TV Personality and Earth Hour Ambassador Nadya Hutagalung shares her tips for going beyond the hour

I am just one person, what can I do to make a meaningful difference? These are the words I hear all too often. In fact, it’s really easy yet important to make positive change as an individual. I am going to share one easy thing you can do:
Change your diet.

It is good for the planet if you choose to eat a plant based diet.Eating less meat also has great health benefits and consequently lowers your ecological footprint.

Look for local, seasonal organic produce that is becoming readily available. Believe it or not, we have farms even in a Mega City like Singapore to buy produce from!
It's no longer expensive to choose to live a more conscious lifestyle as there are more and more local farmers markets springing up. This is an important trend that we need to support.You can also start a little veggie patch of your own. If a garden is not available, use your windowsill or balcony to grow some herbs; in Asia you could grow lime and chili too.

If for health reasons you can't become fully vegetarian, flirt with being a veggo a few times a week, or every other day.

So there you have it, one of the easiest, more affordable ways of going beyond the hour. For more info on how to go beyond the hour you can log on to www.greenkampong.com

Global icons join in monumental action for the planet

Diverse iconic landmarks join hundreds of millions of people across the planet to switch off for Earth Hour 2011 including: Gateway of India, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil, Taiwan’s 101 Financial Building, and UNESCO World Heritage sites Denmark’s Kronborg Castle and the Alhambra in Spain, Pakistan’s National Mausoleum, Berlin’s Brandenberg Gate, Tokyo Tower and the Obelisk in Argentina, all standing in darkness for one hour, representative of the world’s largest voluntary action for the planet.

At 8.30pm local time on Saturday 26 March, 2011, these landmarks will join with people from community, business and government, all over the world to turn off their lights for Earth Hour, transcending barriers of race, religion, culture, society, generation and geography in a global celebration of their commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all – the planet.



From Boudhanath Stupa in Nepal, to Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates, Santa Maria del Mar Basilica in Spain, Ngoc Son Temple in Vietnam, Budapest Great Synagogue and the Helsinki Cathedral in Finland. From natural wonders Table Mountain in South Africa and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, to China World Trade Centre Tower 3 (the tallest building in Beijing).

From the Taj Hotels in Mumbai and Delhi, London’s The Savoy and Royal Albert Hall, to the Presidential Palace in Peru, Thailand’s Royal Palace, the Presidential Palace in Honduras and the Royal Castle in Sweden, to the largest single housing estate in Nigeria, the Gwarimpa Housing Estate.

“These landmarks act as powerful symbols of what we can achieve when we unite for a common purpose; a visually spectacular reminder of what can be done when individuals, organisations and governments act together,” said Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour.

“These icons are representative of the diverse communities across the planet that come together for Earth Hour. By the simple act of switching off the lights, they become part of a celebration of what has been done, and a renewed commitment to take action for the planet beyond the hour.”
Australian cultural icon the Sydney Opera House will switch off for its fifth Earth Hour alongside the Norwegian Opera House in Oslo, Norway, the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam, the Ankara Opera House in Turkey, and the Hong Kong’s Cultural Centre, which will go dark as Hong Kong’s Symphony of Lights - the world's largest permanent light and sound show - is suspended for a night.

The Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey that connects Asia and Europe will join with the 25 April Bridge in Portugal, Puente de la Mujer in Argentina, Liberty Bridge in Budapest, Hungary, and the UNESCO listed, reconstructed Old Bridge in Bosnia, in going dark.

A message from our Global Ambassador Miranda Kerr

I am pleased to have been asked to be the global ambassador for Earth Hour 2011.

Each of us has a responsibility for the sustainability of our planet and each of us can make a difference if we choose to do so.


On 26 March at 8:30pm Earth Hour 2011 will take place - globally. This is an opportunity for every individual, every business and every community to switch their lights off for one hour in a collective display of commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all - the planet. 


I will personally be participating in the Earth Hour event on 26 March 2011 along with billions of other people globally and I will continue to adopt sustainability practices thereafter in my everyday life....

