Earth Hour this Saturday

So this Saturday, Penn State is doing a lot for Earth Hour. And, I got a really good email from Paul Ruskin at OPP that shows some small participation! Cool! Maybe we can see that we should step it up a bit...make a slippery slope of it.

Earth Hour Participation

(University Park) On Saturday, March 28th at 8:30 p.m., the exterior lights on Penn State’s Old Main will go out for Earth Hour 2009. “We feel it is symbolically important to join in this worldwide effort to show the effect that many people, working together, can have on climate change,” says Steve Maruszewski, Deputy Director of the Penn State’s Office of Physical Plant. In addition, decorative floodlights at the Lion Shrine, the Nittany Lion Inn and the Information Sciences and Technology building will be shut-off. Even the Bryce Jordan Center Marquee sign will be dark in honor of this international collaboration. Penn State students suggested various building lights to consider, and after safety evaluations, all were approved.

Penn State also encourages students, faculty, staff, and local businesses to participate in this effort by turning off their individual office and residential lights during that hour to show their support for slowing the effects of climate change. Penn State will be joining over 2,712 cities in 83 countries in this event sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund. Other cultural icons that will go black include Chicago’s Sears Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, New York’s United Nations and Empire State Building, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. What began as an effort in Sidney, Australia two years ago has grown into a worldwide celebration of the power of people to turn it off.

Here's to a small step!