"SYDNEY, Australia -- Earth Hour 2012 organizers are jubilant today after a satisfyingly successful global event on March 31. Lights went out at 8:30 pm local time as Earth Hour circled the world through a record 150 countries and territories, with 6,494 towns and cities participating."

"Organized by the global conservation organization WWF, Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million people and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.

Andy Ridley, co-founder and executive director of Earth Hour, said going dark for one hour offers 'an hour of inspiration' to create awareness and motivate ongoing action for the environment."

Environment News Service had the story April 2, 2012. [2]