Black Is The New Green
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL AND OTHER AREA LANDMARKS TO GO DARK FOR WWF’S EARTH HOUR—D.C. JOINS 1,500 OTHER CITIES CASTING VOTES FOR ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE ON MARCH 28—
Washington—March 17, 2009—The Washington National Cathedral is among many area landmarks throughout metropolitan Washington turning off their lights for World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour 2009 on March 28 as part of a symbolic vote for action on climate change. Earth Hour, the largest environmental awareness event ever, has more than 1,500 cities and millions of people participating worldwide, including such cities as Atlanta, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Beijing, Mexico City, Istanbul, Paris, Rome and Sydney.
“In a city where votes matter, we urge Washingtonians to vote earth by turning off their lights for Earth Hour,” said Carter Roberts, CEO of World Wildlife Fund. “With this event we send a message to Congress, President Obama and world leaders that decisive action on climate change legislation is needed now to protect our way of life and our natural resources.”
Beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28th a wide array of organizations in the Washington metro area, including Washington, D.C., Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia, Frederick and Montgomery Counties and Baltimore in Maryland, will turn off non-essential lighting on many buildings.
For more information and to participate, please visit www.EarthHourUS.org
During Earth Hour 2009 lights are already slated to go out across the region, reflecting a diverse mix of government, business and educational organizations:
· Washington National Cathedral
· John A. Wilson City Building
· Walter E. Washington Convention Center
· Franklin D. Reeves Center for Municipal Affairs
· Judiciary Square
· American University, Howard University and Gallaudet University
· JW Marriott Hotel
· Fairmont Washington Hotel
· Willard Intercontinental Hotel
· National Geographic Society Headquarters
· National Theater
· National Education Association Headquarters
· George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria
· Brookings Institution
· Australian and Canadian Embassies
· House of Sweden
A number of organizations have also pledged participation, including the Apartment and Office Building Managers Association, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, CarbonFreeDC, the American Institute of Architects, the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, and 4-H. In addition, on March 28, the Koshland Science Museum exhibit Global Warming Facts and Our Future will be featured 10 a.m.-5 p.m. along with a hands-on experiment showing how increased greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere can harm coral reefs and other sea life. The museum is located at 6th & E Sts. NW. For more information see www.koshland-science-museum.org.
Dining Out in the Dark
A number of area restaurants and hotels are participating in Earth Hour with special promotions. The Fairmont Washington Hotel, 2401 M. St., will feature a candlelight dinner with an organic menu and organic cocktails. In Reston Heights, the Sheraton and Westin Hotels will offer guests an organic menu and organic wines and turn off all non-safety lights in the hotel for candlelight dining.
For more information and to participate in Earth Hour, please visit www.EarthHourUS.org/WashingtonDC
Earth Hour Attracts World Landmarks, Leaders and Celebrities
Around the world, icons committed to Earth Hour include:
· Empire State Building in New York
· The Las Vegas Strip
· Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
· Sears Tower in Chicago
· Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
· Sydney Opera House
· Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro
· Niagara Falls in New York
· Stockholm Castle
Oscar nominated actor Edward Norton is the official ambassador for Earth Hour 2009 with support from Nobel Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actresses Janeane Garofalo and Jennette McCurdy, fashionistas Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, as well as musicians Linkin Park, Alanis Morissette, Coldplay, Jo Dee Messina, Big Kenny (Big & Rich), Gavin DeGraw, KT Tunstall, Mary Mary, Dierks Bently, Wynonna Judd, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Lady Antebellum, SHeDAISY, Finger Eleven, Simple Plan, Justin Nozuka, The Veronicas and Rise Against.
WWF officials stressed the importance of safety during Earth Hour, asking that all lighting related to public safety remain on.
National partners for WWF's Earth Hour 2009 are Esurance, Cox Enterprises, The Coca-Cola Company, Wells Fargo and Hewlett-Packard.
Labels: breaking news, pressrelease
