Earth Hour is being celebrated in select cities include:

New York City

Estee Lauder employees are asked to turn off lights and computers today, before the start of the weekend.  The Grand Hyatt's (near Grand Central) analog clock will countdown to Earth Hour starting 24 hours in advance.  The Great White Way is also on board for the great blackout, with all Broadway theatres participating by turning off roof and marquee lights for Earth Hour. 

Los Angeles

Earth Hour dining will be in full swing at restaurants in the area including Euphoria Loves Rawvolution, Lago's and Ocean & Vine's. Additionally the outside, decorative lighting will be turned off at downtown LA's AEG Live including the Staples Center.

Chicago

In Chicago, where ComEd is a presenting sponsor, nearly 200 downtown buildings will dim non-essential lighting for one hour, including Willis Tower, Merchandise Mart and the Wrigley Building. The City of Chicago will be turning off the exterior lights at City Hall, the Cultural Center and the Chicago Police Department Headquarters. Additionally, dozens of Chicagoland restaurants and hotels are serving dinners by candlelight including: Cyrano's Bistrot, Bistro Bordeaux, Harry Caray's, Osteria Via Stato, Red Kiva, Nacional 27, Duke's Alehouse, and Kitchen, C-View Restaurant, Swissotel Chicago and the Conrad Chicago Hotel.

Baltimore

The University of Maryland has brought March Madness fever off the court, joining as an official participating school for Earth Hour. The Inner Harbor will be noticeably darker with the National Aquarium, USS Constellation/Historic Ships in Baltimore, and Domino Sugar and Rusty Scupper signs dimming their lights in observance. City Hall will also go dark.

St. Louis

Whole Foods Galleria will be turning off the lights in the café for dinners by candlelight with a performance by local musician Monica Case.  The famous St. Louis Gateway Arch will also go dark for Earth Hour. 

Washington, DC

A multitude of hotels including the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Fairmont and Westin Grand DC will host candlelight dinners with dining specials in celebration of Earth Hour.

Phoenix

A couple will hold their wedding ceremony completely by candlelight and torches at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort this Saturday evening in celebration of Earth Hour.

Dallas

Dallas is leading the charge for climate awareness in the Lone Star State, with more than 30 buildings in North Texas turning off their lights including the Bank of America Building, Fountain Place, Chase Tower, Reunion Tower and Ferris Plaza.

Denver

The Mile High City's famous INVESCO Field is going dark for Earth Hour. The Governor's mansion and state capitol building will also go dark in observation of this global call for climate change. 

San Francisco

The Ferry Building on Embarcadero will go dark and plans to offer "pedal-powered" music during an Earth Hour celebration, with energy powered by humans riding bikes. They will join the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, Coit Tower and City Hall in dimming for Earth Hour. 

Boston

As Earth Hour takes over Bean Town, buildings throughout the city of Boston, including City Hall, will turn out in support of this year's event.  The city's education community also has jumped full-force behind Earth Hour with several local universities, such as Tufts and Brandeis, going dark for one hour.

Las Vegas

Visitors to Las Vegas won't be able to keep quiet as they watch the lights of the world famous Las Vegas Strip turn off for Earth Hour. Visitors and residents alike will get a chance to see such iconic landmarks as the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign and Luxor's shining beam turn out for this extraordinary event.

More than 45 national organizations have pledged their support for Earth Hour and are encouraging their members and local chapters across the country to get involved. The National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, NAACP, LULAC, Youth Service America, 4-H, National Park Service's WebRangers, Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots, Earth Day Network, National Honor Society, YMCA for the USA, Building Owners and Managers Association International, Unitarian Universalist Association, and the United Church of Christ join the diverse group of supporters for 2010.

Earth Hour will be celebrated on many well-known college campuses.

