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!