Some of the things that I recommend we can do in our homes:

• Buy local produce from markets thereby reducing food miles
• Walking or riding the bike wherever possible as opposed to driving
• Ensure the car tyres are always inflated to the correct level as they use less fuel
• Use fuel with Ethanol
• Turn off the lights and use organic or beeswax candles a lot of the time
• Unplug appliances when they are not in use
• Use heating and cooling when absolutely necessary
• Wash in mostly cold water
• Use chemical-free dish washing, washing powder and cleaning products
• Recycle, recycle, recycle
• Buy products with the highest recyclability
• Purchase clothes that are ethically made, not mass produced
• Dress in Organic clothing
• Install water-saving nozzles on all taps including showers
• Compost scraps whenever possible
• Prepare food plans so as to avoid food wastage
• Grow herbs and spices
• Have timed showers to use less water
• Water the plants of an evening
• Bury food scraps in the garden bed to feed the earth worms or compost
• Collecting grey water from bath and use it to water plants
• Using Certified Organic personal care products (avoid using chemicals)
• Wash the car on the grass with environmentally friendly car wash
• Buy Certified Organic or Farmers markets produce. I understand that certified organics can be expensive, but local farmers markets for the most part are usually reasonable. On my blog (www.koraorganics.com/blog) I include a list of Farmers Markets from around the world so that people will have ready access to the same.

Together we can make a difference! For further details on how you can participate in Earth Hour plus take Earth Hour - "Beyond the Hour" refer to www.earthhour.org/beyondthehour. I look forward to hearing from you. Love Miranda xxx

Earth Hour evolves beyond the hour, beyond the light switch

High profile and individual actions across the globe unveiled at global launch of 'Beyond the Hour'.

Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley, today announced a series of high profile and individual environmental actions, and a new dynamic online platform, to mark the global launch for Earth Hour, Beyond the Hour.

Beyond the Hour marks the start of a new phase for the Earth Hour movement. In 2010 hundreds of millions of people across the world took part in Earth Hour, but switching off the lights was only the beginning. This year Earth Hour asks people to commit to an action, big or small, that they will sustain for the future of our planet.

Jim Leape, Director General of WWF, who addressed media at the launch said: “The challenges that face our planet are immense, but never underestimate the possibility for change when we face these challenges with true common purpose. Hundreds of millions of people around the globe have given us a glimpse of what is possible. It is now time to go beyond the hour and show what can be done - by the people for the planet."

An online platform www.earthhour.org/beyondthehour that captures and allows individuals, governments and organisations across the globe to share their actions, will act as the tool to showcase and inspire commitments to protect the one thing we all have in common – the planet.

“The Beyond the Hour platform has been built with social media at its core,” Ridley said. “Social media will play a crucial role for Earth Hour 2011, allowing us to connect with millions of people who are committed to taking lasting action for the planet.”

The platform, created with Leo Burnett, is translated into 11 languages, and integrated with most major social networks including: Facebook, Twitter, Mixi, Myspace, Odnoklassniki, Cloob, Orkut, Qzone, RenRen, Vkontakte, Maktoob, Skyrock, Xing, and Zing. Over 1,000 actions have already been shared on the dynamic online platform.

“Everyone has the power to make change: a CEO can change an organisation, a 7-year-old can change a classroom, and a president can change a country. What we are announcing today is just the beginning,” Ridley said. “It is through the collective action of individuals and organisations that we will be able to truly make a difference, which is why we are urging people across the planet to share how they will go beyond the hour this Earth Hour.”

Actions announced at today’s global launch included the following high-profile and individual commitments:

The Government of Nepal has made a commitment to put a complete stop to tree-felling in the Churiya Range, a vital ecological and sociological forest area spanning around 6,500 sq km.

Pocoyo, an animated TV series, will reach out to its millions of preschool-aged fans across the globe over the next year, fostering “Learning through Laughter,” utilising humour and learning to inform children about environmental issues.

Nathi Mzileni, a 15-year-old boy from Swaziland, was inspired to take action in 2010 when he realised his town 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 will single-handedly make Earth Hour a reality in his town of Shimunye, Swaziland.

Mengniu Dairy (Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy (Group) Co., Ltd.): the Chinese dairy company is doubling the number of milk cartons it recycles and increasing its use of FSC-certified packaging.

Li Bingbing, the Chinese acting/singing sensation, has committed to being vegetarian for 100 days this year, in order to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions caused in the cycle of meat production and consumption.

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore MP, has committed to: another six separated cycleways, installing LED lights in parks and streets, and endorsing a tri-generation plant to provide low carbon energy.

Chloe Nicol, a 7-year-old girl from Australia, is guiding her school to increase recycling and reduce energy waste. The school now also shuts their blinds instead of using air-conditioning to cool the rooms.

Parrys Raines, a 15-year-old Australian girl, has convinced her school to install water filling stations and provide each student and teacher with a reusable stainless steel drinking bottle to reduce plastic bottle waste.

