Hot-lanta buzzing with energy

Hot-lanta is buzzing with energy and it seems like everybody's talking about Earth Hour. Some are even calling it the olympics for the environment. Despite a powerful tornado that ripped through the city two weeks ago, nothing can deter the resolve of the citizens of this great flagship city. As a sign of the will people have to continue their mission of sustainability and raising awareness, the tallest hotel in the western hemisphere, the Westin Peachtree Plaza who, even though nearly half of its windows were blown out by the tornado, it is still turning off its lights tonight.


Signs of Atlanta's commitment to Earth Hour and climate change are everywhere. As you drive around and take in the gorgeous architecture and admire the abundant growth, every where you go the city is spotted with Earth Hour billboards, posters, t-shirts and lapel pins. Next to the HUGE - and I mean HUGE - Earth Hour banner that adorns City Hall are flyers detailing the movement in Chipotle which is supporting the cause by dimming the lights in all 12 of their Atlanta locations. Down the street from Chipotle is the Turner broadcasting campus who is turning out their lights as well as supporting EH on their network, CNN.



Kids of all ages are excited about Earth Hour. Just earlier, while walking past a park, one of the youngsters playing soccer stopped, saw my Earth Hour t-shirt and said "that's cool" because his teacher had been talking about it in school. Last night, while riding on MARTA, Atlanta's mass transit system I saw an Earth Hour digital message while waiting for the train. Those messages are everywhere. They adorn the Fabulous Fox Theatre, the Atlanta Civic Center, Georgia Tech's digital billboard and the massive billboards you see as you drive to and from the airport.



Yesterday was a whirlwind of Earth Hour activity. There was PANDAmonium at the pep-rally held at City Hall. Prizes were handed out, speeches were made and Pandy, WWF's panda mascot, made a special appearance leading a conga line with city employees. The local affiliates were there to cover the action but unfortunately Pandy was having too much fun to comment on the record.



Today, WWF President Carter Roberts arrived to celebrate Earth Hour in the city he spent his youth. After touching down this morning he was soon eating chili dogs at iconic eatery The Varsity - another Earth Hour participant. Later he toured the world's largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, and saw whale sharks and beluga whales -- species we hope to protect by raising awareness and taking action on climate change. Carter has also been active taking to the airwaves with extensive media interviews to further spread the word about Earth Hour. We are encouraged by the warm welcome he received at places like CNN and the local NBC affiliate WXIA - who is doing an hour-long special tonight on the Earth Hour activities in town.



Now, less than a few short hours away from Earth Hour we are experiencing the calm before the storm. We are electric with anticipation for the night the lights go out in Georgia.