(Host) Around the world this weekend, activists are asking people to shut off their lights for an hour to dramatize global climate change.
From Australia, to Chicago, the lights will go off at landmarks ranging from the Sydney Opera House to the Sears Tower.
And, as VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, some high school students in southern Vermont hope to help spread the darkness.
(Sneyd) Climate change is part of the science curriculum at Twin Valley High School in Wilmington.
This year, students are asking their friends, families and neighbors to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions, even for an hour.
(Dunn) "Just between the hour of 8 to 9, turn out your lights.”
(Sneyd) That’s Twin Valley science teacher Ruth Ann Dunn.
She’s been working with a group of Twin Valley students who have been asking businesses and individuals to join “Earth Hour.”
Earth Hour is a creation of the city of Sydney, Australia. One day last year, organizers persuaded people and business all over the city to shut off the lights for just an hour. They were successful in reducing electricity demand by ten percent.
This year, the World Wildlife Fund took on the project and has taken it global.
Cities, businesses and individuals on six continents spanning 14 time zones are taking part on Saturday night. Joe Pouliot is with World Wildlife Fund.
(Pouliot) "The whole point of Earth Hour is to demonstrate that each and every one of us, whether we’re an individual person or a multinational corporation, we can all take steps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that we’re emitting and we can all take steps to combat climate change.”
(Sneyd) Dunn, the teacher, came across the Earth Hour effort on the Internet and pointed it out to her students.
The students were intrigued and have organized it into a community event. Dunn says they would like a lot of people to participate at home.
(Dunn) "Don’t turn off everything. But just turn out your lights and try to live an hour without the lights on. And just as a mindfulness activity, just remind yourself that even a small effort can make a big difference.”
(Sneyd) The students will make their own statement this Saturday night at the intersection of Routes Nine and 100, where they’ll light the night with candles.
For VPR News, I’m Ross Sneyd.