All over the world people are participating in Earth Hour, committing to turning off their lights from 8 pm to 9 pm.
Although no cities in Germany have agreed to take public initiatives to join "Stunde der Erde", after talking to relatives in Hamburg, I know the anticipation for the 60 minutes of darkness is still high.
The Hilton Hotel chains, for example, is shutting off all the lights in the common areas of their European locations and will be serving dinners by candle light. Upon checking it, all the guests are asked to participate by agreeing to turn their lights off at 8 p.m. local time.
While I've yet to hear of any more businesses shutting down their power for the hour, there are thousands of Germans who will flip their switches at home, choosing to sit in serene candle light instead of the usual TV before bed.
The movement is strongest in Australia, then U.S. and Canada, but there are participants in Europe as well. The highest amount of participants will be Ireland and Denmark, but partner cities include:
UK: London, Exeter, Cardiff
Ireland: Dublin
Sweden: Örebro
Norway: Trondheim
Denmark: Ã…rhus, Aalborg, Copenhagen, Odense
Romania: Lugoj, TimiÅŸoara, Sighetu Marmatiei
Earth Hour 2008
Germany
Trend Themes
1. Earth Hour Participation - Opportunities for businesses to promote sustainability and engage with environmentally-conscious consumers by participating in Earth Hour events.
2. Candle Light Experiences - The rise of candlelight dining experiences and alternative evening activities as people choose to switch off their lights for Earth Hour.
3. International Participation - Increasing global participation in Earth Hour, with countries like Australia, U.S., Canada, Ireland, and Denmark leading the movement.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality - Hotels and restaurants can create unique dining experiences by serving dinners by candlelight and promoting Earth Hour participation.
2. Energy - Opportunities for energy companies to promote energy-saving solutions and engage with consumers during Earth Hour.
3. Event Planning - Event planners can organize Earth Hour events and activities that encourage participation and raise awareness for sustainability.