Earth Hour as it happens: International

Be sure to check out our Earth Hour photo gallery for more great photos of Earth Hour celebrations around the world.
Fiji & New Zealand


Earth Hour 2011 in New Zealand (c) David Blayden / Hamilton City Council. WWF
Lights being turned off in homes, businesses and public buildings in Fiji and New Zealand at 8:30 PM local time marked the commencement of Earth Hour 2011, with widespread endorsement of the message that the world and its environment need commitments for action going “beyond the hour”.
In Fiji, lights will be turned off but not television sets as the island nation gets set to face off against Kenya in the all important Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. At Davis Station, Antarctica, the lights will go off – but not the heating – as scientists settle in for a candlelit dinner.

Wet conditions failed to dampen the enthusiasm for Earth Hour celebrations in New Zealand – although the event was also tinged with sadness as participants recalled the former key role of the city of Christchurch, devastated by an earthquake last month.
In Auckland, the Sky Tower – the tallest free standing structure in the southern hemisphere – switched off lights, Hamilton’s Earth Hour revellers braved thunder and lightning to attend Earth Hour ‘lights out’ events at restaurants and bars, and people in Alexandra enjoyed music by candlelight in Centennial Park.
Australia
Australia’s participation in Earth Hour begins as the light dims on one of the world’s most noted dual landmarks – the coat-hanger and sails combination of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

The cascade of commitments for beyond the hour activities went well beyond Australia’s largest city and ranged from a commitment from Prime Minister Julia Gillard to do all she could to secure a price on carbon to combat climate change causing emissions to new bikeways and LED lights for parks and streets.
Clouds unfortunately curtailed a planned Sydney Observatory stargazing event. But tiny Gingin in Western Australia, population 536 in the last census, and Alice Springs near the very centre of the world’s only continent-sized nation took advantage of the darkened skies to appreciate the heavens.
Japan
The Australian Earth Hour, along with many others, commenced with a minute’s silence for the victims of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan earlier this month. Earth Hour events in some countries included fund raising to assist earthquake and tsunami victims.
In Japan itself, a small Earth Hour team demonstrated the resilience and resourcefulness shown by the country since the dual disaster by putting their emphasis on promoting 20 ways for Japanese people and businesses to save energy as a practical way to provide assistance to devastated areas.
The lights were turned off out on the Tokyo and Kyoto Towers and the castle and peace memorial in Hiroshima.
Phillippines
The League of Cities and League of Municipalities ensured an overwhelming turn-out for Earth Hour in the Philippines by signing up 1661 cities and communities for the event After a minute’s silence for Japan and the planet, acoustic performances provided low-carbon entertainment at the switch-off event.
The Department of Energy Secretary Rene D. Almendras lit the official candle outside the Mall of Asia at Pasay City followed by the vice president of The Philippine’s Climate Change Commission. A long line of government and company representatives, celebrities, regional representatives and students then lit their candles from the official candle and recited their pledges for beyond the hour actions for the environment.
China
In mainland China, 84 cities committed to go beyond the hour, with major urban centres from the southwest to northeast taking action for the planet.
Beijing’s most famous landmarks including the Olympic sites – Bird’s Nest and Water Cube have turned out their lights off for an hour. This is in addition to the China World Trade Centre Tower 3, the tallest building in Beijing.
The Shanghai World Financial Centre (the tallest building in all of China); the Jin Mao Tower; the Oriental Pearl Tower and People’s Square all switched off the lights in Shanghai. Furthermore, the city will create 1,000 hectares of new urban green space.
In Hong Kong, the Victoria Harbour waterfront was plunged into darkness as the world’s largest permanent light and sound show was suspended for the evening. The Culture Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui hosted the official countdown ceremony which featured performances from Earth Hour Ambassadors Andox and Box. Government House switched off for Earth Hour for the first time this year, and National Geographic Asia suspended its normal programming for the hour.
Mongolia
5000 Mongolians braved minus five degrees and celebrated its second Earth Hour with over 5,000 people ignoring temperatures of minus five degrees Celsius around a vast candle-lit Earth Hour logo in the main square of capital, Ulaan Baatar. All buildings around Sukbaatar Square coordinated a switch-off for the crowd and 10 national television stations.  The hour of darkness was marked by recording commitments to Beyond the Hour actions, musical performances, and a fire show.
Vietnam
Vietnam also turned out impressively for Earth Hour, with 37 provinces and cities officially participating – nearly double the number of 2010.  Lights went out on the Huc Bridge, Thap Rua, Ngoc Son Temple, and The Hanoi Opera House.

