WWF target Birmingham attractions

• Feb. 28 by Lucas Coe (3)

The World Wildlife Federation are targeting Birmingham’s main attractions, including the NEC, ICC and NIA, to participate in their global “Earth Hour” campaign.

The organisation was in the UK’s second city today to convince local businesses and authorities to turn of their lights for one hour at 8.30pm, March 28^th 2009, to show their support for the fight against climate change.

Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF-UK, told the Birmingham Post: “We want to create a groundswell of support and Birmingham, as the UK’s second largest city, is the perfect place to spread the message.”

Over 77 countries and 680 cities have committed to the cause, in what the WWF are calling the world’s first global election on their website:

“For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming.”

Birmingham City Council cast their vote for Earth and are fully behind the initiative.

Speaking for the City Council, Coun Tilsley, told the Birmingham Post: “The city council fully embraces the WWF Earth Hour initiative. Birmingham has set an ambitious target of a 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2026, and is determined to achieve this by tackling the issue.”

However, many people oppose this campaign. Online communities and experts have questioned the value of businesses switching off their lights at 8.30pm, when they would be closed anyway, and have branded the idea as useless public relations exercise.

The question “why are people against earth hour?” was posted on a yahoo answers forum and sparked many angry responses.

Yahoo chose the best answer from a member called Cooper, who said: “Those people who do not want to participate in Earth Hour will probably also feel like they are making a statement that indicates this 1-hour event is not as helpful as a daily conservation event/activity.”

Does the Earth have your vote? Leave your thoughts and comments.