Light relief for climate change
Some of Liverpool's iconic landmarks will be left in the dark on Saturday - to raise awareness about climate change.
The world famous Three Graces, St. George's Hall, the Anglican Cathedral, Empire Theatre and Radio City Tower are just some of the buildings which will be taking part in Earth Hour, a global event organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to highlight the issue of global warning.
More than 500 Liverpool homes have already signed up for the event to switch off any unnecessary lights for one hour at 8.30pm on Saturday 28 March.
Liverpool city council's executive member for the environment, Councillor Berni Turner, said: "We've had a fantastic response from local people and organisations all keen to do their bit and help make a difference to the future of our planet.
"Earth Hour is a symbolic event designed to encourage people to turn off lights when they leave a room or just have fewer lights on than usual.
"Liverpool's Year of the Environment is all about encouraging people to make tiny changes in the way we behave as it can have a massive impact on the amount of energy we consume, which not only helps the environment but also helps save money by cutting electricity bills.
"It's not too late for people to get involved and I urge everyone to do their bit on Saturday."
Other buildings included in the switch-off are Liverpool Town Hall, The Everyman, Croxteth Hall, the Echo Arena and Convention Centre, and 30 fire stations across the city.
WWF's aim is for one billion people world-wide to take part in the environmental initiative, and so far 2,000 towns and cities from more than 80 countries, including London, Cardiff, Belfast, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh, have already signed up to support Earth Hour.
In the UK, 100 towns and cities and 184 Landmarks, including Nelson's Column and the Wembley Arch in London, to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the entire quayside in Newcastle, Stormont in Belfast and the Forth Bridge in Edinburgh are also committed to taking part.
Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF, said: "Liverpool City Council has shown a real commitment to WWF's Earth Hour. We hope that the people of Liverpool will follow their example and take part in the hour by holding candlelit dinners with their friends and family.
"By signing up to switch their lights off they will be showing world leaders that they care about curbing the worst impacts of climate change while we still can."
For more information and to pledge support, log on to www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour or www.radiocity.co.uk/earthhour
