Edmund Rice Justice Bulletin

Catholic Earthcare Australia is calling on individual Catholics and Catholic communities to express their solidarity with fellow Australians in the Torres Strait and people of the Pacific "who are watching their countries being covered by sea water" by participating in
Earth Hour 2009 on March 28th.

"Catholic Earthcare Australia fully supports the WWF Earth hour initiative and we are encouraging individual to act responsibly with God's creation by reducing personal and communal electricity usage," Catholic Earthcare Director, Jacqui Remond announced recently.

"By registering and observing Earth Hour on Saturday March 28 we will demonstrate our deep concern for the damage that we now understand is being driven by industrialised lifestyles on planet Earth. We will also be signifying our need to be in right relationship with God's Creation at home, in our schools, at our churches and our places of work." she added.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

Information about how you can participate can be found at the Earth Hour 2009 website.