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Lights Switch Off at Birthplace of Light Bulb

March 29, 2009 - Some of the United State's best known skylines darkened on Saturday night, from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Tucson and Federal capital Washington, D.C. - a place where the world is looking to a new administration for clear indications of a global view of the climate change issue.

In Pennsylvania, California, Arkansas, New Mexico and Michigan participation in Earth Hour was officially a statewide activity.

In one highly symbolic action, the lights went out at the location most often associated with the invention of the incandescent light bulb - Thomas Edison's laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey. In New York, the great skyscrapers of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building darkened for the event, along with some neon signs in Times Square and theatre marquees in nearby Broadway.

Most symbolically, for a world faced with global climate catastrophe, the lights also went out at UN Headquarters, having earlier been extinguished at other UN offices such as the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The US participation in Earth Hour sent a clear message that Americans cared about the future of the planet and would stand with the rest of the world in seeking to find solutions to the escalating climate crisis, WWF-US said.

"The true power of Earth Hour can be seen in the tremendous opportunity for individuals, communities, businesses, and governments around the world to unite for a common purpose, against a common threat which affects us all," said WWF-US President and CEO Carter Roberts.

"As the world witnessed Saturday night, the simple action of turning off lights can inspire people around the world to take action, and to make a serious long-term commitment to living more sustainable lives. On behalf of WWF, I want to thank all participants for making Earth Hour a truly memorable hour for the entire planet."

In Washington, D.C. families organized a candle-light walk to observe the city in the dark against a darkened Capitol Dome.

In Nashville and Los Angeles crowds gathered to watch their Mayors flip the switch and kick off Earth Hour in their cities. In Chicago families gathered around flashlights to play board games.

The enthusiasm for turning lights out extended to one of the most notoriously over lit places on earth - the Las Vegas Strip noted for its myriad casinos and all-night attractions. Vegas, The New York New York Hotel and Casino colored the tops of its miniature New York skyline green in support of Earth Hour.

Elsewhere on the Strip, the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino added the Earth Hour logo to its Marquee.Thousands of people downtown gathered to be part of this global event and witness a live countdown on the Fremont Street Experience Canopy. Glow sticks were handed out just prior to city leaders plunging the strip into dark.

Further west, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco turned off for Earth Hour. Other US icons to go dark included the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the Church of Latter-Day Saints Temple in Salt Lake City, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C , the Space Needle in Seattle and the Santa Monica Pier & Ferris Wheel and Nokia Plaza in Los Angeles. Earth Hour apparently also drew the spontaneous support of some Honolulu businesses, while local media reported that the Bishop Museum, the state's largest and repository of the most notable collection of Hawaiian royal artifacts, had turned off its lights.

US corporate icons The Coca-Cola Company, Wells Fargo and Hewlett-Packard.were among business supporters of the event.

View Original Media Release at Earthhour.org

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