On March 29, cities all over the world will turn off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. local time. This initiative sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is intended to raise awareness about energy consumption and climate change. The first Earth Hour took place in 2007 in Sydney and for 2008 has been expanded to an international event. Thus far, 25 cities worldwide have signed on.

It’s simple and free to join this global movement. Simply register at the Earth Hour (http://www.earthhour.org/) web site, where you’ll find information and resources about how you and your institution can participate. Regardless whether or not your city is joining this movement, you can still play a role by encouraging others in your community to get involved.