Lights out on Saturday

Don’t worry about needing your eyes checked if things seem a little dim this Saturday evening—you’ve probably just happened upon a no-lights-allowed Earth Hour celebration.

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007. In only a few years it has grown to a truly global event, with 128 countries and territories participating last year. Hundreds of millions of people have pledged their support to the event, which is organized by the World Wildlife Fund.

The basic premise of Earth Hour is turning off your lights for 60 minutes, but other environmentally conscious actions are encouraged, even if it’s just taking the time to reflect on your own energy dependency and consumption.

Realistically, Earth Hour is more of a symbolic gesture than a practical act of conservation. Brittany Maguire, a third-year student majoring in environmental science and international development studies, is Dalhousie’s WWF campus outreach assistant. She sees Earth Hour as an opportunity to send a global message of “commitment and hope for a sustainable future and clean energy.”


“Canada could be a leader in clean energy if we wanted to be,” says Ms. Maguire. “But the longer we wait, the harder it will be.” She hopes Canadians will take this year’s Earth Hour as an opportunity to consider “where our energy comes from, how we use it, and how we could reduce doing so.”

Ms. Maguire understands that even an hour-long commitment can be difficult on a student schedule. Last year, she spent her Earth Hour finishing a paper—in the dark of course. But this year, something more fun is planned. Ms. Maguire is working with Dalhousie’s Office of Sustainability to organize the Earth Hour Murder Mystery which takes place at the University Club.

“We’re having an Earth Hour party, but when we turn out the lights someone gets murdered in the dark,” explains Ms. Maguire. “Then we’ll all have to interrogate the suspects to figure out what happened.” Whoa, Earth Hour just got a whole lot more sinister.

“Everyone is encouraged to dress up as their favourite Clue character and really get into it!” adds Ms. Maguire. There will also be a bar at the event, and participants are welcome to stay after the game ends and mingle with fellow players.

If you are planning to celebrate Earth Hour in any fashion this year, make sure you check out this special post written by Ms. Maguire on the Sustainability News @ Dal blog. There, you can make a public pledge to turn off your lights and do your part, plus there are two great prizes up for grabs!

Remember, darkness descends this Saturday, March 26 from 8:30 p.m.  to 9:30 p.m.

If you go

What: Earth Hour Murder Mystery
Who: All welcome! (free admission)
Where: University Club
When: Saturday March 26, 8 p.m.
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=206107899399560