ODESA, FEBRUARY, 27th, 2009, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE – 2008 March, in support of worldwide vote campaign for the health of the Earth the lights of Odesa Opera House, the City Hall, Primorsky Boulevard, Derybasivska str., Dumskaya square and other city buildings and streets will be switched off, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

The Administration of Information at Odesa City Council informed the agency about it today, 27 February.

According to the Administration, 28 March hundreds of cities around the world including Odesa will switch off their lights in support of the campaign. For one hour the illumination of Odesa Opera House, the City Hall, Primorsky Boulevard, Derybasivska str., Dumskaya square and other city buildings and streets will be switched off. There will not be any compulsory blackout. The campaign is voluntary and every citizen, every organization, or enterprise may voluntary switch off their illumination to back up the vote.

28 March, 2009, Odesa, Kyiv, Rivne together with other 700 cities all over the world will switch of their lights for one hour. Earth Hour is a symbolic action of international unity against one of the hottest problems – the global warming.

The countdown starts today, there remains exactly 30 days before the Earth Hour and the amount of cities involved comes closely to 700.

Yesterday, 26 February during the press-conference given by the organisers (WWF) – deputy Head of Administration for cooperation with population self-organisation organs Andrey Kochergin reported the city authorities are trying to provide the necessary support to the organisers of Earth Hour 2009.

“We are all worried about the climate changes going on, that are really dangerous both to thw future of the planet and to every person. So, the authorities of Odesa made a decision to join the election campaign Erath Hour 2009. Our Administration conducts explanatory work among the citizens. I am sure the citizens of Odesa will respond and support the WWF appeal. The image of Odesa will only improve due to our participation in this kind of campaigns”, — Mr. Kochergin informed.

As Context-Prichernomorie previously reported, 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 milliard people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country people are from, but instead, what planet they are 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 the planet.