Malaysia
WWF-Malaysia Executive Director/CEO Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma joined celebrities, the media and members of the public in a day-long Earth Hour throw-down featuring an eco-bazaar and live performances at Sunway Pyramid, a larger-than-life recreational theme park and shopping centre near the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
The Petronas Towers stood in darkness as Sunway switched off at 8:30pm, and “Dance in the Dark” for Earth Hour 2011 got underway, led by dancers from WWF-Malaysia and supported by students from local colleges. Covered from head to toe in glow-in-the-dark paint, the troupe of 60 dancers entertained the crowd.
Singapore
This year in Singapore over 3,000 people including celebrity supporters Nadya Nutagalung, Utt, Felicia Chin, Tung Soo Hua, Pan ling ling and Huan Shinan took part in the first Earth Hour “Walk in the Dark”, circling the city’s historic Marina Bay. An Earth Hour event featured a live concert with popular duo Jack and Rai, Dawn Ho and Syltra Lee, and a carnival and outdoor movie screening. At the carnival, participants could exchange one litre of used cooking oil for a face towel, personalise kites with wishes for a healthy planet and patronise stalls selling eco-friendly products.

Brunei
Brunei staged a plastic bag free day and pledged to drop taxes on hybrid cars by five per cent and small engined cars (under 1.8 litres) by 15 per cent.  Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Yayasan Complex and the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery extinguished their lights to mark Earth Hour.

Indonesia
Indonesia’s Presidential Palace may have extinguished its lights for Earth Hour but WWF-Indonesia has committed itself to lighting up some isolated areas with renewable power.
Other landmarks to go dark in South East Asia’s most populous city (population 18.7 million) included the Jakarta City Hall, the National Monument (Monas), the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle, the Arjuna Wiwaha Statue and Pemuda Statue. Other Indonesian cities also came on board this year, including Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta and Surabaya.
Thailand
In Bangkok, the Royal Palace led a list of landmarks observing Earth Hour, along with Arun Rachawararam Temple, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, and the city hall which hosted an exhibition of beyond the hour activities by Thai companies.  Lights were also extinguished along Patong Beach in Phuket, and  the old gates and three kings monument in Changmai.  Other provinces taking part included Khonkean, Nakorn Rachasrima and Prathumthanin.
India
Earth Hour in India has nearly doubled over last year’s record effort, with 47 cities across 12 states confirmed to take part before the event, compared to the 27 cities participating in 2010.
In Mumbai, popular landmarks such as Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Bandra Worli Sea Link, ITC Maratha, and Taj Lands End switched off lights. So too did headquarters of several public and private sector organisations like Air India, ICICI and HSBC, to name a few. The city of Bangalore too showcased its support towards Earth Hour, turning off lights in Brigade Road, ING Vysya, Infosys and at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Sri Lanka
In Colombo, 4,000 people have gathered outside the cricket grounds to observe Earth Hour while watching the world cup semi final – and rejoiced in a Sri Lanka triumph.  Music moguls Bathiya and Santhus exhorted their fans.
Nepal
At celebrations at Boudhanath Stupa in capital Kathmandu, an Earth Hour logo drawn with 1000 traditional butter fat candles lit the sky, while Salil Subedi and EarthBeat engaged the audience in a performance of didgeridoo and drums.

