Last night, millions turned their lights off from 8-9 to observe an electricity ban, prompted by the World Wildlife Fund’s “Earth Hour.” I spent the hour outside, over the North Avenue bridge trying to make out the dark skyscrapers on my way to pick up some wine from Trader Joe’s, who also had the store sign turned out. I preferred the sense of calm that ensued- soy candles from 8-9 here on out anyone?

Info from the newswire: “Millions of people in cities across the U.S. and around the globe turned their lights off for one hour last night to make an unprecedented and highly visible global statement in support for action on climate change.

“Earth Hour” was marked on six continents and in more than 400 countries, according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s largest conservation organization, which organized and coordinated the inaugural global event. The official website, www.earthhour.org received over 2.4 million visitors on March 29^th, alone. Major corporations, iconic landmarks, schools, towns and villages united in this effort to raise awareness and change the way people think. Like a giant wave, lights went out at the Sydney Opera House, Wat Arun Buddhist temple in Bangkok; the Coliseum in Rome; the Royal Castle in Stockholm, the Parliament building in Budapest, London’s city hall, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Westin Peachtree Plaza – the tallest hotel in the western hemisphere, Sears Tower in Chicago and Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. In Israel, President Shimon Peres turned the lights of the city out with the flick of a switch.”