CB Richard Ellis is going beyond the hour in 2011 by aiming to exceed their previous year’s record of more than 254 million square feet of real estate participating in Earth Hour, as well as making available events and activities for employee participation each month (Earth Hour, Earth Day, Green Building Day, Climate Week etc.)

Credit Suisse AG became carbon neutral in 2010 through its global 'Credit Suisse Cares for Climate' initiative. This year, as well as sponsoring Earth Hour Singapore, Credit Suisse will continue to go 'Beyond the Hour' by sending staff to a Brazilian forest reserve to support field research into the effects of climate change.

Power98FM will ensure all lights, computers and equipment will be switched off in studios when not in use, and continue to actively support WWF initiatives.

Singaporean pop duo Jack and Rai: Jack has switched to a more efficient air-conditioning system, and committed to setting the temperature at 24 degrees Celsius. Rai will watch less TV, play less video games, and play more acoustic guitar to reduce his energy usage.

Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore has committed to replacing the light bulbs in all of its 504 guest rooms to energy-efficient LED bulbs.

Wasim Akram (Pakistan cricket legend) has made a personal commitment to stop using plastic bags, to recycle and reuse, and to use his high profile to promote and encourage the same behaviour throughout Pakistan and the rest of the world.

Cricket legend joins A-list Earth Hour ambassadors in Pakistan

For almost 20 years he intimidated his opponents across the globe with a reputation as one of the fastest and fiercest bowlers in the world of cricket. Today as an Earth Hour ambassador, Pakistan cricket legend, Wasim Akram, is using the same competitive spirit that drove him to the top of his sport to inspire others to go beyond the hour with ongoing positive actions for the environment.

And what better place to start than in the classroom, where Akram began his personal efforts to go beyond the hour, addressing a gathering of students from Karachi’s ‘Green Schools’ on the role they can play in leading by example on the global journey to a sustainable future.

With the cricket-mad citizens of the Subcontinent enthralled by the ICC Cricket World Cup they are currently hosting, the support for environmental action from one of their most recognised sports stars is sure to resonate across a region that is home to one-sixth of the world’s population.

A number of high-profile public figures have joined Wasim Akram as Earth Hour ambassadors including actress/model, Iman Ali, acclaimed actress, Reema Khan, pop/folk singer, Abrar-ul-Haq, popular actress and TV host, Ateeqa Odho and internationally-renowned model/actress, Vaneeza Ahmed, marking the first time such a strong contingent of A-list celebrities have engaged in conservation action in Pakistan.

What action for the planet will you commit to for Earth Hour 2011? Tell the world how you will go beyond the hour!

Earth Hour 2011 TV commercial launches across the globe

From the film set of Sydney’s Fox Studios – home of box office blockbusters such as The Matrix, Mission Impossible and the Star Wars prequels – comes the latest production to sweep the world… the Earth Hour 2011 TV commercial!

Launching across the globe today, the Earth Hour 2011 TV commercial calls on people from all corners of the planet and all walks of life to switch off their lights for Earth Hour 2011 at 8.30pm on Saturday 26 March and make a commitment to an action, big or small, that has ongoing benefits for the environment ‘beyond the hour’.

Produced by internationally-acclaimed production house, Radical Media, with the support of hundreds of Earth Hour volunteers, the engaging TV commercial is a powerful illustration of how our individual actions can add up to meaningful solutions to the world’s environmental challenges.



Earth Hour Co-Founder Andy Ridley said, “Earth Hour has grown exponentially year on year since its inception in 2007. We have been overwhelmed by the power of individuals and communities to come together and send a powerful message by switching off the lights. Just imagine what we could achieve if we take this beyond the hour.”

Many thanks to our friends at PSI Screen Printing for donating the t-shirts and track pants worn by the volunteers, to Radical Media for providing their production expertise and, of course, to the awesome Earth Hour volunteers for going well beyond the hour by giving up their time to be living pixels in the TV commercial.

What action for the planet will you commit to for Earth Hour 2011 that goes beyond the hour? Tell the world at earthhour.org.

To see what it takes to be a pixel for a day, check out the behind-the-scenes ‘Making of’ video put together by Radical Media.

January 5, 2011: Fiji Rugby takes Earth Hour beyond the hour for Rugby World Cup

Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has become the first sporting body in the world to commit to Earth Hour 2011 calling on their fans in the rugby-mad nation to get behind their commitment to the global ‘lights out’ event and to go beyond the hour in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup, taking place in New Zealand this September.

“We are very proud to have the Fiji Rugby Union take part in this global campaign,” said Kenneth Zinck, representative of the FRU.

