Today Earth Hour will be observed by many cities in the world between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm as per the local time of the area.

The movement is initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It was first started at Sydney Australia in 2007 with putting off the lights for one hour. Then it is followed by other towns, cities and countries reaching to 7000 towns worldwide.

Earth hour was celebrated on March 23 last year and now it is scheduled to be celebrated today March 29. TV and radio stations also have started observing it.

Although the reduction in power consumption and contribution to pollution is very small compared to the whole year consumption, it is no doubt a contribution to the nature from our side whatever may be quantity. 

Executive Director and Co-Founder Andy Ridley said, "Earth Hour's challenge is no longer to connect people; the challenge is to offer a reason to connect. Any movement of change begins with symbolism - it's a needed step to prove enough people care about an issue. Earth Hour is past the beginning now, and lots of people are switching their lights off every year in March. We're now at the stage of taking it beyond the hour."

As the putting off of the lights is observed over the globe at a fixed time span that is between 8.30 and 9.30 as per the local time, actual time differs from place to place and the earth hour rotates with the earth that way. 

If it is a total black out during the hour, a satellite video will show the moving earth hour on the globe. But it is only putting off the lights voluntarily that are non essential lights. Street lights, emergency power supply will go on as it has to. 

The idea is good but it will not make much difference in India particularly in the states like Andhra Pradesh where electricity supply can discontinue at any time for any amount of time because of which it fails to create an awareness or enthusiasm. It certainly gives us a feeling that we are keeping stride with the world and not lagging behind.

-SriJa