Earth Hour 2013

Overview

Earth Hour is a symbolic action. Although there is carbon saved by turning things off, the point is the unmissable demonstration that a huge chunk of the world's population caring about the same thing at the same time. If we can manage this for Earth Hour, why not for grander environmental things? The Hour started in Sydney in 2007, and has become an international event in the years since. There are Earth Hour events in Kenya, India and Ireland these days, but you don't need to travel so far afield to find a way to join in this time around.

At its simplest, all you need to do is stay home and turn off the lights. But if you'd like to have a more social darkened moment, you can head to a candlelit restaurant or one of a raft of other lights-off events. If you're in Newtown for Sydney's hour this year, the Fringe Festival is also putting on some entertainment up and down King Street while the lights are gone. Details and a map are here.

Image of Earth Hour Switch Off 2010 by Sewell / WWF.