一股為時24小時的黑暗浪潮席捲了全球，世界各地的個人與企業，為了參與地球一小時活動，在3月27日當地時間晚上8:30至9:30熄燈一小時。這項為了有效促進氣候改善的行動，是由世界自然基金會(WWF)所贊助。
地球一小時活動開始於紐西蘭的查塔姆群島(Chatham Islands)，24小時後於南太平洋島國薩摩亞(Samoa)結束。
WWF稱這活動是有史以來最大規模的關注全球氣候變遷行動，今年地球一小時活動共有七大洲，121個國家，3100個城市參與。
地球一小時執行主任萊德利(Andy Ridley)說：「地球一小時活動將個人、企業、社區乃至城市，共同帶到對全球氣候變遷採取積極行動的旅程上」
「簡單的個人行為，例如隨手關燈也可以積少成多，對節約能源的效果產生深遠影響，」佛羅里達環保部部長索爾(Michael Sole)說，「地球一小時活動提醒了我們氣候變遷的有害影響，同時也指出全球性的行動可以如何在現在與將來改變這一切。」
數百個著名地摽響應了此一活動，美國地區如南達科他州四巨頭總統像，聖路易斯拱門，奧蘭多海洋世界，拉斯維加斯賭城大道，紐約帝國大廈，華盛頓國家大教堂以及西雅圖太空針塔，都將關閉非必要的照明一個小時。
在英國，經過國會議員之間強烈的遊說之後，決定響應地球一小時活動，關閉大笨鐘與上下議會的燈光。
位於非洲國家尚比亞與辛巴威交界的維多利亞瀑布是世界最大的瀑布之一，舉辦了音樂燭光晚會。這項由非政府組織非洲環境(Environment Africa)所舉辦的活動，號召了數百位學童、社區民眾以及各方政要，向他們傳達舉辦地球一小時的主旨，就是讓地球更健康的希望與行動。
其他參與地球一小時的世界著名景點包括：巴黎艾菲爾鐵塔、紐約帝國大廈、羅馬許願池、雪梨歌劇院、開普敦桌山、里約救世主基督像、廣島和平紀念館以及世界最高的建築 - 杜拜哈里發塔。
地球一小時活動起源於澳洲雪梨，3年前有200多萬居民關燈一小時。去年則有近10億人共同參加了地球一小時活動。
今年一月出版的「胃口的變化」調查報告表示，回應的企業主管中，有84%相信全球暖化會在未來的二到三年改變他們的經營模式。
地球一小時的萊德利說：「根據過去的經驗，參與者比我們原先所想的要更多，特別是城市以及社區的參與，我們對於全世界參與2010地球一小時踴躍的程度感到驚訝，但得等到活動過後，我們才能知道它所能帶來的影響。」
A 24 hour-long wave of darkness will sweep around the globe as people and corporations turn out the lights from 8:30 to 9:30 pm local time on Saturday, March 27 to mark Earth Hour - sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund to promote effective climate change action.
New Zealand's Chatham Islands will be the first place to start Earth Hour - the South Pacific island of Samoa will end the sweep 24 hours later.
Calling it "the greatest global action on climate change ever witnessed," WWF says this year 3,100 cities in 121 countries on all seven continents have confirmed that they will turn off their lights for Earth Hour.
"Earth Hour brings together cities, communities, businesses and individuals on the journey to positive action on climate change," said Earth Hour Executive Director Andy Ridley.
"Simple individual actions such as turning off a light can amount to a collective and profound impact on energy conservation," said Michael Sole, who heads the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. "Earth Hour reminds us of the harmful effects of climate change, and how worldwide action can alleviate this issue both in the present and for the future."
U.S. landmarks such as Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, St. Louis' Gateway Arch, Sea World in Orlando, The Strip in Las Vegas, New York's Empire State Building, Washington DC's National Cathedral, and the Space Needle in Seattle are among the hundreds of sites that will turn off non-essential lighting for the hour.
In the UK, intense lobbying by Members of Parliament has resulted in Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament pledging to switch off their lights for Earth Hour.
A candlelit vigil with music will take place at one of the world's largest waterfalls, Victoria Falls, on the border between the African nations of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Organized by the NGO Environment Africa the event will be attended by hundreds of schoolchildren, community members and dignitaries to recognize what organizers call Earth Hour's "unifying global message of hope and action for a better healthier planet."
Other world icons observing Earth Hour include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, New York's Empire State Building, the Trevi Fountain in Rome, the Sydney Opera House, Cape Town's Table Mountain, Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, and the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Earth Hour originated in Sydney, Australia three years ago, when more than two million residents turned off their lights for one hour. Last year, nearly one billion people jointly participated in Earth Hour.
Entitled "Appetite for Change," the survey, published in January, shows that 84 percent of the corporate executives who responded believe global warming will change the way they do business over the next two to three years.
"On past experience, participation is more than what we know about before the event, particularly when it comes to cities and communities," said Earth Hour's Ridley. "We are already overwhelmed by how the people of the world have committed to Earth Hour 2010 but we won't know the full extent of its impact until after it takes place across the globe."
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
