Lisa Meuser (www.themeusproductions.ca) has produced a great video of interviews and people’s thoughts about Earth Hour.  Thanks Lisa!

The following is an email exchange between myself and a Carleton University Journalism student. (Kevin)

With this event, what kind of statement are you hoping to make to the Canadian government?

Every participant in Earth Hour is hoping to increase awareness of climate change issues – and that is across the globe.  We’ve invited people in Ottawa to gather on Parliament Hill to send a message to the Canadian government that there is a huge desire among Canadians for real and immediate action on climate change issues.

What do you think the significance of Earth Hour is in a larger context of environmental awareness and change?

One of my favourite sayings is “Common sense is just sense made common”.  By raising awareness of climate change issues among Canadians Earth Hour is helping to prepare the way for change to occur.  As Canadians become more aware of the need to reduce energy demand and shift to a sustainable Green economy they will demand that our Government take the necessary steps to reach those goals.

OTTAWA – The Green Party is hosting a candlelight vigil on Parliament Hill to commemorate Earth Hour on Saturday, March 27th.  At 8:30pm the lights on Parliament Hill will be turned off and for sixty minutes the participants will be joining in the global Earth Hour movement calling for immediate action on climate change issues.

“Millions of people across the globe will participate in Earth Hour this year and that shows there is a huge desire for immediate action on climate change issues” said Kevin O’Donnell, Green Party president for the Ottawa Centre Electoral District Association. “The recent ‘No Prorogation’ rallies across Canada show that when Canadians band together at the grassroots level the effect can be immediate and powerful.  The Green Party is inviting everyone to join us for Earth Hour on Parliament Hill and continue converting symbolic action into real political change.”

Event: Earth Hour Candlelight Vigil
Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010
Time: 8:30pm
Location: Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario.
Information: www.ottawagreens.ca

The vigil is open to the general public.  Participants are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early in order to be present when the lights are turned off at 8:30pm.
About Earth Hour

Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 27, 2010 at 8:30 PM (local time) to show their support for action on climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007, and has since grown into a global movement with a goal of reaching one billion people in thousands of cities in 2010.

So far so good – it’s only a high of 0C forecast!  But the important thing is no rain (or snow!).  Exactly 6 days until the Earth Hour vigil on Parliament Hill …  Check out our main Vigil page for event details.  See you on Saturday!

Many thanks to the polite staffer, identity unknown, within PWGSC who returned my email inquiry in less than 10 minutes:

Lights on Parliament Hill, including the Peace Tower’s clock face, will be turned off at 8:30 pm on March 27, 2010.

Warmest regards.

Parliament Hill
Corporate Services, Policy and Communications Branch
Public Works and Government Services Canada

See you in two weeks!

The candles from BeeGlo have arrived – all 300 of them!  When I opened the box the smell of beeswax drew me all the way back to last year when planning was underway for the ’09 vigil.

Would you consider helping us pay for the candles (and other event costs) by donating to the Ottawa Centre Greens?  Our budget is $500 for everything.  Anything from $5 and up would be helpful!  All donations are tax deductible.

When: March 27th, 8pm
Where: Parliament Hill
Who: Everyone is invited
Facebook: Got Facebook? Mark yourself down as attending and invite others!

]]> http://www.ottawacentregreens.ca/index.php/2010/02/05/earth-hour-candles-are-here/390/feed 0 http://www.ottawacentregreens.ca/index.php/2010/01/18/earth-hour-ottawa-promo-video/386 http://www.ottawacentregreens.ca/index.php/2010/01/18/earth-hour-ottawa-promo-video/386#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:40:12 +0000 Kevin O'Donnell http://www.ottawacentregreens.ca/index.php/2010/01/18/earth-hour-ottawa-promo-video/386

Hot off the presses -- here’s the new Earth Hour Ottawa promo video.  Share it and spread it around!

Right now the plan is to get beeswax Hanukkah candles from a supplier in Lanark for the EarthHour vigil.  Beeswax is nice (paraffin is not!) and I’m happy to support an Ottawa Valley business.  My task this week is to contact BeeGlo and get a bulk purchase quote.  Can you make a donation to help us cover the event costs?

A collaborator brought up the idea of looking for a vegan candle.  I’m guessing they’ll be more expensive but we don’t have to buy hundreds of them.  Maybe just enough to give those that want one the option.  Let me know if you have an idea on where to get a soy/hemp or other type of candle.  Hopefully it will be smaller – we don’t want to be giving out 6 hour candles for a 1 hour event!

Time to pick up the phone and give BeeGlow a call.

This morning my computer’s calendar chimed and reminded me that today is the day to start planning the Earth Hour vigil on Parliament Hill in earnest.  On the one hand a vigil isn’t too difficult to pull together: all you need are candles and people!  But if you want to make a big impact and make it memorable it helps to start early.  Welcome to the start of planning.

Here’s the short list of what needs to get done between now and Earth Hour.  Or rather this is the list so far. I’m sure it will grow as people bring ideas forward.  On that note, do you have a great idea for something we could include as part of the Vigil?  I’d love to hear it if you do.  Shout it out on twitter to @ottawactrgreens or email me directly (kevin.odonnell@ottawagreens.ca).

Recruit volunteers: We’re going to need about 10 people who will help distribute the candles (beeswax, or vegan candles if they can be found) and pamplets.  When that’s done these volunteers convert to canvassers to collect contact information from people at the vigil who are interested in the Green Party and/or sustainable politics.  There will also be an after-party somewhere so volunteers will be needed to help setup there.  Use our sign up form if you’d like to help out!
Outreach: I’ve got a list of community groups to reach out to and invite to the vigil.  More than that, I would like to invite a true collaboration with everyone in order to grow the vigil beyond what the Green Party can do alone.

Logistics and Planning: I’ve already sent the paperwork to Heritage Canada to request use of the Hill for EarthHour.  But there is much more to do!  Locate a wholesale supplier of beeswax (or vegan) candles and buy some.  Fundraising to cover the costs of the event.  Planning the scope and location of the after party.  Inviting guests and contacting the media. Pamphlet design, printing and preparation.  The list goes on and on.

I’ll be blogging more as the planning progresses.  For now I’ll end with a wonderful video from the 2009 video.  See you in March!