“I would like to urge all Fiji rugby fans to get behind Earth Hour and the boys’ campaign to the Rugby World Cup by switching their non-essential lights off not only for an hour at 8.30pm on 26th March but also to go beyond that hour in our everyday energy consumption practices." he said.

Renowned as one of the world’s most flamboyant and skillful rugby teams, Fiji is particularly competitive in the ‘seven-a-side’ version of the game. With the prestigious Hong Kong Rugby Sevens tournament coinciding with Earth Hour 2011, Zinck is calling on Fiji rugby fans to show their support for the team by ensuring the only energy being consumed during Earth Hour is for the television.

“The FRU is behind Earth Hour and it would be great if the country could support us during Earth Hour by switching off the lights while watching the Hong Kong Sevens game which coincides to be on the same day and time,” he said.

For the people of Fiji, Earth Hour 2011 aims to be a double celebration, of both victory in Hong Kong and their ongoing contribution to global environmental change.

What positive action for the planet will you celebrate for Earth Hour 2011 that goes beyond the hour? Tell the world at earthhour.org.

December 16, 2010: Earth Hour 2011 - growing beyond the hour

Earth Hour’s global switch off to highlight momentous action for earth

100 days out from the annual ‘lights out’ event, Earth Hour 2011 prepares to showcase a growing global community committed to taking environmental actions that go beyond the hour.

From its inception as a single-city initiative in 2007, Earth Hour has grown into a global movement where hundreds of millions of people from every continent join together to acknowledge the importance of protecting our planet.

Inspired by thousands of stories of people going beyond the hour, Earth Hour 2011 will ask individuals, businesses and governments the world over to add more to the annual switch off by showcasing how they are taking action to preserve their environment.

Earth Hour 2011 will ask the world to:
• Switch off your lights for Earth Hour at 8.30pm, Saturday 26 March 2011 and celebrate your commitment to the planet with the people of the world
• Sign up and Share stories of your actions that benefit the planet on earthhour.org
• Sustain your actions beyond the hour

“Earth Hour’s rapid growth over four years has proven that hundreds of millions people want to do more to protect their planet.” said Andy Ridley, Co-founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour.

“Whether it’s a child changing a classroom or a president changing a country, people, organizations and governments everywhere are invited to switch off their lights for Earth Hour 2011 and commit to taking action beyond the hour,” Andy said.

In February, earthhour.org will launch a platform enabling participants to share stories of what they’re doing or plan to do to make a real difference to their environment in the year ahead, showing that, no matter how big or small, together our actions add up.

Earth Hour 2010 was the largest voluntary action for the environment in history with lights going out across 128 countries and over 4,500 cities worldwide.

Earth Hour 2011 will again see hundreds of millions of people across all continents come together to celebrate an unambiguous commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour.

The 100-day countdown to Earth Hour 2011 has begun, the iconic ‘lights out’ event that has seen some of the world’s most recognized landmarks, including the Forbidden City, Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, Golden Gate Bridge, Table Mountain, Christ the Redeemer statue and Sydney Opera House switch off in a global celebration of the one thing that unites us all – the planet.

December 8, 2010: Earth Hour supporters build a platform to go ‘beyond the hour’

Currently in development for Earth Hour 2011, earthhour.org will host an online platform that will harness the stories, actions and programs of individuals and organizations around the world that are going beyond the hour with a commitment to an act that benefits the environment. In doing so, the platform will provide a channel for the exchange of resources and ideas that will continue to inspire others to join the global pursuit of a better, healthier world when the lights come back on.

Pivotal to the creation of the online platform dubbed ‘beyond the hour’, are the actions of you, the Earth Hour supporters. And when we asked you last week to contribute your positive acts for earth that go beyond the hour you inspirationally responded en masse.

From Macau to Montevideo, scores of original and inspiring anecdotes and images from all over the world have already been added to the development of the ‘beyond the hour’ platform, which is set to launch in February next year. Here is just a sample of the positive acts people are already doing for earth beyond the hour:

‘Continue to turn every inch of my yard into a productive, sustainable garden. The mission is not just to grow food with zero food miles, but to heal the soil where I can and leave it alive and humming.’

- Alciata from Christchurch, New Zealand

‘I am using less, wasting less, consuming less, and participating more in environmental actions to help support local organizations working towards a healthier climate.’

- Concernedcitizenoftheplanet from Surry, Canada

‘We will continue to provide free monthly reminders of two simple actions to lessen our carbon foot print on the planet.’

