Hour has come to switch everything off . . . except the match of course

THE IRELAND v Macedonia football match tomorrow may be a hazard to local participation in International Earth Hour, environmentalist Duncan Stewart conceded yesterday.

Individual households, businesses and government departments are being urged to turn off lights to demonstrate global concern for the environment during Earth Hour, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.

“We think many people will probably not turn off the TV for the match, but they may like to make some gesture, turn off all other lights, electrical equipment in the house,” said Mr Stewart.

He said the hour was largely symbolic. “For me it means that once a year, for one hour, we celebrate our environment and the need to protect our environment.”

Mr Stewart, who has just produced a DVD of his RTÉ television Eco Eye series, also suggested people turn off their lights and walk out of their homes “and communicate with everyone else on our streets – even in country areas – to show we care about the environment”.

This year, Dublin’s Government Buildings and Leinster House, the Custom House and the Four Courts will go dark for Earth Hour. Six cyclists will power an open-air cinema in Dublin at the top of South King Street.

In Northern Ireland, the Stormont Assembly will host a lights out ghost tour of the building.

Cork's Blackrock Observatory will show a special screening of The Pipe, a documentary about the Shell to Sea campaign. On Kinsale beach there will be a child-friendly launch of sky lanterns.

Also going dark will be castles in Cahir, Donegal, Ormonde and Trim.

Tony Lowes of Irish Earth Hour co-ordinators Friends of the Irish Environment said: “In 2010, hundreds of millions of people across the world took part in Earth Hour, but switching off the lights was only the beginning.

“This year Earth Hour asks people to commit to an action, big or small, that they will sustain for the future of the planet.”