Earth Hour reaches space

MANILA, Philippines - Finally, Earth Hour breaches Earth! For the first time, the global 60-minute switch-off will extend to the International Space Station, where Earth Hour astronaut-Ambassador Andre Kuipers shall stand vigil over our imperiled planet as the lights switch off on March 31, sharing photos and live commentary.

Kuipers says he is thrilled to participate in Earth Hour to literally take the globally-significant movement to new heights.

“There’s no better way to raise awareness for the future of the most beautiful planet in the whole universe!” Kuipers said.

Back on Earth, preparations are frenetic. From Angola to Zimbabwe, organizing teams from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and its growing roster of allies are preparing for what is hoped to be the largest environmental celebration in human history.

Earth Hour founder and executive director Andy Ridley says everyone from citizens to businesses, school children to world leaders, need to believe they can make a difference.

“The state of our planet affects each and every one of us,” says Ridley.

“Last year Earth Hour reached 1.8 billion people across the planet. This year through digital media we are offering a greater opportunity to connect people with the desire to take much needed action for the environment,” he said.

Ridley – the founder of Earth Hour – is slated to celebrate Earth Hour 2012 in the Philippines, which has been rewarded for topping Earth Hour’s global town and city participation levels for three straight years by being declared a ‘Hero Country’.

WWF-led switch-off ceremonies are slated for the cities of Makati, Cebu and Davao – though other cities and towns are expected to hold well-organized events to observe the switch-off.

Makati City’s Ayala Triangle Gardens shall be the central hub for Luzon. At 6:30 p.m. on March 31, glow-in-the-dark dance troupe Bailes de Luces and the Caracol dancers shall form the vanguard of an Earth-themed parade which starts at the Makati fire station and ends at Ayala Tower One – where WWF-Philippines national ambassador Rovilson Fernandez shall host a program with performances from El Gamma Penumbra, Brigada and other groups.

Ridley shall lead the country’s main switch-off event, hosted by WWF with the help of Ayala Land and the Makati City government.

Cebu City’s Plaza Independencia shall be the chief switch-off site for the Visayas. A festive street parade led by local Sinulog Dancers shall start from Fuente Osmeña Circle from 5:30 p.m. onwards. The Cebu switch-off further features a candle lighting ceremony capped off by the release of biodegradable sky lanterns. Cebu’s event is in cooperation with the Aboitiz Group and the Cebu City government.

SM Davao shall be the main switch-off site for Mindanao. WWF-Philippines national ambassador Marc Nelson shall host the switch-off, which features a tribal-themed parade around SM Davao at 6:30 p.m. Black-light and fire-dancers shall woo the crowd with specialized routines once the city plunges into darkness. The Davao event is in collaboration with SM Supermalls, the Green Alliance and the Davao City government.

Earth Hour Philippines national director lawyer Gia Ibay shares, “We’re extremely excited for this year’s switch-off ceremonies. Though the Visayas and Mindanao have always observed their own unique switch-off ceremonies, WWF has traditionally celebrated Earth Hour from Manila. To commemorate our country’s fifth Earth Hour, we thought it high time for WWF to observe the movement across the archipelago – which has always been what we’ve aimed for.”