Robert Brown MSP supports Earth Hour 2010

12.00.00am GMT Mon 8th Mar 2010

Glasgow MSP Robert Brown will be one of the millions of people supporting Earth Hour 2010, by taking part in the big switch off later this month.

On Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm individuals, businesses and communities throughout the world will turn off their lights for one hour in a graphic show of support for urgent action on global climate change.

Last year around 100,000 individuals and 700 businesses, in over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off their lights in the World's largest global climate change initiative.

Across the world, landmarks that took part included the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York and Big Ben in London. Here in Scotland, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Parliament have already committed to switching off this year.

2009 was a crucial year for climate change with many switching of their lights to show global leaders they wanted strong action on tackling climate change at the United Nations Copenhagen talks. Now in 2010, a global climate change deal is still far from confirmed, and action on climate change is as urgent as ever.

Robert Brown MSP said:

"I took part in Earth Hour last year and am delighted to take part again this year. It is a small gesture but a very simple way both to make a difference ourselves to climate change and to make a powerful public demonstration of how important it is to "think global, act local" - to take individual steps to reduce the burden on the global environment. I hope many local people will join in the switch off, pledging their support for climate change.

It would be really good if we could double the numbers of people who took part in this last year."

For more information, and to sign up to Earth Hour 2010 go to, http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/

The photograph shows Robert Brown MSP switching off a gigantic electric switch in a publicity event outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.