- TakeTwoForPlanetEarth.org from Orlando, USA

If you want to be one of the first to contribute to the earthhour.org ‘beyond the hour’ platform and be part of a global movement to inspire change, then simply complete the Earth Hour 2011 ‘act beyond the hour’ online form and let us know - this Earth Hour, what positive act will you do for earth that goes beyond the hour?

Tell us what you're doing for the planet and we'll tell the world! And if you have an image or video you would like to submit with your positive act for earth, please email the attached image or youtube video link to contact@earthhour.org stating your username, city and country.

September 19, 2010: Earth Hour 2011 – your voice, your action, your planet

Earth Hour is driven by the global community’s will to protect the planet we share.

Earth Hour’s exponential growth – from a single-city initiative in 2007 to a global movement across 128 countries in 2010 – is indicative of the growing desire for a cleaner, healthier world that is gathering momentum by the hour.

Across the globe plans are underway to make Earth Hour 2011 even bigger still!

At 8.30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011, Earth Hour will mark a moment of global contemplation to go beyond the hour; a collective commitment by individuals throughout the world to be the ongoing change they want to see in it.

Earth Hour 2011 will mark a moment of global celebration where people of different races and religions, cultures and nations, politics and society, genders and generations transcend division, connected and enlightened by their role as custodians of the planet.

Earth Hour is a vehicle driven by the voices of hundreds of millions of people. It is your unique and powerful voice, how you choose to express it is entirely up to you. Earth Hour is your campaign, so don’t be afraid to own and put your stamp on it. Your voice has never been more influential. In this digital age, your voice is universal.

Be a part of Earth Hour 2011; add your voice and take action, encourage others to join the hundreds of millions across every continent who have already spoken as one on behalf of the planet. Check out the inspiring Earth Hour 2011 video to see what our planet’s voice looks like. It’s an awesome thing.

Follow Earth Hour on twitter and facebook and join the global conversation on the planet’s conservation.

What do you say?

August 9, 2010: Entertainment Industry Leaders Partner To Premiere Earth Hour Global Music Video In Facebook Exclusive

www.facebook.com/earthhour

Earth Hour - the largest campaign in history for the planet – has exclusively premiered its Earth Hour 2011 video on Facebook.

Created by one of the world’s most successful independent producers, Village Roadshow, and international award-winning animation and visual effects studio, Animal Logic, the Earth Hour 2011 video captures the passion of Earth Hour demonstrated in 128 countries this year.

Australian band, The Temper Trap, currently in the middle of a sell-out world tour including Glastonbury (UK), Outside Lands Festival (San Francisco) and Corona Capital Festival (Mexico), provided the award-winning backing track “Sweet Disposition”, despite having “retired” the single from partnerships.

The emotive three-minute video showcases a mosaic of professional and amateur imagery shared by the hundreds of millions of people across the planet who took part in the most recent Earth Hour. It features media reports from the night as well as quotes from Earth Hour Ambassadors including The Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Italian Football Icon, Francesco Totti.

Earth Hour Co-Founder, Andy Ridley, says that it is a great honor to have world-renowned artists working together to help spread Earth Hour’s message.

“Earth Hour proves beyond anything else that one person has the power to make change,” Ridley says.

“Not only does this video inspire everyone to take action, but it demonstrates the depths of the desire of millions of people from all walks of life who want a better, healthy world,” he says.

Earth Hour 2010 embraced 4,616 cities and towns in 128 countries and territories and involved hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Design Director, Toby Grime of Animal Logic, says that it was the sheer breadth of footage and photographs from world citizens that truly inspired the video’s direction.

“When you see the imagery that has been captured via mobile phones and amateur video cameras, it brings to life how everyday citizens have taken Earth Hour to their hearts and want to own a solution for the future of the planet,” he says.

Village Roadshow Chairman, John Kirby, says Earth Hour is a call to action for every individual, business and community throughout the world to stand up; take responsibility; get involved and lead the global journey to a sustainable future.

“It is not a question of whether Village Roadshow should support Earth Hour but how we could. It is simply our responsibility as citizens of a global community,” he says.

The visual beauty of the video is brought together by the song Sweet Disposition by achingly cool band of the moment, The Temper Trap, whose lyrics appropriately capture the determination of Earth Hour - “Won’t stop ‘til it’s over; Won’t stop to surrender.”

Mr Ridley says that the world is ready for Earth Hour’s evolution. “In under three short years, Earth Hour has grown to reach over a billion people worldwide - the largest voluntary action ever witnessed,” he says. “If we can achieve this, imagine what else can be done.”

Earth Hour 2011 will take place at 8.30pm, Saturday, 26 March, 2011.