STEWART COPELAND

http://www.stpete.org/news/3-26-09_st_p ... r_2009.asp

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (March 26, 2009) – Mayor Rick Baker announced today that St. Petersburg will officially support Earth Hour 2009 on Saturday, March 28 as the city shuts off its non-essential lights for an hour (from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.) in a worldwide "vote for Earth." He also urges citizens and the city's business community to follow the city's lead where appropriate.

The global climate event is led by the World Wildlife Fund. Around the U.S. and world, tens of millions of people will participate. Last year, 1,000 cities on seven continents turned off their lights as major icons went dark, including the Sydney Opera House, the Coliseum in Rome, the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge.

"Through the symbolic flip of a switch, St. Petersburg will unite with thousands of cities and millions of people around the world to support the cause of global sustainability," said Mayor Rick Baker. "I urge our residents, who I know share in St. Petersburg's careful preservation of our precious environment, to join me in this effort."

City residents and property owners wishing to follow the mayor's lead may participate by turning off their non-essential lights on Saturday evening from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. The mayor has enlisted the support of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership in the effort.

In St. Petersburg, ornamental lights in parks and at city facilities will be turned off. However, lights necessary for public safety, including security lights, street lights, traffic signals, lights in public places and those necessary at the Albert Whitted Airport, will not go out.


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Please note: The airport lights will remain on, in case you were wondering if they were deemed essential.

People at work were talking about this today.

My city is very big on this. So are all the schools in my area. Yesterday, my school and many others held our own Earth Hour and notes were sent home encouraging families to participate today. Last year we had amazing participation rates. It's a small thing but it sends a strong message and does a lot for awareness. Afterwards I found that students and staff were much better about turning off lights and computers when not needed.

>descends soapbox made of 100% post consumer paper<

Whoops! Posted a dup thread. I am, at least, sitting in the dark while typing this (save TV glow...we had tornado warnings earlier).

I'm not actually wearing the bike helmet, but it's right here handy. Just FYI.

Man, Dive! Nothing brings home the urgency of climate change quite like tornado warnings. It sounds like you were wise not to venture downtown.
There was a big concert downtown here too. I stayed home with the kids though and played a board game by candle light. My daughter had the laptop going on the battery and my son pulled out his new acoustic guitar. Unfortunately, he hasn't learnt to play anything yet. Maybe by next year's Earth Hour he'll be able to lead us in a rousing sing along. If anyone else participated it would be nice to hear what you did.

Earth hour ended not long ago here in Vegas. I drove along side the Vegas strip during the hour. Very eerie. Kind of post-apocolptic. Kind of surprised that essentially all the casinos on the strip participated despite the logistical difficulties.

Yeah, I was driving home from work and it was dark....very creepy for sure.

My kids and the sitter went to the park while I was at work today and made a painting out of recycled paper and home made paint. (water and food coloring) Pretty creative I would say. Then they glued the paper to some wood shapes a heart and a star. The wood she told me was recycled too. Pretty neat stuff.

We turned off the lights and TV..lit some candles.