Christchurch looks back on Earth Hour

As 8pm approached in Christchurch the sun was going down and Cathedral Square was gradually filling with a myriad of different people. Some looked with curiosity at the numerous sustainability displays – others enthusiastically chattered and pointed, while more began settle into camping chairs in front of the large movie screen, making an outing of the evening. A group of kids shrieked with laughter as the bounced around an enormous blow-up earth. Though a diverse crowd, there was a strong sense of community and deliberacy, with everyone gathered in response to the overall message: we can, and should make a difference – and a little goes a long way!

As the hour came, the crowd joined together in a countdown reminiscent of a New Years Celebration – ending, instead of a burst of fireworks, with the slow chime of the Cathedral Bells. Then lights lowered around the square, and the crowds turned their attention to the screen as it sprang to life.

In the surrounding blocks many restaurants and bars were also noticeably dimmer. The occasion brought extra people out on the town, to enjoy a variety of novelty dinning, drinking and dancing experiences. At the Dux de Lux, candlelit tables created a funky atmosphere, heightened by the acoustic sounds of local singer Lauren Mitchell. The enjoyment was apparent, but so was the obvious effort taken by so many businesses to seriously consider energy reduction.

An hour later the absorbed crowds in Cathedral Square were still fixed in front of the screen, watching ‘The 11th Hour.’ It wasn’t long before the good news came through – thanks to the combined commitment of businesses and household alike, Christchurch had made a 13.1% energy reduction!

Earth Hour events in Christchurch

Switching off your lights and powering down for Earth Hour at 8pm this Saturday, 29 March, is just the beginning. You can join people celebrating their commitment to fighting climate change at Earth Hour events happening across the garden city.

· Cathedral Square – mingle with the crowds and experience Earth Hour excitement in the square from 7pm. At 8pm, watch the Cathedral’s lights go out for Earth Hour as Mayor Bob Parker counts down to flick the switch and mark the start of Earth Hour Christchurch. Lights around the square will be dimmed and there will be a free screening of film The 11th Hour.

· Free acoustic concert at the Dux de Lux – a free candle-lit acoustic concert at the Dux de Lux with (unplugged) music from local talent Lauren Mitchell. http://www.thedux.co.nz/

· Earth Hour candle-lit bars – head down to the Sol District to join Earth Hour celebrations, bars in the district including Toast and Cartel will be turning off the lights for Earth Hour.

Bars across the city will also be powering down with candle-lit celebrations including: Redjacks, Bailies Irish Bar and Restaurant, Excelsior Sports Bar, The Tap Room, Liquidity, Viaduct/Di Luso, Coyotes, Boulevard, The Tap Room, Liquidity, Ferment and many more.

· Earth Hour restaurants – restaurants across Christchurch holding candle-lit Earth Hour celebrations include: High to Hereford, International Food Hall, Asian & European Cuisine, The Raj Mahal Indian Restaurant, The Curator’s House and Restaurant, Spagalimi’s, Café Metro, The Lotus Heart, le Café and Annie’s Wine Bar and Restaurant in the Arts Centre, Le Plonk wine bar, Tulsi Contemporary Indian Cuisine, Strawberry Fare Restaurant, Café Valentino, The Cabbage Tree, Cook n’ with Gas, Denny’s, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Watershed Restaurant and Bar – and many more!

o Cornershop Bistro in Sumner, the Millennium Hotel and the Heritage Hotel, Cathedral Square are both going one step further with Earth Hour – as well as turning off the lights for candle-lit dining, chefs have come up with special Earth Hour menus that are environmentally-friendly - organic, locally sourced produce, with carbon-neutral wine.

For more information, http://www.cornershopbistro.co.nz/ and www.heritagehotels.co.nz/christchurch and http://www.millenniumhotels.co.nz/

o Two Fat Indians – Not only will people be able to dine by candle-light during Earth Hour this Saturday, you will be given a free candle with your Indian takeaway – and Earth Hour will see Two Fat Indians 'going green' from March 29 - no more plastic bags and using recyclable takeaway containers.

Earth Hour events across New Zealand

Celebrations for Earth Hour are happening across New Zealand!

· Langham Hotel, Auckland – the Langham Hotel is holding a free public event, extinguishing up to an estimated 3000 lights which will be replaced by thousands of natural, non-carcinogenic, paraffin (petroleum) and chemical free, non-toxic, bio-degradable, New Zealand made soy candles. The hotel will also be serving complimentary carbon-zero wine, and canapes from sustainable locally grown ingredients and tap water, to live jazz music.

· Auckland's Sky Tower switches off for Earth Hour – Auckland’s sky tower will be plunged into darkness at 8pm on Saturday in support of Earth Hour.

· Wellington City Council turns out the lights – Wellington’s Mayor Kerry Prendergast has backed Earth Hour will Wellington City Council turning out their lights for Earth Hour this Saturday. This is set to include the external lighting at swimming pools, libraries, recreation centres and other Council-owned buildings and the lights in the trees in Oriental Bay and Civic Square.

