EARTH HOUR: Blackouts for bars

The Parramatta Sun - Online - 24 Mar, 2011 04:51 PM
By JENNA DAROCZY

ST PADDY'S Day was a week ago but the Royal Hotel Granville will be going green for a different cause this Saturday.

It will be cocktails by candlelight at the pub for an hour from 8.30pm as lights are switched off for Earth Hour.

The pub's venue manager, Matt Jeboult, said he hoped the action would draw attention to climate change.

"At the Royal Hotel Granville we recognise climate change is one of the most significant threats to the sustainability of our planet," he said.

"But it's surprising how few people realise even small acts of environmental consciousness, such as switching off the lights when they're not in use, can make a huge difference to minimising our impact on the Earth's resources.

"As a firm supporter of Earth Hour we're encouraging as many people in the community to vote Earth on March 26 by visiting the Royal Hotel Granville to experience their local pub by candlelight. It's a small act of unity that will make a real impact to our planet."

Now in its fifth year, the initiative to turn off appliances and lights for an hour has become an internationally marked call for action on climate change.

More than 120 countries took part in switching off non-essential lights in their cities last year, supporting the calls for governments to take action and ensure the world's average temperature does not increase by more than two degrees Celsius.

This year's Earth Hour message is "60+ This Earth Hour, go beyond the hour" and encourages people to use less power all the time. Details: earthhour.org.au