For Immediate Release
Mar. 18, 2009, 10:14 a.m.
Residents Urged To Turn Off The Lights For Earth Hour
Kingston Unplugged Concert Planned For Springer Market Square
Kingston will participate in Earth Hour on March 28: between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28 lights will go off around the world to mark Earth Hour - a global event to acknowledge humanity's impact on climate change.
In addition to turning off the lights at all of its properties for that hour, City officials are also urging residents to turn off their lights for the hour - and to show the world Kingston cares about climate change by registering their participation in the lights-out event at www.earthhour.org.
"Earth Hour demonstrates that small changes in personal behavior can add up to make a significant difference," says Paul MacLatchy, Director of Strategy, Environment and Communications. "So use Earth Hour to make a pledge to drive less, use less electricity and make the environmentally-friendly changes you know you can make."
Starting at 8 p.m., an off-the-grid Earth Hour concert dubbed "Kingston Unplugged" will be held in Springer Market Square. Performers will include Angel Martin, Emily Fennel and In A Cloud of Awesome. Event speakers will include Jeremy Neven from Outpost Alternatives, Ted Hsu, Executive Director of SWITCH, Mary Ann Higgs from the Kingston Community Garden, and Councilor Rob Hutchison.
The City is a co-sponsor of Kingston Unplugged whose organizers are encouraging Kingstonians to aim to cut the city's electrical consumption by 5 per cent.
Kingston Fire & Rescue reminds those who might light candles during Earth Hour to never leave them unattended.
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Media contact information:
For more information on the City's participation in Earth Hour call Cindie Ashton, Communications Officer, 613-546-4291, ext. 3116. Or call the City of Kingston's media hotline at 613-546-4291, ext 2300.
For more information on Kingston Unplugged concert call Tricia Knowles, Earth Hour Kingston Co-ordinator, 613-767-7511.
