“Earth Hour” in Maldives

“Earth Hour” is a global event organized by the World Wild Fund (WWF) – the global independent conservation organization to create awareness about Global Warming and the impact it creates on our planet. It is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community; a call to stand and take control over the future of our planet. It is also the largest campaign for the planet in history.
The Earth Hour first started as a national event in Australia. On March 31, 2007, by switching of its lights for one hour, over 2.2 million Sydneysiders and 2,100 businesses switched off their lights for the Hour and made a powerful statement about the urgent need for action on Global Warming.

What began by one city taking a stand against Global Warming caught the attention of the world and in March 29, 2008 Earth Hour went global, brought together 35 countries and over 370 cities and towns with an estimated 50 million people globally took part. 
In March 28, 2009, with WWF’s target to reach 1 billion people worldwide, The Scouts of Maldives in collaboration with NGOs and governmental agencies worked together to get as many Maldivians to participate in the Earth Hour by switching of their lights for Earth Hour/one hour with the rest of the world. Hundreds of millions of people in more than 4,000 cities, towns and municipalities in 88 countries across the globe and many of the world’s most famous landmarks participated in Earth Hour 2009.
Considering the environmentally threatened islands of Maldives and its vulnerability to Global Warming, this was an opportunity for all Maldivians to join hands and campaign against Global Warming. It was transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and Global Warming. For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for Global Warming. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from!!
Earth Hour 2009 was organized in the Maldives by the Scout Association of Maldives with the generous support of the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment. The Scout Association of Maldives obtained full cooperation of the community, non-government organizations, companies, tourist resorts, government ministries and agencies, the school community and full support of the various Scout Groups active in the Maldives, to effectively make Earth Hour 2009 Maldives a success and actively took part in the battle between Earth and Global Warming. 
Earth Hour held on March 27, 2010 and succeeded being across the globe in delivering a powerful action of hope for a better, healthy planet, to take responsibility, and lead the global journey to a sustainable future. A record 128 countries and territories took part and iconic buildings and landmarks stand in darkness. 
At 8.30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011, (The hour the world unites to celebrate environmental actions that go beyond the hour) individuals, communities, businesses and governments across the globe will be turning off their lights for one hour to go beyond all barriers of race, religion, culture, society, gender, geography and generation in a global celebration of the one thing that unites us all – the planet.
In what is anticipated to be the worlds’ largest ever display of civil action, Earth Hour 2011 will see hundreds of millions of people in cities, towns and municipalities across every continent, turning off lights for one designated hour to celebrate the positive actions they are taking for the planet. Earth Hour 2011 aims to encourage a commitment to environmentally-beneficial change, empowering grassroots action through an integrated, open source platform that brings together a global community engaged in dialogue and resource sharing that inspires real solutions to our environmental challenges.
Earth Hour 2011: 8.30pm, Saturday 26 March - Celebrate your action for the planet with the people of world.