What's Your Vote?

vote earth!

this is not some political plea. and no, 'earth' it's not a new party to replace the dacing, the eye, the rocket or the moon (although God knows we may need one). instead, this is an election like no other. all of us are in it. and it's not about which party you represent, or which country you're from. it's about which planet you're on.

so unless you're an extra-terrestrial living illegally on planet earth for the past decades and plan to go back to your home planet when earth goes bad from global warming, i suggest you choose wisely and vote earth!

*VOTE EARTH
YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE
This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming.

WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

At 8:30pm on Saturday 28 March, people from all corners of the world will turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour - and cast their vote for action on climate change.

Earth Hour is about taking simple steps everyday that collectively reduce carbon emissions – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

which building will go dark?
at precisely 8.30pm on march 28 new zealand will herald the start of the greatest global election the world has ever witnessed - Earth Hour 2009, being the first country to flick the switch off for the global event.

eiffel tower will go dark, as well as san francisco's golden gate bridge. over here in dubai, the bujr al arab - the one shaped as an enormous white sail - will also switch off all its lights for Earth Hour 2009.

back home, our pride, the tallest twin towers in the world - the petronas twin towers will also participate to go black for one hour that day. also joining in is dataran merdeka and putrajaya. mr. khairul, your penang bridge will be dark too!

how 'bout melbourne, syida? and london, niraku?

2,398 cities, towns and municipalities in 83 countries across 25 time zones have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the worlds first global election between Earth and global warming.

who will you vote for?

why i want do do this
previously when i was at work we often tapau food and eat in the comfort of our office, and my boss decided it was time to make a change - so we brought our own container whenever we tapau food, instead of using the white polysterene packs. this is for you, mommy earth!

hey, it's not much, but we're doing something than nothing. i didn't start going around preaching the goodness of what i did - but i'm sharing it now so that you guys can think of ways how you can make a difference - no matter how little it may be, or how insignificant you think it is.

i'm not much of a green peace freakazoid. i don't usually reduce, reuse, recycle either, but i threw paper, plastic and glass in the appropriate recycle bin when i can. so, i want to do my part when there is a chance. and Earth Hour certainly seems to be a great way to do it.

there's a goose-bump feeling when you know that as you flick that switch off on march 28th, you're a part of something bigger than anything you ever joined before. knowing that more than half of the people around the world will be in on it for the same cause. and this little thing that you're doing can bring a difference.

i can't wait to see how dubai marina looks like sans lights!

what will you be doing?
boring? it won't be boring when you make it fun! as for me, we'd probably be out walking to dubai marina mall - we did so the other weekend and it was amazing to see the sight of the marina under the moonlight, the thousands dotted lights of the buildings along the way. that is why i am waiting to see if there would be a difference walking by during Earth Hour...

*Here are 10 different ways to spend Earth Hour and reduce your carbon footprint:

• Attend a local Earth Hour event or organise your own by throwing an Earth Hour street party with your neighbours
• Gather family & friends for a night picnic in your local park and look at the stars
• Enjoy a family dinner by candlelight
• Organise a treasure hunt in the dark
• Take the dog for a night walk
• Have a candle-lit bath
• Sit in the dark and share ghost stories
• Organise a family night playing board games
• Share a romantic night in with your loved one
• Blog your experience!

when all five of us chat, (my four sisters and i) we call the 'conference' a pertemuan 3 benua' - as i am online from the middle east, syida from down under, and yong, syima and azi syida will be chatting from malaysia. (ok, fine technically uae falls under asia too but it's just fun to think we're in very different parts of the world!)

that's why it's fun to think that all of us would be able to participate in our respective time zones! syida will be able to switch off first as melbourne turns 8.30pm earliest. she would probably be indulging in blissful slumber...so easiest job to go black-out for her. azi will do her part next, 3 hours after that. she can do a little fun gathering in one of the rooms in her upm hostel and share gossips. and four hours after that, it's my turn!


REMEMBER
8:30PM local time, wherever you live on planet earth.
Saturday 28 March 2009

*sources from earthhour and voteearth.
get banners for your blog from here.