Just who is taking part in Earth Hour?
In Dubai and across the world - who is taking part in Earth Hour?
Manila, Bangkok, Vancouver and Miami are just some of the countries from all over the globe joining Dubai to take part in the 2008 Earth Hour, to be held on March 29.
The event first came to public attention on March 31 last year, when Sydney, Australia, took the radical step of encouraging a mass turn-off of lights and other electrical appliances among businesses and individuals, in order to promote awareness of the environment.
This year an estimated 30 cities from all over the world will be joining Sydney as ‘partner cities' in the initiative, with many, many more taking part.
As well as the above, a multitude of other cities and towns will be taking part, with the highest volume of individuals places coming from Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK and the USA.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UAE:
Dubai was first Arab city to join the movement, and the initiative is supported by Dubai Municipality, the Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa), Dubai International Financial Centre, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai World Trade Centre, as well as several of the city's most prominent property developers.
Notable landmarks to be switched off during Earth Hour, which is 8pm local time for every city, include the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
As well as targeting individual people and homes, businesses make up a huge proportion of the involvement in Earth Hour. Below is a list of companies, organisations and government bodies from the UAE taking part:
- aaUAE - Dubai
- Bee'ah: The Sharjah Environment Co - Sharjah
- BITS Pilani Dubai Campus - Dubai
- Citibank - Dubai
- CMA CGM Systems, Global Delivery Centre. FZ LLC - Dubai
- College of Food and Agriculture – Al Ain, Abu Dhabi
- Cue Media - Dubai
- Dubai Courts - Dubai
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority - Dubai
- Dubai Kindness Movement - Dubai
- Dubai Municipality - Dubai
- Dubai Outsource Zone - Dubai
- Dubai Outsource Zone - Dubai
- Dubai Studio City - Dubai
- Emirates Environmental Group - Dubai
- Environment agency - Abu Dhabi
- Hewlett Packard - Dubai
- Jazirah Aviation Club - Ras Al Khaimah
- Leo Burnett - Dubai
- M. Y. & Company (FZE) - Sharjah
- RSA - Dubai
- Satyam Computer Services Ltd. - Dubai
- TECOM Investments – Dubai
Other countries in the GCC with businesses supporting Earth Hour are Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with over 12,000 businesses signing up globally.
Landmarks
The home of Earth Hour, Sydney, will mark its second year participating in Earth Hour by switching off the lights of two of its most recognised buildings, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Two of the main organisations offering support to the initiative in the city are the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia (WWF) and the Sydney Morning Herald.
In the United States, the country's tallest building, the Sears Tower in Chicago, will be cutting power for off for all non-essential exterior lighting, while all through the Midwest, McDonalds fast food outlets will be switching off the lights in their iconic ‘Golden Arches' signs.
In year previous to 2008, San Francisco had been running its own Lights Out initiative in October, but this was altered to coincide with Earth Hour. As a result, the city's famous Golden Gate Bridge will dim non-essential and decorative lighting on towers.
Over the border in Canada, the majority of buildings in Toronto city centre will be dimming the lights including the landmark CN Tower.
In Asia, Singapore's Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre's multi-coloured lights, which illuminate nightly from its iconic sails on the roof of the centre, will be switched off.
