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March 28, 2010: Sydney Australia: 10:00 AEST/ 27 March 2010 23:00 GMT

Latest number of countries and territories: 126
Latest number of cities, towns and municipalities: over 4,000
Cities, towns and municipalities from Namibia to Kosovo turned off their lights at 20.30 local time:

Windhoek, Namibia:
Lights were switched off in across Namibia, with lodges in national parks going dark. The lodges in Namib Naukluft park, in the famous Namib desert were plunged into darkness in a show of support, as well as those in the Etosha national park, with candlelit dinners held in lodge restaurants across the country.

Amsterdam, Netherlands:
The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam cut the lights at most city buildings including Schiphol Airport, Artis Zoo and the Amsterdam Arena. The Amsterdam Hilton, the site where 41 years ago in 1969 (29th March) John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their famous 'bed-in for peace', went dark in support of Earth Hour.

Belgium: Belgium’s cities, towns and municipalities showed overwhelming support of Earth Hour with around half (nearly 300) switching off. Electricity providers in Brussels saw a marked reduction in power usage as early at 6pm and residents powered down. Across Belgium throughout the night, the lights of highways were switched off apart from exits and emergency bays.

In Brussels the iconic Atomium switched off, as well as the City Hall, Grand Place and the Eglise Royale Saint-Marie. The European Parliament and Commission also switched off in the city which is the capital of the European Union.

Germany: Collaboration of the triumphal arches
Participation was also up in Germany, where the lights went out for the first time on the Arc de Triomphe’s rival - Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. The link between the two was French Emperor Napoleon, who marched under the Brandenburg Gate in triumph and is prominently depicted on Arc de Triomphe, completed long after his death. It is the first time both arches have gone dark together in the cause of a determined campaign to resolve the climate change issue. Other German monuments of note darkening for Earth Hour included Heidelberg Castle and Cologne Cathedral.

"WWF is completely right. Everyone can do something. I am very happy to contribute because every single contribution makes a difference," said Roger Cicero, a German Jazz musician.

Czech Republic makes Earth Hour debut.
Lights were turned out on the Czech city of Telč and its UNESCO listed World Heritage historic town square during the country’s first Earth Hour participation, which covered 25 cities and towns across the country.

In the second largest city of Brno, lights were turned off on the major landmark of Špilberk castle.

Switzerland: Most major Swiss cities also participated, giving the tiny but complex country a representation of monuments for all of its linguistic groups – Lausanne Cathedral and Geneva’s Jet d’Eau Fountain, Zurich’s city hall and cathedral and Bellinzona’s heritage listed three castles.

Spain: Organisers estimate six million people took part in Earth Hour across Spain this year. At least 200 cities went dark in a show of support for action on climate change, and the story lead the news throughout the night.

In Madrid, over 2000 people congregated in Parque del Retiro with candles, while drums and acoustic music rang in the hour. The Royal Palace, Royal Site El Ecorial and Puerta de Alcala all went dark.

“Madrid looked incredible, we had more icons and landmarks switching off this year than previous years and the visual impact was spectacular,” said Earth Hour organizer Miguel A. Valladares.

Spain saw in Earth Hour with a Popular Race for the Planet finishing at Puerta de Alcala in Plaza de a Independence in Madrid, just before the lights were turned out on the ornate neo-classical gate. Said Laura de Morena after the event, “I am really proud to be one of the winners of the first race for the planet in Earth Hour. I think such initiatives are necessary to make everyone aware of the importance of fighting against climate change. “Next year, I will be here again.”

Also turning off lights in Spain, thanks to an Earth Hour partnership with the national heritage body Patrimonio Nacional, are some of Spain’s most historic buildings including Royal Palaces in Madrid and elsewhere and the Alhambra of Granada.

