Earth Hour is Saturday

Earth Hour will be tonight (Saturday, March 26) from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, Earth Hour is organized by the World Wildlife Foundation each year to raise awareness for environmental sustainability.

According to its website, the campaign "is a global grass-roots movement encouraging individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take positive actions for the environment, and celebrating their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour."

Since its inaugural year, more than 120 countries and hundreds of millions of people have participated in the annual event at their respective local times, creating a wave effect throughout the timezones. 

"[Sustainability] is something that we all need to be aware of," said Bethel resident Don Goodrich, who has observed Earth Hour for several years. "I've attempted to get the schools and others involved in Earth Hour, but it can be tough."

Goodrich said those wishing to participate tonight can simply turn off their lights, not necessarily all their electricity. The Earth Hour website said the campaign encourages observers to keep safety in mind when choosing what to switch off. 

Though the movement does help save energy, Earth Hour says turning off the lights is more symbolic and does not track hour much energy is saved. It says its goal is for people "to take accountability for their ecological footprint and engage in dialogue and resource exchange that provides real solutions to our environmental challenges."

While this year Goodrich is trying to spread the word to neighbors, he said he hopes Bethel and other towns will join other communities from around the world and officially register as a whole next year.

To learn more about Earth Hour, visit its website at earthhour.org. The campaign also has a Facebook page and a Twitter feed.