• University of Virginia - Non-essential lights will be turned off across campus during Earth Hour. Local businesses are being encouraged to join with students and faculty in turning out.
• Michigan State University - Events are taking place across campus to recognize Earth Hour including a steel drum circle performance, poetry slam, relaxation lessons and a jazz performance.
• University of Phoenix - the online university is encouraging Earth Hour participation across all campuses nationwide and will be turning off the lights in Central Administration buildings in Phoenix.
• University of Florida - The lights around Century Tower and lights on fountains and on outdoor art installations will be turned off from Friday evening through Monday morning in recognition of Earth Hour.
• Wake Forest - Students created an Earth Hour video to encourage participation on campus and will host a lights-out event on campus which will feature a light bulb exchange, free pizza and environmental games.
• George Washington University - The University will host "blackout" and "glow-in-the-dark" parties in residence halls and will feature a Battle of the Bands in the dark.

Sports figures, actors and models are supporting Earth Hour 2010. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his wife supermodel Gisele Bundchen, as well as two-time NBA MVP and Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash have recorded public service announcements (PSAs) to help raise awareness of the significance of climate change action.  Edward Norton has signed on for the second year in a row to show his support for Earth Hour with a new video encouraging people to join the movement with him.

Facebook® and Twitter continue to be the biggest drivers of awareness and action about Earth Hour.  Facebook will continue to help raise awareness for Earth Hour with a lights out profile picture and status message on key Pages including Facebook, Celebs, Sports, Education, Facebook for Good, among others. In addition, Earth Hour videos and PSAs posted on YouTube.com have been viewed more than 500,000 times.

During the largest global call to action on climate change in history, the U.S. will be joined by more than 3,500 cities, towns and villages in 125 countries including; Athens, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, London, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, Mumbai, Nairobi, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Singapore, Toronto, Stockholm, Hiroshima and Zimbabwe.

Countries participating for the first time include; Nepal, Kosovo, Mongolia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Czech Republic, Cambodia, Northern Mariana Islands, Tanzania, Oman, Mozambique, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Faro Islands, Laos, Slovenia, Lithuania, Bangladesh, Channel Islands, Cook Islands, Malta, Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Paraguay, Bonaire, Morocco, Liechtenstein, Uruguay, Zimbabwe, Samoa, Sri Lanka and Macau.

The Great Pyramids of Giza, one the world's greatest symbol of the power of collective action, heads up a list of more than 1,200 landmarks around the planet switching off their lights for Earth Hour, including:

• Italy's Trevi Fountain in Rome and Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Big Ben, the London Eye and Houses of Parliament in London
• Edinburgh Castle in Scotland
• India Gate and Red Fort in Delhi
• Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
• Bosphorous Bridge in Istanbul
• Hohensalzburg Castle in Salzburg
• Independence Angel in Mexico City
• Eiffel Tower in Paris
• Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial
• London Eye, Table Mountain
• Christ the Redeemer statue
• Sydney Opera House
• Burj Khalifa - The world's largest building

WWF hopes that today's events are just one step in an ongoing conversation and continual effort toward creating a cleaner, safer and more secure future. 

WWF officials stress the importance of safety during Earth Hour, asking that all lighting related to public safety remain on.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

*Footage and photographs of Earth Hour 2010 will be made available to the media beginning on Saturday.

Earth Hour 2010 Photos: http://earthhour.panda.org/photos/

Earth Hour 2010 Broadcast Quality Footage: http://earthhour.panda.org/videos/

Earth Hour 2009 Photos and Footage: https://www.myearthhour.org/news/for-media

Logos: https://www.myearthhour.org/tools

Follow Earth Hour on twitter: www.Twitter.com/EarthHourUS

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

ABOUT EARTH HOUR:

Since its inception three years ago, Earth Hour has captured the world's imagination, becoming a global phenomenon. Last year, for Earth Hour 2009 nearly one billion people in 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents turned out. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 80 million Americans and 318 cities officially voted for action with their light switch. For more information about how to get involved, please visit us at www.myearthhour.org. 

About World Wildlife Fund:

WWF is the world's largest conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, stop the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.    

SOURCE World Wildlife Fund