The rich tapestry of Spanish history is also reflected in the more than 170 cities and towns taking part, which include Toledo, Cartegena and Seville. Noted Spanish film director Pedro Almovadar had earlier come out and said, "Climate change is the greatest environmental threat that we are facing. “That’s why I personally support with all my heart WWF ´s campaign Earth Hour.Switch off the lights. Turn on the earth".

Portugal: Portugal’s second largest city of Porto joined Earth Hour four the first time this year, turning off the lights on an impressive total of 43 of its monuments.

Capital Lisbon, first global city of the country also turned many monuments’ lights off, including the Castle of Saint George, the Statue of Marquês de Pombal, the Jeronimos Monastery and the Belém Tower.

Built as a fortress to guard the entrance to Lisbon's harbor, the Belem Tower was the starting point for many of the voyages of discovery.

Rome Italy: Rome’s most famous fountain, the Fontana di Trevi, turned off lights for Earth Hour calling for a more harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

The Trevi Fountain shows Oceanus, the god of all water, standing on a large shell-shaped chariot pulled by seahorses. The legend says that if you toss a coin in the fountain over your left shoulder you will come back to Rome.

The eternal city, sometimes known as the City of Fountains, faces challenges in the future from a drying Mediterranean basin as global temperature rises.

A far larger statement for Earth Hour in Rome was the Coliseum, featuring for a second time in Earth Hour’s call for a more sustainable approach to bread and circuses.

Other Italian monuments turning off lights included the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, the Castello Sforzesco in Milan and the leaning Tower of Pisa.

--ends--

• Earth Hour has kicked off in spectacular fashion with the Chatham Islands, located 800 kilometres of the coast of New Zealand, becoming the first of 126 countries and regions to switch off their lights for Earth Hour (20:30 local time, 6:45GMT, +13:45 UTC).
• This year 126 countries and regions across all seven continents will take part in Earth Hour
• More than 4000 cities, towns and municipalities will unite around the world to switch off and show their commitment for action on climate change
• 1387 icons and landmarks will switch off for Earth Hour
• Earth Hour has reached more than 6 million online social network friends
• Thousands of Earth Hour videos are being viewed around the world with the official Earth Hour 2010 video currently being viewed approximately every four seconds at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FclcMfzjwug
• Earth Hour is one of the top 10 trending topics on Twitter worldwide
• The term ‘Earth Hour’ has appeared online more than 30 million times in the past 24 hours

Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour, is available for interview to discuss the highlights and global trends of Earth Hour as the relay rolls out across the globe.

Earth Hour Images, video and audio will be updated regularly as each country switches off for Earth Hour at http://earthhour.panda.org/

For more information about Earth Hour 2010, please contact:
Earth Hour 24 Hour Newsroom
+61 404 929 243

About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 27, 2010 at 8:30 PM to show their support for action on climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. In 2009, participation swelled to hundreds of millions as 4159 cities, towns and municipalities in 88 countries and many of the world’s best known landmarks participated.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

March 28, 2010: Sydney Australia: 11:30 AEST/ 00:30 GMT

Cities, towns and municipalities from Norway to UK turned off their lights at 20.30 local time:

Norway: Every major media channel in Norway showed their support, broadcasting Earth Hour activity in 161 cities. Social media support swelled, with 1,000 blog posts over 24 hours. Major icons in Oslo including the City Hall, Stock Exchange, and Royal Residence turned off, and events and concerts took place across the city. The drop in energy consumption measured in Norway was the equivalent to six million 40 watt globes being switched off for the hour. Ski resorts switched off and most cities also turned off their street lights for the first time this year.

Podgorica, Montenegro: The youth of Podgorica, Montenegro played a huge part in marking Earth Hour 2010. Elementary school students formed the symbolic Earth Hour ‘60’ in a performance aided by solar lamps to kick off the campaign. The country also opened its first solar kindergarten to mark the occasion. The main City of Delta participated by switching off their central lighting for the hour.

