All Pawtucket All The Time

STATE HOUSE – People around the world will switch off their lights for 60 minutes on March 27 as a way to show solidarity in the effort to reduce mankind’s carbon footprint, and today the House of Representatives embraced “Earth Hour” for Rhode Island.

Under a resolution (2010-H 7443) sponsored by Rep. Helio Melo, the House gave its support to Earth Hour, a worldwide event scheduled Saturday, March 27, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time during which people, businesses and organizations are encouraged to turn off nonessential lights to show commitment to reducing energy consumption.

“I believe Rhode Islanders are deeply committed to and concerned about the environment, and that they’ll want to be a part of this global event to show their concern for the future and our responsibility to protect it,” said Representative Melo, a Democrat who represents District 64 in East Providence. “I hope that this will be a moving event that encourages people to reflect on what they can do to help reduce their impact on the earth.”

The resolution recognizes that reducing energy consumption and carbon output will preserve the environment and increase prosperity for future generations, and urges Rhode Islanders to participate in turning their lights off during that hour. It also urges the governor and the director of the Department of Administration to direct state employees to turn off nonessential lights in state buildings during the hour.

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, when two million people switched off their lights, and continued in 2008, when more than 50 million people around the globe participated. In 2009, nearly one billion people from 4,100 cities located in 87 countries observed Earth Hour. This year, the hope is to reach more homes, more businesses, more cities, more countries, and to raise awareness about sustainability and the need for clean, renewable energy alternatives. The event is now led by the World Wildlife Fund.

For more information on Earth Hour, visit www.earthhour.org.