Shut off lights for Earth Hour Chicago
Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik is encouraging participation in an international event revolving around the sometimes controversial topic of global warming.
Earth Hour Chicago is set for 8 to 9 p.m. Saturday. The idea is for the metropolitan area's businesses, residents and organizations to turn off non-essential lighting in the one-hour span.
Locally, ComEd has joined forces with the city of Chicago, World Wildlife Fund and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus in promoting the effort to have "a positive effect" on global warming. Kovarik, a Metropolitan Mayors Caucus member, touted the idea at a recent Gurnee village board meeting.
ComEd suggests participants can have fun in the dark with a flashlight-illuminated dinner with loved ones or a lantern campout with children.
Kovarik said she hopes residents in Gurnee and elsewhere in Lake County participate in Earth Hour Chicago. She said she thinks it'll be fun.
"We're going to be doing what we can to get the word out," Kovarik said.
Chicago has been designated as the flagship market in the United States for Earth Hour. Atlanta, San Francisco and Phoenix are the other participants.
In all, Earth Hour will span at least 14 cities over six continents.
ComEd officials said there won't be a risk of a power surge when the electricity is turned back on at the conclusion of Earth Hour Chicago.
Visit www.earthhourus.org/chicago.php for more information.
World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour Chicago
Participants across the city -- and the world -- will dim their lights from 8 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Register: earthhour.org
Chicago area landmarks participating:
• Chicago's theater district marquees
• Sears Tower exterior lights
• John Hancock Center exterior lights
• Motorola Inc.'s Schaumburg headquarters
• Navy Pier decorative lighting, including Ferris wheel lights
• Soldier Field
• Wrigley Field marquee
• McDonald's golden arches at 490 Chicago area restaurants
• United Center lights on the Michael Jordan statue
Worldwide cities observing:
• Bangkok
• Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, Australia
• Christchurch, New Zealand
• Copenhagen
• London
• Manila
• Suva, Fiji
• Tel Aviv, Israel
• Toronto