www.facebook.com/earthhour

Earth Hour - the largest campaign in history for the planet – has exclusively premiered its Earth Hour 2011 video on Facebook.

Created by one of the world’s most successful independent producers, Village Roadshow, and international award-winning animation and visual effects studio, Animal Logic, the Earth Hour 2011 video captures the passion of Earth Hour demonstrated in 128 countries this year.

Australian band, The Temper Trap, currently in the middle of a sell-out world tour including Glastonbury (UK), Outside Lands Festival (San Francisco) and Corona Capital Festival (Mexico), provided the award-winning backing track “Sweet Disposition”, despite having “retired” the single from partnerships.

The emotive three-minute video showcases a mosaic of professional and amateur imagery shared by the hundreds of millions of people across the planet who took part in the most recent Earth Hour.  It features media reports from the night as well as quotes from Earth Hour Ambassadors including The Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Italian Football Icon, Francesco Totti.

Earth Hour Co-Founder, Andy Ridley, says that it is a great honor to have world-renowned artists working together to help spread Earth Hour’s message.

“Earth Hour proves beyond anything else that one person has the power to make change,” Ridley says. 

“Not only does this video inspire everyone to take action, but it demonstrates the depths of the desire of millions of people from all walks of life who want a better, healthy world,” he says.

Earth Hour 2010 embraced 4,616 cities and towns in 128 countries and territories and involved hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Design Director, Toby Grime of Animal Logic, says that it was the sheer breadth of footage and photographs from world citizens that truly inspired the video’s direction. 

“When you see the imagery that has been captured via mobile phones and amateur video cameras, it brings to life how everyday citizens have taken Earth Hour to their hearts and want to own a solution for the future of the planet,” he says.

Village Roadshow Chairman, John Kirby, says Earth Hour is a call to action for every individual, business and community throughout the world to stand up; take responsibility; get involved and lead the global journey to a sustainable future.  

“It is not a question of whether Village Roadshow should support Earth Hour but how we could.  It is simply our responsibility as citizens of a global community,” he says.

The visual beauty of the video is brought together by the song Sweet Disposition by achingly cool band of the moment, The Temper Trap, whose lyrics appropriately capture the determination of Earth Hour -  “Won’t stop ‘til it’s over; Won’t stop to surrender.”

Mr Ridley says that the world is ready for Earth Hour’s evolution. “In under three short years, Earth Hour has grown to reach over a billion people worldwide - the largest voluntary action ever witnessed,” he says. “If we can achieve this, imagine what else can be done.”

Earth Hour 2011 will take place at 8.30pm, Saturday, 26 March, 2011.

-ends -

Notes to editors

To view the Earth Hour 2011 video, please go to www.facebook.com/earthhour.  Broadcast quality & stills are available from this site.  Earth Hour has over 412,000 Facebook page fans.

For more information please visit:

Earth Hour – www.earthhour.org

Village Roadshow – www.village.com.au

Animal Logic – www.animallogic.com

The Temper Trap – www.thetempertrap.com

Credits:

Script: Village Roadshow

Art Direction: Animal Logic

Audio: Zigzag – www.zigzaglane.com.au

Soundtrack: The Temper Trap (Liberation)

Interviews:

To interview Andy Ridley, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Earth Hour, please contact:

Kirsten Hodgon, Director of Communications, Earth Hour Global

Ph: +61 (0) 424 507 095E: khodgon@wwf.org.au

To interview Toby Grime, Earth Hour Design Director, Animal Logic, please contact:

Anna Hildebrandt

Ph: +61 2 9383 4800E: anna.hildebrandt@al.com.au

United States and Canada have joined forces to leave a resounding punctuation on Earth Hour’s call for action on climate change, as the global ‘lights out’ relay nears the end of its 24-hour cycle.

US:
With the official support of 33 States and with Earth Hour observed in all others, including the national capital, every state across the US has participated in Earth Hour’s global display of action on global warming.  

Earth Hour in the US enjoyed the support of governors from both sides of the aisle, mayors, state legislators, government officials, business, religious and community leaders, university presidents and teachers.