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About Earth Hour Christchurch
Earth Hour is a community event, led by WWF-New Zealand and The Press, and supported by Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury and Orion Energy, amongst others. It has the backing of ChristChurch Cathedral and the Employers Chamber of Commerce. All people and businesses can take part in Earth Hour by switching off their lights for one hour at 8pm on 29 March 2008. During Earth Hour people and businesses are also invited to turn off appliances from standby.

About WWF
WWF is the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organization. It has close to five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

What’s Your Next Step?
Earth Hour is just the beginning. You can find out how to live Earth Hour everyday at http://www.earthhour.org/ or by taking the What's your next step? sustainability challenge at http://www.sustainability.govt.nz/. The campaign challenges New Zealanders to take action to live more sustainably – from small easy steps that can begin today, to those that may take more time and investment.

Media information: Jenny Riches, WWF communications manager, 027 4477158

Christchurch students spread the Earth Hour message

Around 40 students from Christchurch Girls School took the Earth Hour message to the streets of the city today, as they marched from their school through Hagley Park to the Cathedral Square. Armed with Earth Hour posters and banners they'd made, the students wanted to spread the message about climate change and get people in Christchurch to take part in Earth Hour.

Blair Hagman, geography and social studies teacher at Christchurch Girls School, said the idea came when the environment group at the school were discussing ways to make a positive difference and influence people in their city to take action on climate change. "They wanted to come up with new ways of getting more public awareness about climate change and Earth Hour," said Mr Hagman. "The idea of a march came out of that and the students really got behind the idea."

It's free to take part in Earth Hour, which is happening this Saturday at 8pm, and the message from the students at Christchurch Girls School is simple - switch off your ligths for Earth Hour!

Photograph © The Press

Celebrities happy to be in dark for climate change

Canterbury netballer, Julie Seymour, and Robyn Malcolm, star of the hit television series Outrageous Fortune, are happy to be in the dark to support action on climate change.

Both women have thrown their celebrity status behind Earth Hour, a WWF-led initiative which uses the simple action of turning off the lights to deliver a powerfully symbolic message about the need for action on climate change.

At 8pm on Saturday March 29, along with thousands of others in Christchurch and millions around the world, they will turn off lights and household appliances for one hour.

"It’s a small act that delivers a big message," says WWF-New Zealand Executive Director, Chris Howe.

"It reminds us that there is much we can do, big and small, to make a difference to climate change. Quite literally, the power is in our hands."

March 29 is already special for Seymour – it’s her 37th birthday. "Seeing as I'm so old I'll have that many candles on my cake that maybe all the lights will be dimmed but you'll still be able to see my house from the glow of the candles."

Seymour, a member of the Canterbury Tactix netball team, said Earth Hour was important to her as a mother. "Having young kids, it starts making you think about what the world's going to be like when they are my age," she said. "Yes, they can learn about these things at school, but on a day-to-day basis there're things that you can be doing at home with your family."

Although she lives on Auckland’s North Shore, Malcolm plans to be in Christchurch on Earth Hour night with her family. As an Earth Hour ambassador she will be at the celebrations in the city centre, though her two sons have other plans: "My boys will probably be running around in the dark somewhere in a friend's house by candlelight," she said.

She encouraged people to take part in Earth Hour, saying: "Although we can look at issues like climate change and the environment as the responsibility of big business and government, communities have a responsibility, and communities are made up of individuals. We are a global community and every little thing you do - like turning off the lights for Earth Hour - makes a difference."

Being environmentally responsible can be a battle, she says, but there is always something we can do. "Just use less – just don't buy that thing. And use your vote – lobby the Government."

Anyone can take part in Earth Hour, by turning out their lights for one hour at 8pm on Saturday 29 March. Sign up to Earth Hour at http://www.earthhour.org/

Photographys courtesy and copyright of The Press.

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About Earth Hour Christchurch
Earth Hour Christchurch is a community event, led by WWF-New Zealand and The Press, and supported by Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury, the Ministry for the Environment and Orion, amongst others. It has the backing of ChristChurch Cathedral and the Employers Chamber of Commerce. All people and businesses can take part in Earth Hour by switching off their lights for one hour at 8pm on 29 March 2008. During Earth Hour people and businesses are also invited to turn off appliances from standby.

About WWF
WWF is the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organization. It has close to five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

What’s Your Next Step?
The Ministry for the Environment is an Earth Hour partner, as part of its What's your next step? sustainability challenge http://www.sustainability.govt.nz/. The campaign challenges New Zealanders to take action to live more sustainably – from small easy steps that can begin today, to those that may take more time and investment. Anyone who signs up to What’s your next step? goes in the draw to win a centameter, which measures — and can help reduce — electricity use. One centameter will be given away each week until the end of March 2008.

Media enquiries
Jenny Riches, WWF-New Zealand+64 (0)4 471 4288 / 0274 477158
jriches@wwf.org.nz

The Phoenix Foundation sound their support for Earth Hour

They’ll be on stage opening for Split Enz during Earth Hour, but that won't stop bright stars of New Zealand's indie rock scene The Phoenix Foundation from celebrating Earth Hour in spirit.

