Manchester Friends of the Earth are encouraging people, businesses and organisations across Greater Manchester to support the worldwide Earth Hour and switch off their lights for one hour on Saturday 29th March at 8:30pm.[1]
Earth Hour is a unique annual phenomenon that focuses the world’s attention on our amazing planet, and how we need to protect it. On Saturday, hundreds of millions of people will turn off their lights for one hour, on the same night, all across the world in a huge, symbolic show of support.[2]
2013 saw a record-breaking 154 countries join the world’s biggest celebration under the stars. In the UK over 10 million people took part, sending out a united and symbolic message. 280 of the country’s most iconic landmarks including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul’s, Manchester Old Trafford, Wembley Stadium, Edinburgh Castle and many more joined forces with 3,400 schools and 1,200 businesses to help plunge the UK into darkness.
This year, Manchester Friends of the Earth will be working with the Palace Theatre and Opera House (Ambassador Theatre Group) to encourage people to support Earth Hour and support our campaigns for clean, green renewable energy. [3]
Pete Abel, Manchester Friends of the Earth co-ordinator said: “Taking part in Earth Hour is a symbolic show of support. People are asked to switch off their lights for one hour and focus on the need to create a better future for our planet by moving away from dirty fossil fuels to clean green renewable energy.”
Everyone can sign up for WWF’s Earth Hour 2014. For more information and to sign up please visit www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour
Join in the conversation with hashtags #EarthHour and #bebrilliant
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CONTACTS FOR COMMENTS:
Pete Abel, Manchester Friends of the Earth co-ordinator, 07951 642858
Lyndsey Fall, Manchester Friends of the Earth, Press Officer lyndsey@manchesterfoe.org.uk
Notes for Editors
[1] Details of the Manchester Friends of the Earth Twitter action and a list of businesses and their responses so far.
[2] Earth Hour is organised by WWF to inspire hundreds of millions to protect our brilliant planet. More information can be found at http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/
[3] For details of Friends of the Earth Clean British Energy campaign.
[4] Manchester Friends of the Earth is an award-winning environmental campaign group, raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a local, regional, national and international level. The group consists entirely of volunteers, and its campaigns are funded by membership fees and individual donations. Up-to-date information is available on the group’s website: www.manchesterfoe.org.uk. Manchester Friends of the Earth is a Licensed Local Group of Friends of the Earth, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. www.foe.co.uk
[5] Manchester Friends of the Earth has endorsed Manchester: A Certain Future, an action plan for the city of Manchester to cut its carbon emissions by at least 41% by 2020. For more information, visit www.manchesterclimate.com
