The Green Party has called on the Assembly and local councils across Northern Ireland to take part in Earth Hour on Saturday 28th March 2009.  The event, begun in Australia a couple of years ago, encourages a switch off of non essential lighting in all public buildings for an hour between 8pm and 9pm.

Green Party MLA Brian Wilson now wants Northern Ireland to follow the example of Oz: “Earth Hour was a huge success in Australia.  It started with a question: How can we inspire people to take action on climate change? The answer: Ask the people of Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour.  I would like to see the lights switched off at Stormont, at Belfast City Hall and other council run buildings all over Northern Ireland.  Indeed one has to ask what is the point of lighting these buildings after hours or at weekends, when not in use.”

Following several letters and phone calls from constituents who have indicted their intention to switch off Assembly Member Wilson said: “Some of my constituents are looking forward to Earth Hour, switching off the television, the computer and the play station; some say that this might even be good for family life.”