Friday March 27, 2009

An hour to show our concern

TOMORROW night some buildings will be in total or partial darkness from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. Fret not, it’s not a massive power failure but a show of support for the 2009 Earth Hour.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative where individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour at 8:30pm tomorrow to show their support for action on climate change.

The event began in Sydney in 2007, when two million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated.

This year, Earth Hour aims to reach out to one billion people in 1,000 cities.

According to information on its website, as of Feb 16, more than 500 cities in 74 countries have signed up to take part in this year’s Earth Hour.

There’s also an online survey on the Earth Hour website (www.earthhour.org/malaysia) to vote for a Malaysian landmark building to have its lights out on March 28. At press time, KLCC is leading with the highest votes.

Here are some of the events that you can take part in tomorrow to show your support for the global initiative:

Kuala Lumpur

In the city, there will be cultural performances at Dataran Merdeka, which will launched by the Kuala Lumpur mayor.

For an hour during the official Earth Hour at Suria KLCC, the first 100 shoppers (any amount on a single receipt for purchases made between 8.30pm and 9.30pm tomorrow) will be rewarded with a cup of freshly-brewed coffee courtesy of Suria KLCC. Additionally, 15 lucky avid shoppers who spend a minimum of RM1,000 will be presented with two grand stand tickets to the upcoming and much anticipated Malaysia Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Shoppers need only to present the shopping receipt to the concierge desk.

“Suria KLCC supports Earth Hour and will have all non-essential lights switched off, including decorative façade lighting.

“Our retailers will switch off their display lights and signs. Some internal mall lights, however, will have to be maintained for safety reasons,” Suria KLCC chief executive officer Andrew Brien said.

CapSquare will have an eco-bazaar from 10am as well as cheerleading and school band performances, and a charity “Walk of Hope” at 7:30pm. Registration for the walk opens at 5pm. Enjoy low-powered show such as the 18-prosperity drum ensemble, a fire show, tap dance, acoustic performances and lots more. Celebrity participants include Jaclyn Victor, Altimet, Izzy Mohamed, Ida Nerina and Jojo Struys. Lights will go out at 8.30pm.

At Mont’Kiara, the finale of Sunrise Berhad’s month-long ‘Let’s go Green’ campaign will be celebrated in the dark as Sunrise Fun Zone Community Centre observes a ‘lights-off’ hour from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. Students of Mont’Kiara International School will present a sketch and form a moving globe with the creative use of glow sticks in ‘The Glow Earth Moves’. Guests can also express their support to Earth Hour vocally by joining the sing-a-long to Michael Jackson’s Earth Song during the candlelight dance. The event takes place at Sunrise Fun Zone Community Centre, Aman Walk, Jalan Kiara 2, Mont’Kiara.

Aside from switching off our lights for one hour, the UCSI University is also organising Dodgeball games for free, themed “Dodge Global Warming” and a free open-air concert featuring live bands. After 8.30pm, everyone will participate in a candle light vigil with a difference, as the formation of a giant number “60” to symbolise the 60 minutes of the Earth Hour event takes place. The event is open to the public and is free of charge. For details, browse ucsiearthhour,blogspot.com

The The YTL Earth Hour celebrations in Shook! at Starhill Gallery from 8:30pm to 10pm will feature local comedian Harith Iskandar, actor Hans Isaac, angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, local crooner Sean Ghazi, Deanna Yusoff, and young environmentalist and performer Jes Ebrahim. It will be hosted by Malaysian celebrities Deborah Henry and Stephanie Chai, For more information on YTL’s Earth Hour celebrations, visit www.ytlcommunity.com/earthhour.

The Ancasa Hotel & Spa, Kuala Lumpur will be selling specially printed Earth Hour T-shirts at RM15 nett each at the hotel and at the First Cup Café in Bukit Bintang. Those who don these T-Shirts on that particular day will be entitled to a delightful candlelight dinner at the hotel’s Saffron Brasserie for only RM10++ per person. Just before 8.30pm, there will be a three-minute Earth Hour presentation followed by a balloon drop and live band performance at the lobby area.

Bursa Malaysia will join millions in observing the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Earth Hour in its stand against global warming. At exactly 8.30pm, all non-essential lights and air-conditioning in the offices of Bursa Malaysia will be switched off for exactly 60 minutes to support the cause.

EON Bank Group is switching off non-essential power in all its branches nationwide and head office Menara EON, Jalan Raja Laut from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. However, emergency lights and lights in the self service terminal areas will remain.

Mid Valley City (MVC) will be switching off all façade lights, neon signs, landscape lights and other non-essential external lights in the city as it commits to the upcoming Earth Hour 2009.

All landmarks in MVC including its malls, hotels and office towers; The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley Megamall, Cititel Mid Valley, Boulevard Hotel, The Gardens Hotel & Residences, IGB Tower, Centrepoint North and Centrepoint South Towers, The Gardens North and South Tower and Northpoint will be uniting with the rest of the world to show support against global warming.

Selangor

In Selangor, Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall joins in to celebrate Earth Hour as lights on the lion head at the mall will be switched off along with facade lighting at every Sunway owned building at 8.30pm. There will also be an Earth Hour recital by Aina Nabilah, ‘We Are The World’ song performance by SMK Bandar Sunway special students and a special performance by Sunway University College students.

Carlsberg Malaysia, for the 2nd consecutive year is participating in the Earth Hour campaign by turning off all non-essential lights, includes office buildings and commercial signage at its brewery in Shah Alam and sales offices nationwide, without compromising on the safety lightings or halting the production, for one hour from 8:30pm to 9:30pm.

In Shah Alam, i-City will have a lion dance performance, magic show and cup stacking contest for children as well as other fun activities from 5pm to 9:30pm. To attend, send in your registration to earthhour@i-city2015.com. Walk in on that day will be chargeable at RM30 per person.

For details on Earth Hour, the events, safety precautions, log on to www.earthhour.org/malaysia

Related Story:
Three beauties to do their part