THE HOUR IS NEAR!

This is the weekend to take a stand. Earth Hour – this Saturday, March 29 from 8-9 pm local time. You'll be joining millions of people across the U.S. and around the globe in a monumental call for action on climate change. Here's a last-minute checklist to help you make the most of the hour:

· Go compact — Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), that is. Come out of Earth Hour with better lighting than before. Changing to energy-efficient lighting is just one step, but it's a part of Earth Hour we all can do. Identify the bulbs you can replace, then hit the hardware store and stock up. And watch for special free and discounted bulbs in many communities across America.

· Prepare to party — Whether you're hosting a planet-friendly get-together by lamplight, camping out with the kids or just enjoying some unpowered screen-free "you" time, make sure you've got all the supplies you need ready at hand. It's not too late to invite a few more friends.

· Buzz in the dark — You can often hear electric light bulbs buzzing. This weekend, the big buzz comes when we all turn them off. Tell your friends. The more people know about Earth Hour, the bigger an impact we'll each make. E-mail your friends, link to Earth Hour on your blog, pass out flyers and stickers or just ask your neighbors, "What are you doing Saturday at 8?"

· Think long-term — Turning out the lights for one hour is a great start, but what will you be doing after March 29? As Saturday approaches, make a plan to go green after Earth Hour. Recycle more, drive less, talk to your elected leaders—whatever you do, make Earth Hour the beginning of a new, greener you!

Earth Hour Atlanta

Lights...camera...Earth Hour! All over Atlanta, theaters are putting Earth Hour center stage. The famous Fox Theatre is spreading the word about Earth Hour with special announcements on its screens, with special stickers, and Earth Hour newsletters in Playbills. The Cobb Performing Arts Center is marking the hour, too. All told, more than 400 buildings across the Atlanta region, and countless homes and apartments, will turn out this Saturday for Earth Hour.

Bravo, Atlanta. Bravo.

Earth Hour Chicago

Chicago is unstoppable! More than 550 businesses, organizations, and landmarks are participating, with more than 200 buildings just downtown! We've got the Trump Tower Chicago and the Brookfield Zoo. The United Center is turning out the lights on the Michael Jordan statue. And speaking of Chicago's famous athletes, quarterback Kyle Orton of the Chicago Bears is officially on board, as are members of the Chicago Cubs.



Score, Chicago!

Earth Hour Phoenix

Phoenix is kicking into high gear! The Orpheum Theatre. Patriot's Square. Phelps Dodge Tower. The Phoenix Art Museum. All of these city landmarks are now on board! Not to mention outside lights at the Sandra Day O’Connor Federal Courthouse and the main U.S. post office.

It's official—Phoenix delivers.

Earth Hour San Francisco

San Francisco needs you! On Earth Hour morning, volunteers will fan out across the city to spread word about Earth Hour and to hand out free energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs. Teams of volunteers will go out from 9 am to noon on Saturday. If you'd like to help, send an email to earthhour@sfwater.org with your name and phone number, and general part of San Francisco where you live or can volunteer (east side or west side). We'll contact you with meeting points.

Off and running, San Francisco.

Earth Hour Across America

Earth Hour is not just about big cities. It's about towns. And schools. And kids. Two sisters in the third and fifth grades are leading the way in Califon, New Jersey:

We have emailed everyone we know, with the information about Earth Hour and what they can do to help. We are already creating a stir with lots of people telling us that this is a great idea! We are now making posters to put up in our school and around town. Later today we are going over to speak to our town mayor to see how he can help, and to talk to some local business owners to get them involved as well. We are also going to contact our local newspaper to have them do a little story on this. We sure hope people get the message and do their part to help our Earth, and keep the world healthy for all future generations...and not just of the human kind!!!

Earth Hour. In Califon, New Jersey. Miami, Florida. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And all across America.

Earth Hour Around The World

Worried about the Earth Hour weather where you are? As the Sydney Morning Herald reported, the sun will set just in time on Saturday for 17 members of the Australian Antarctic Division at Mawson Station to mark Earth Hour with a special candlelit Earth Hour dinner. The team pictured here has been in the Antarctic since October; they're very aware of the need to conserve energy and protect their environment. They had some visitors in March when the supply ship Aurora Australis stopped by (delivering, among other things, Earth Hour sweatshirts), but it could be eight more months before they see another soul.

They'll use a little energy for heat during Earth Hour - temperatures hover around 15 degrees in Antarctica this time of year, not counting the wind.



(Photo by Jodi Wruck, courtesy Sydney Morning Herald)

Falling for Earth Hour

No, the water won't stop. But the lights on the famed Niagara Falls will be out for Earth Hour on Saturday, on both the American and Canadian sides. Dozens of hotels, restaurants and stores are also marking the hour. As with Earth Hour worldwide, essential lights will stay on, across the Rainbow Bridge, for instance.

Earth Hour, Niagara Falls. See the power we each have clearly in the dark.

Earth Hour – A Matchless Moment

Safety first during Earth Hour! Use battery lights. Try a hand-cranked radio, or just enjoy some quiet starlight. You don't need to turn off everything to take part in Earth Hour - but of course, you can! Be energy smart. Be creative. And stay safe.

Earth Hour Online

To Thinkfinity and beyond! Earth Hour is working with Thinkfinity.org, the online education resource sponsored by the Verizon Foundation and National Geographic, to distribute Earth Hour materials to more than 70 million teachers, parents, kids, and after-school programs. Earth Hour will also be the focus of ThinkFinity's ThinkGreen effort.

What's more, Earth Hour is now all over TreeHugger and its sister site, Planet Green. Check it out!

Earth Hour's video is all over YouTube.

And if you want to know who's behind this growing global movement, check out our corporate partners and sponsors in Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and our national supporting organizations' page.

Click on. Then turn off.

Climate (For) Change – Earth Hour's Weekly Tip

Why just go green at home? Every workplace could stand a little eco-sprucing. Talk to your coworkers and employer about easy steps, like switching to recycled copier paper; making it easy for workers to separate plastic, glass, aluminum and cardboard trash; turning off electronics and nonessential lighting every night; and volunteering as a company for local clean-up projects. The planet will thank you!

New to Earth Hour? Check out our past newsletters here.