"We might do a couple of songs with the PA and all the lights turned off – maybe a couple of megaphones and acoustic guitars," mused Phoenix drummer Richie Singleton, in an interview with The Press.

The Phoenix Foundation are New Zealand’s first band to sound their support for Earth Hour, the global climate change event which will see the lights of Christchurch - and 23 other cities around the globe - go out for one hour on 29 March at 8pm.

Earth Hour is a WWF-led initiative, which shows that small individual actions – like switching off a light – add up to a big difference in the fight against climate change. Christchurch is the first New Zealand city to commit to Earth Hour, with city lights and iconic buildings in Christchurch, and in Sydney, Bangkok, San Francisco and other forward thinking cities, being plunged into darkness as their citizens take a stand on climate change.

The Phoenix’s Richie Singleton, who also works for the Sustainability Trust based in Wellington, said: "A lot of people in New Zealand think our energy is quite green when it’s not and Earth Hour is a good way to get that knowledge out there, get people thinking about it all.

"Earth Hour draws attention to the fact that 34 per cent of New Zealand's electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. We can actually make a significant reduction to our carbon emissions by making our homes and businesses more energy efficient and by simply switching things off at the wall."

Along with turning off their lights for one hour on Saturday 29 March, people who commit to Earth Hour are being asked to switch unused appliances off standby. Orion New Zealand will monitor the power usage in Christchurch, New Zealand’s Earth Hour city, to monitor the energy saved during Earth Hour.

"Stand-by power consumes around 10 per cent of an average household's electricity, and most of it goes on small appliances like DVD players. Over the course of a year a DVD player can use more electricity sitting in stand-by mode than it will actually playing DVDs," says Singleton.

Orion New Zealand will monitor the power use in Christchurch during Earth Hour to measure how much electricity is saved as the city powers-down. Earth Hour asks people and businesses who commit to Earth Hour to aim to reduce their carbon emissions by five per cent over the first year of Earth Hour. To find simple ways you can reduce your carbon emissions and lead a more sustainable life every day, go to http://www.wwf.org.nz/index.php?URL=http://www.sustainability.govt.nz.%26nbsp%3B

WWF is encouraging everyone in Christchurch and around New Zealand to get involved and commit to Earth Hour, as Dairne Poole, WWF-New Zealand Climate Change Manager explains: "Earth Hour is a chance for every person who is concerned about climate change to commit to making a difference in their own lives, starting with switching off their lights for Earth Hour. This is a huge global event which shows that what we might feel are small actions – like switching off a light, or turning off our appliances at the wall – add up to a big difference, collectively."
There will be acoustic music events in Christchurch on the night of Earth Hour, along with community-run events around the city.

You can register online to commit to turning out your lights for Earth Hour. Sign up to receive news and information about the night’s events, along with information on how to cut your carbon emissions and live Earth Hour every day.
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Prime Minister launches Earth Hour

They may seem small, but they matter.

That was the message from Prime Minister Helen Clark, as she spoke about the importance of small individual actions in fighting climate change, officially launching Earth Hour in Christchurch at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu.

"Events like Earth Hour Christchurch are important because they raise awareness of the worldwide sustainability challenge. It also shows how we can all make a difference, and how, when we work together, our small actions can have a big collective impact," said Helen Clark.

The Prime Minister was guest of honour as Christchurch's business and community leaders gathered to celebrate their city's commitment to Earth Hour, which will see the lights of the city go out for one hour on 29 March at 8pm.

Amongst the guest were children from The Cathedral Grammar Pre-School who thanked the Prime Minister for her support by presenting her with an Earth Hour card (pictured above).

Speaking at the launch, the Prime Minister praised Christchurch for taking a stand on climate change and becoming the first city in New Zealand to commit to Earth Hour.

Due to its position on the globe, Christchurch will also be the first of the Earth Hour family of cities to turn out the lights for Earth Hour, alongside Suva, Fiji.

Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, also gave his full public backing to Earth Hour. WWF-New Zealand Executive Director, Chris Howe, and Editor of The Press, Andrew Holden encouraged people and businesses in Christchurch to commit to Earth Hour, by switching off their lights on 29 March at 8pm for one hour.

Earth Hour will see iconic Christchurch buildings and lights in the city centre, from the Cathedral lights to the red neon sign of The Press, plunged into darkness for one hour.

WWF and The Press are encouraging all people in Christchurch and across New Zealand to get involved in Earth Hour by committing to Earth Hour by registering online.

In Christchurch, Earth Hour celebrations will include an acoustic candle-lit music event in the city. To receive details of this and other events in the lead up to Earth Hour, register your details here.

Christchurch - Welcome to Earth Hour 2008

Christchurch is proud to participate in Earth Hour 2008, the global campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More details on Christchurch involvement in this momentous event will be released soon. Please visit this page again to find out about the Earth Hour push to raise awareness about climate change.