Lights went out at one of the best lit places on Planet Earth – the welcome sign and strip at Las Vegas, Nevada.  At least 45 other landmarks – from the Empire State building to the Golden Gate bridge – also marked the occasion.  They included the Art Deco masterpiece of the Chrysler Building in New York along with the United Nations building.

(lights out on the Las Vegas Strip)

In Washington DC, the National Cathedral and Smithsonian Castle, which houses the administrative functions of the Smithsonian Institution, observed Earth Hour while in the other Washington, the Space Needle in Seattle faded into the night sky.  The Queen Mary Hotel – a former Ocean liner – and Montezuma Castle, ancient cliff dwellings in Arizona, and Mt Rushmore, adorned with gigantic sculptures of US presidents, showed some of the range of monuments to turn off.

Canada:
For one hour a section of the border between Canada and the US was visually and symbolically removed, as a jointly coordinated switch off saw the iconic Niagara Falls disappear in the night. Nearly the last attractions to turn off in both countries were also notable suspension bridges completed less than a year apart – San Francisco’s Golden Gate (1937) and Vancouver’s Lion Gate (1938) bridges.

Canada has a tradition of strong Earth Hour support, and 2010, with some cites and towns taking part is no exception.  

Now in its second year an Earth Hour concert and street party held in downtown Barrie, Ontario, appears to have become a custom. The event itself is in keeping with the theme of Earth Hour - to keep it fun, and to raise awareness about climate change - and is kept lively by international acts as well as local buskers, musicians and artists.

In nearby Toronto, the CN Tower, the world tallest free-standing structure, again dimmed its lights for Earth Hour, in yet another almighty display of landmark action on climate change that has circumnavigated the world.

(Toronto skyline before and during Earth Hour: image credit - a&t photogrpahy)

From north to south and coast to coast the people of South America have stood up to be counted in the greatest ever global action on climate change

Brazil:
Brazilians have participated in Earth Hour in record numbers.  In total, 98 Brazilian cities committed themselves to Earth Hour and encouraged residents to take part in this symbolic gesture to express concern about climate change and the future of the Planet. 2,210 companies, 320 organisations and three state governments Minas Gerais, Acre and Espírito Santo also joined in. Rio de Janeiro switched off some of the best known Brazilian icons in the world: the avenue bordering the Copacabana beach, the Sugarloaf Mountain and the Statue of Christ the Redeemer which was kept in the dark too even though it is presently under repair.

Bolivia:
Iconic landmarks and monuments across the country voted for the planet by flicking their light switches including: Casa Dorada – Golden House, Luis de Fuentes Main Square and Coronel José Eustaquio Méndez Monument in Tarija, and the main squares in Trinidad, San Matías, Puerto Quijarro and San Ignacio de Velasco.  A total of 13 cities and municipalities across Bolivia took part this year.  At an official event in Santa Cruz, an ExpoForest Fair and unplugged concert were held, with over 450 people attending. The three main pavilions were all lit by candlelight.
 
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago:
The campaign in Trinidad and Tobago was spearheaded by media and communication company, CL Communications, a perfect example of the Earth Hour spirit at grass roots level.

Puerto Rico:  
Seven cities took part in Earth Hour in Puerto Rico this year including Rincon, Caguas, Ciales, Morovis, Ponce, and Corozal. In the capital Rincon, locals and tourists were treated to romantic candlelit dinners while the lights went out for Earth Hour. Rincon Town Hall switched off, and an official event was also held in the Plaza Publica de Caguas in Caguas.

Mexico:
Two major events were held in Mexico, one in Cancún and the other in Mexico City. 25 cities took part in this year’s Earth Hour.  In Cancún, a city better known for its partying ways, a peaceful Earth Hour event took place at the Plaza Forum by the Sea, one of the most iconic tourist sites in the region. Lights were turned off around the Plaza, and more than 100 corporations around Cancun, including Coca Cola, HSBC, Riviera Maya and Cozumel joined the initiative.