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Sarajevo joined a host of cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina flicking the switch for Earth Hour. In the Main Square of Sarajevo, citizens were given candles and grouped to form the shape of the planet. In Banjaluka, the city park Petar Kočić formed the backdrop for a concert with local music stars, Maja Manojlovic and guitar duo Dejan Zoric&Vedran Gavric. Individuals formed the number 60 with flambeaus on the grass in the park in a symbolic act.

Sweden: At least 100 events took place took place to mark Earth Hour in Sweden this year, with a total 209 out of Sweden’s 290 municipalities participating. 800 schools took part across the countries, and churches across the country rang in and rang out Earth Hour. Iconic buildings in Stockholm including the Royal Castle, central station and the Royal Opera all went dark. A huge concert in the central square of Stockholm saw 7,000 people gathering to show support – lighting for the stage was powered by the Swedish national bicycle team pedaling bikes. On stage Sefura Alizadeh led the way – the singer from Azerbaijan, who is favorited to win this year’s 55th Eurovision Song Contest, performed alongside famous Swedish musicians including Darin. The well-known main strip of bars and restaurants in Gothenburg, The Avenue, switched off for the hour.

Casablanca, Morocco:
One of the truly great stories of Earth Hour 2010 was the initiative shown by group of University students, friends and associates who contacted Earth Hour to find out how they could run Earth Hour in Morocco.

With study commitments and full-time jobs to hold down they volunteered their time engaging with corporations, local governments and an extensive social media network to ensure Morocco was represented in the world’s greatest ever action on climate change. Their efforts highlighted by landmarks in Casablanca switching off, including Casanearshore – the largest business park in Africa.

Zagreb, Croatia: The city of Zagreb in Croatia was blacked out when almost 6,000 street lamps of the 338 public areas were switched off for the annual Earth Hour event. Citizens danced through the darkness as they were entertained by a concert lighted by torches in front of the Croatian National Theatre (HNK).

Dakar, Senegal: Dakar city in Senegal acknowledged Earth Hour on the historic island of Goree, where 3,000 youth group members held a candlelit vigil in celebration and contemplation of their harmonious co-existence with the planet. The Meridien Hotel group also participated in the global climate action with guests attending cocktails by candlelight throughout their properties.

Dublin, Ireland: Many bars and pubs in downtown Dublin took part. The Temple Bar district was a buzz. The Irish Minister of the Environment gave a nationally televised speech to 300,000 viewers at 8.30pm from a major hotel where the lights went off.
http://earthhour.panda.org/videos/2010/3/27/stormont-belfast.html

Portugal: In Portugal, 27 cities took part in this year’s Earth Hour – more than double the number that participated in last year’s event. Two giant switches were set up to mark the big switch-off - in Faro the mayor flicked the switch on the city, as the Square of Se, Manuel Bivar’s Garden, the City Arch, The City Walls and Market Square went dark.

In Lisbon a giant switch at Jeronimos Monastery was turned off plunging the monastery into darkness, along with icons including the Electricity Museum, Fountain of Light in Belem, the Castle of Saint George, and the Statue of Christ in Almada-Lisbon.
http://earthhour.panda.org/videos/2010/2/28/lights-out-in-lisbon.html

UK: Highlights were Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Number 10 Downing St going dark, and people gathering to watch Piccadilly Circus darkening for only the fifth time since World War II. Londoners also joined the WWF team in Trafalgar Square as a giant Hour Glass tracked the hour and reminded all who watched, that while time is ticking, there is still enough time to act.

--ends--

Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour, is available for interview to discuss the highlights and global trends of Earth Hour as the relay rolls out across the globe.

Earth Hour Images, video and audio will be updated regularly as each country switches off for Earth Hour at http://earthhour.panda.org/

For more information about Earth Hour 2010, please contact:
Earth Hour 24 Hour Newsroom
+61 404 929 243

About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 27, 2010 at 8:30 PM to show their support for action on climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. In 2009, participation swelled to hundreds of millions as 4159 cities, towns and municipalities in 88 countries and many of the world’s best known landmarks participated.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.