Pakistan
In Pakistan, Sindh has been declared an Earth Hour Province, with the provincial assembly building going dark and Karachi leading the list of 15 cities taking part.
Pakistan’s main Earth Hour celebration was held at the Tomb of Qiad-e-Azam, noted as the burial place of Muhammad al-Jinnah and others of Pakistan’s founding figures.
Iran
Going dark for the first time is Iran’s tallest tower, the 435 metre Milad Tower in Tehran. Iran’s first official participation in Earth Hour followed hard on the heels of celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the signing in the country of the first global environment agreement – the Ramsar international convention for the protection of world wetlands crucial to migratory birds.
Dubai
The newly completed Burj Kalifa tower in Dubai – at 828 metres the world’s tallest building – led a list of many of the world’s tallest buildings going dark for Earth Hour when it turned off about half a million lightbulbs.
Israel
Marked its fourth Earth Hour early on Thursday 24 March to avoid conflict with Shabbat, with hundred of Tel Aviv students familiarising themselves with nature in an urban environment, scouts commencing an environmental education program and promotions in community gardening fields.  The main event was a green energy concert featuring leading Israeli bands operating off batteries powered by stationary bicycles and a bio-diesel fuel generator.
Turkey
In Turkey, one of only a few countries to straddle two continents, the lights had earlier been switched off in capital Ankara’s Opera House. WWF-Turkey enlisted 250 businesses and corporations and 2,000 online supporters to support its Earth Hour efforts.
Russia
With Russia’s main Earth Hour events in Moscow still eight hours away, WWF-Russia’s Polar Bear Patrol were commemorating Earth Hour by setting out from their base in the small village of Lavrentiy to the even smaller Uelento, the nation’s easternmost settlement on the Dezhnev Cape.

As the event traversed 11 timezones, riders in 20 cities saddled up on bicycles adorned with LED lamps – with the northernmost ride in Murmansk going ahead despite the forecasts of a strong snowstorm. The westernmost ride was staged in Archangelsk near the Finnish border.
Finland
The lights went out at the distinctive Helsinki cathedral, Finland and a special Tampere market place Energiatehdas (Energy factory) was set up with the energy being provided by dancers and stationary cyclists.
Kenya
In Kenya, lights went out at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre and United Nations Buildings across the East African nation as more than 10,000 gathered for a three hour concert in Nairobi with some of the country’s leading musicians, including acclaimed afro-fusion artist Achien’g Abura, who implored her fans to make a commitment to go beyond the hour for Earth Hour 2011.
Swaziland
Nathi Mzileni, a 15-year-old boy, was inspired to take action in 2010 when he realised his town near Shewula Nature Reserve in the east of the country did not participate in Earth Hour. He started a group at his High School called Green Enviro to educate people about climate change, and this year single-handedly made Earth Hour a reality with major buildings in Simunye turning off including the Church of the Nazarene, the Simunye National Library, Simunye Country Club and major schools such as the Ngomane and Lusoti Primary Schools and Lusoti High.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria celebrated Earth Hour for the third year, in part with free acoustic concerts staged simultaneously in top Sofia music clubs. Many of the musicians had previously recorded a video asking fans to turn off computers as well as lights. Lights went out at the National Theatre, the National Library and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia and on administrative buildings, historic monuments and public spaces in 46 towns and cities outside the capital.
Croatia
Croatia was also a third time participant, this time with the support of President Ivo Josipovic. Fifteen cities and towns signed up for the event and the lights went out for the first time on UNESCO heritage sites at old Dubrovnik and the sprawling palace of Roman Emperor Diocetian which dominates Split.
Romania
Romania again turned out the lights on its Parliament Palace, one of the world’s largest buildings which consumes in one hour what a household consumes in a year. Other notable buildings to darken included the Romanian Athenaeum, the National Theatre in Bucharest, the Central Library, the National Opera and the National Art Museum.
Outside Bucharest, 51 other cities and towns commemorated Earth Hour including 9 out of the 10 largest cities.  As buildings plunged into darkness, people could choose among 20 events – candle-lit shows, stargazing, unplugged concerts hosted by folk artists and children choirs.
Ukraine
Capital Kiev flicked off lights on busy Kreschatik Boulevard and the historic orthodox Christian Kievo-Pecherskaya monastery to lead 32 further cities in observing Earth Hour for the country’s third time. Supporters enjoyed an hour of acoustic music with popular Ukrainian singer Dmitriy Shurov and music band “Bahroma” at the Contemporary Art Centre M17.
In other Ukrainian cities people could visit street concerts and candlelit dinners at different restaurants, as well as join roller skaters in Energodar and attend an evening of street astronomy in Poltava.
Norway
In Norway, Earth Hour celebrations broke records for the third year in a row with 181 cities and communities participating (up from 162 in 2010). One of the highlights included a ski resort that celebrated the event with a torch slalom event where participants were invited to ski down the slopes with torches in hand.
The Norwegian national energy company, Statnett, reported a national drop in energy consumption during the hour that surpassed last year’s saving. Figures showed that Norwegians who switched off their lights were able to save the equivalent of slightly over six million 40W light bulbs.
Germany
A 3000 candle demand for ” Energiewende jetzt! (“Switch to Green energy now!”) was the main feature of the “Switch Off Event” at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.   Lanterns were used to spell out “Klimaschutz jetzt” (climate protection now).

