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With less than two weeks to go the UN joins Earth Hour to call for sustainable energy

The UN joins Earth Hour to call for sustainable energy for all

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, has pledged his support for Earth Hour. This week he promised that the UN would be switching off their lights. He called on people, organisations and businesses to do the same, in solidarity with the 20% of men, women and children who don’t have access to electricity. “Turning off our lights is a symbol of our commitment to sustainable energy for all,” Ki-moon said. “We need to fuel our future with clean, efficient and affordable energy. By acting together, we can power a brighter tomorrow.”

Vatican’s prayer for the planet

Although the smallest independent state in the world, Vatican City is the spiritual home of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. As an act of support for Earth Hour, the Vatican will be turning off the lights of the dome atop St Peter’s Basilica, the greatest church of Christendom. St Peter’s dome dominates the skyline of Rome, rising to height of 136.57 metres.

More than 30 million Scouts get behind Earth Hour

Luc Panissod, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scouting Movement (WOSM) an organisation that boasts over 30 million members in 161 countries, has thrown his considerable support behind Earth Hour with an IWIYW pledge of his own. Panissod promises to give up his car for seven days, if 10,000 people don’t print their emails for a week.

“We can all do a little something, to create a larger world-wide change,” Panissod says. “It doesn’t have to be a big sacrifice. Every bit makes a difference. I call on all Scouts to celebrate Earth Hour.”

World record holder Heather Swan takes a leap for Earth Hour

Dual world record holding wingsuit pilot, mountaineer, writer and adventure photographer Heather Swan will leap off a cliff to show her support for Earth Hour. Swan’s IWIYW challenge will see her BASE jump from a mystery precipice if 1000 people go vegetarian for a week. “Going vegetarian is not only the best thing you can do for the planet and the other sentient creatures we share it with, it's the best thing you can do for yourself,” Swan says. “Done well a vegetarian diet is not only healthier, it's happier.”