175 historical archeological sites went dark for the hour, including the Mayan monument Chichen Itza.  More than 20,000 hotel rooms were encouraged to join the initiative, demonstrating a commitment from the hospitality and tourism industry that has been echoed worldwide.  WWF volunteers in Mexico formed a giant panda logo in the dark out of hundreds of candles.  Over 50 schools and universities took part across the country.

Bogota, Columbia:
Columbia's passion and dedication for to climate change was evident as 38 icons and landmarks across the country went dark in support of Earth Hour including Parque Washington and Plazoleta de Maloka. A number of cultural concerts were held around the country including a Symphonic Rock Concert by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Medellín at Parque Lineal Ciudad del Río, which was attended by over 2000 people.
 
Lima, Peru:
The President of Peru emerged from the Presidential Palace to address a gathering of citizens and media outside the palace about the importance of Earth Hour.  Lima Main Square, Lima Cathedral and the Lima Presidential Palace all switched off for the 60 minutes of Earth Hour, sending a powerful message about Peru’s commitment to the planet. Peru’s First Lady, Mrs. Pilar Nores de Garcia, also stood shoulder to shoulder with prominent women across the globe showing their resolution to tackle climate change. “This campaign is like an alarm clock for our conscience and a call for all Peruvians to embrace an individual and collective commitment with our planet,” she said.
 
Ecuador:
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Town Quito set the scene for Quito, Ecuador’s participation in Earth Hour.  In a highly symbolic coming together, the church, government and local authorities of Quito all joined to ensure building lights were switched off and the town was blanketed in darkness. More than 5000 Ecuadorians attended the event, with live music, children singing, and lanterns illuminating the gathering while the lights were off. Yolanda Kakabadse, President of WWF International, addressed the crowd. Maria Caridad del Castillo, Queen of Quito, the Mayor of Santa Cruz, and Minister of Environment, Marcela Aguiñaga, were among those joining with residents to show a commitment to the earth by switching off. Another event was held at the seafront of Puerto Ayora, at Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos.

Belize:
Talking about Earth Hour ambassador Mrs. Kim Barrow, the First Lady of Belize said; "The time to act is now. Tomorrow is way too late. Take responsibility and make your mark. Any other option is unacceptable."
 
The city of San Pedro in Belize switched off for Earth Hour with candlelight parade beginning at Boca del Rio at 6:30pm, culminating at Saca Chispas Field for main event at 8:30pm. San Pedro’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Manuel Heredia gave a speech during the Earth Hour event.

Guatemala City:  
In celebration of Earth Hour, a soccer game between Guatemala’s two best known local teams was held early so the stadium lights could be switched off at 8:30pm for Earth Hour. In a special ceremony before the game, the players stormed the field wearing Earth Hour T-shirts; over 8,000 people watched the game. The famous Torre Del Reformador tower was one of the icons of Guatemala that was plunged into darkness. The official Earth Hour event in Antigua saw over 700 people in central park witnessing Earth Hour around them.

One of the most stark before-and-after shot you'll see this Earth Hour; Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree, then extinguished at 8:30...

   

Click here to download:

Victoria_Harbour_before_and_af.zip (290 KB)

There's a very startling difference in these two photos of Toronto's financial district during Earth Hour.

   

Click here to download:

Torontos_Financial_District_sw.zip (188 KB)

Berlin in Germany switches off their lights for Earth Hour! We've got two videos sharing the celebrations at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and also interviews with Earth Hour organisers.

Interviews with Earth Hour organisers at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin  

Brazil celebrates Earth Hour by switching off the Estaiada Bridge in Rio De Janeiro and the Christ the Redeemer in Estaiada Bridge monument. We've got two videos of these monuments switching off from the air!

Christ the Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, switches off:

Earth Hour 2010 is drawing to a close, and we're still trying to share with you our favourite photographs that keep coming in from our country teams, contributors and supporters of Earth Hour!

                   

Click here to download:

Huge_Earth_Hour_photo_round-up.zip (2510 KB)