Some 65 cities and towns in Germany participated in Earth Hour 2011.
Hungary
More than 5000 people congregated in the darkened Castle precincts of Budapest, Hungary to hear celebrities talk about climate change, environment protection and why they support Earth Hour.
In what was initially slightly alarming news, Budapest Airport announced a commitment to turning off runway lights. The temporary black-out, carried out, the airport explained, under strict national and international control to ensure passenger and aviation safety celebrated a light system refit which has significantly reduced the amount of energy the airstrip uses to provide lighting that can be seen from a distance of 20 kilometres.
Austria
Austrian capital Vienna participated in Earth Hour for the first time.
Lights go off on the famous Vienna City Hall building and the huge and historic Schönbrunn Palace on the outskirts of Vienna. Some 11 further cities supported the event. Among these were the historic towns of Innsbruck, Linz, Klagenfurt and Salzburg. In Salzburg, lights went out on 20 landmarks, among which Castle Hohensalzburg and the Statue of Mozart.
Italy
Eternal city Rome, Italy went temporarily dark around a main event in Piazza Navona which kicked off with animations and children leading up to the lights of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi being turned off by actor Christian de Sica and WWF Italy founder Fulco Pratesi. Down towards the forum, the Colosseum dimmed.

Milan’s main event for Earth Hour was held in the gothic scenery of Piazza Duomo. From the afternoon animations, games and laboratories, including ecological house, solar energy and water clock demonstrations, were held for the kids. The city’s famous cathedral played mute witness to one minute of silence for Japan.
Spain
Spain also saw a record turnout with 214 cities and towns, 172 schools and universities, 76 companies and 153 other organisations supporting the event.  Some 15,026 individuals have signed online.
France
A 25 by 25 metre Earth Hour logo of 1,600 LED lit Pandas was a new touch to Earth Hour celebrations in Paris, France, but the main spectacle remained an Eiffel Tower suddenly switching off.   Pressing the red button to accomplish this is one of the most sought after jobs in the entire global progress of Earth Hour.  Other switches are, however, required to turn off historic bridges over the Seine.  Some 126 other French towns and cities also went dark.

United Kingdom
At the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, a special event was created for Earth Hour: human energy will cast through the darkness to shine a message of hope onto the walls of the iconic Royal Albert Hall. For the duration of the hour, 60 static cyclists powered a projection of natural world animation and Earth Hour news.
Landmarks that darkened for Earth Hour across the UK include the EDF Energy London Eye, Manchester United Old Trafford, Albert Hall, Buckingham Palace, and No 10 Downing Street. The Tower Bridge is among six bridges across the UK that switched off during Earth Hour.

Brazil
Brazil set its own record with 124 cities taking part this year compared to the still creditable 98 of 2010. This included around two-thirds of the state capitals and coverage across all five Brazilian regions. More cities and towns are likely to reveal Earth Hour activities in the coming days.
A huge and emotional event involving more than 3,000 was held in Rio, in front of Arcos da Lapa, a colonial era aqueduct which faded into darkness for the event for the first time.
The leading landmark to fade into the night sky was Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue, but it was accompanied by more than 300 others including the Copacabana Beach it looks down on, the National Congress (Brasilia), Estaida Bridge (São Paulo) and the Amazon Opera House (Manaus). Generous corporate support from Banco do Brasil, Coca-Cola, TIM, HSBC and Rossi supported the events.
United States of America

