Earth Hour On Saturday March 23 at 8:30 PM

Millions worldwide to turn off lights for Earth Hour on Saturday March 23 at 8:30 PM

Homes, businesses and government buildings are switching off their lights for an hour this weekend as part of a global movement to raise awareness about climate change and energy conservation.

According to organizers, millions of people in more than 150 countries are participating in this year’s Earth Hour, which is being held Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time.

Held annually in March, the symbolic event is an international call for urgent action on climate change, as it encourages people to cut back on their energy consumption on a daily basis to reduce their environmental impact.

Across the globe, lights will be turned off and/or or dimmed at landmarks including New York’s Times Square and Empire State Building, the Las Vegas strip, and, for the first time, Moscow’s Kremlin and Red Square.

About 7,000 cities and towns are expected to take part in Earth Hour 2013, which is in the seventh year.

The movement began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when more than two million individuals and 2,000 businesses switched off their lights for one hour.