Girl Scouts across the United States of America – from Louisiana to Missouri to Utah and Indiana – led the action for Earth Hour. In Los Angeles, local troops gathered for a candlelit vigil while 500 Colorado Girl Scouts created a giant glowing ‘GS’ on the steps of the State Capital Building in Denver.
All 96 UN buildings in New York including its main headquarters flicked off for the occasion. Simultaneously, the lights of Broadway theatres dimmed their marquees and roof signs in honour of Earth Hour. Iconic sites including the Empire State Building and numerous buildings in Times Square also rose to the occasion by switching off.
One of the biggest transitions from light to shadow occurred again along the Las Vegas strip – the scene for some of the world’s brightest stars over the years, with many hotels committing themselves to go beyond the hour by committing to everyday action for the planet.  World famous Caesar’s, turned off its lights not only in Las Vegas, but in 40 of its worldwide locations, in addition to its ongoing sustainable business practices and environmental programs through CodeGreen, a comprehensive environmental strategy that focuses on critical issues of energy, waste, water and carbon management throughout the company’s casino resorts.
In Southern California, the Queen Mary blasted its horn to indicate the beginning of Earth Hour. The Long Beach landmark followed by turning off lights on its smokestacks, the string of lights atop the ship, as well as encouraging guests staying in staterooms to do likewise.
In Chicago, another celebrated skyline dimmed as Earth Hour commenced. ComEd officials along with students from the Chicago Conservation Corps flipped the switch at Merchandise Mart, a Chicago landmark now the largest LEED-certified building in the U.S. Hundreds of other city buildings were also reported to have gone dark for one hour including Navy Pier, Willis Tower, Custom’s House, the Prudential Centre, the John Hancock Building, and the Children’s Museum.
Venezuelan
Earth Hour 2011 celebrated lights-out with a plethora of events; EcoStyle Fashion, an unplugged concert, and a series of plays were performed. Over 1,000 people in Plaza Alfredo Sadel in Caracas, led by the city’s Mayor, brought  the Earth Hour logo slowly to life as volunteers lit over 500 candles to show their solidarity with the planet.
Performances by local theatre actors, musicians and dancers along with a fashion parade kept the crowd entertained as candlelight illuminated the streets of Caracas. Putting their money where their mouth is, Venezuelan organisers ensured that all materials used at the event were recycled or environmentally friendly – including all clothing that was part of the fashion parade and a ‘garden’ made from recycled plastic drink bottles.
Colombia
Residents turned off their lights and other non-essential electrical devices for a symbolic “wave of darkness”. In the capital, Bogota, 500 people took part at a concert event in Usaquen Square as the lights flicked off at the Mayor’s Building, the Presidential Palace, Gold Museum, Maloka Interactive Museum and Monserrate mountain overlooking Bogota. Medellin saw 4,000 people attend a performance by the Philarmonic Orchestra as EPM’s Intelligent Building and Interactive Museum, the Bancolombia building and local TV station, TeleMedellin, all led the mass switch off. Mocoa and Cali also participated in the action with over 4,000 people turning out in support for environmental action, turning off the lights and enjoying community activities in celebration of their commitment.
Mexico
In Mexico City, a candlelit event was held at the Monument to the Revolution, with other monuments in the Mexican capital including El Angel de la Independencia, la Diana Cazadora and the National Government Palace switched off their lights. In Cancun and La Paz, activities began with environment workshops followed by a local group performing batucada. Plaza Forum in Cancun, a major tourist destination, went dark in an event that took place with the support of local venues.

Other cities switching off included Guaymas, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Campeche, Puebla, Nogales, Chihuahua, Delicias, Estado de Mexico, San Luis Potosi and Reynos – where scores of volunteers rallied through Facebook and other social media channels to make Earth Hour a huge success.
Argentina
In Argentina, an Earth Hour competition earlier this month saw supporters get creative fashioning a ‘60’, representing the 60 minutes of Earth Hour and submitting photos through Facebook. The first prize winner made a 60 out of 1000 plastic lids. Saturday night’s Earth Hour celebrations featured singer Elena Roger, a group show of taiko (Japanese percussion), in commemoration of the earthquake and tsunami, and a groupe of jugglers and fire twirlers created the ‘60’ from flames. Argentina’s landmarks united with the nation’s people – the Obelisk, Puente de la Mujer, and Piramide de Mayo (the oldest national monument in Buenos Aires), all standing in darkness in support of action for the environment.
Bolivia
In the Bolivian capital, La Paz, an eco-torch parade to the Plaza del Bicentenario was led by the Mayor Ing. Luis Revilla, who also led a countdown to the 8:30pm switch-off. Simultaneous events were held in Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Potosi, Oruro, Trinidad City, Quijarro, Puerto Suarez, San Matias and Sucre, where organisers and volunteers held celebrations featuring lanterns, musical performances, and traditional dance.