By Roy Weavers

In an enlightened move the Sheraton Mirage in Port Douglas will be blacking out at 8.30pm in observance of the Earth Hour 2010 on Saturday 27th March. Yes, the Sheraton Mirage will be leaving their guests in the dark this week.  But it’s all for a good cause.

They will be turning off its lights for Earth Hour, a worldwide event organized by the World Wildlife Fund to send a powerful global message about environmental awareness and caring for the planet.  Nearly one billion people turned off for Earth Hour 2009 – involving 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents.

To re-inforce their parent company Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc.’s dedication to environmental sustainability, the Sheraton will also share other energy-saving measures during the Earth Hour.  Among them they will be reducing all non-essential lighting in the resort and using candlelight in appropriate public areas such as restaurants and bars (Ed Note: How romantic!).  In fact they are organising a special Earth Hour candlelight dinner in their Lagoons Restaurant on Saturday 27th March with a seafood buffet and special discounted 2for1 price for locals plus prize giveaways, free glow sticks for the children and “Go Green” apple martinis in the Daintree Lounge.

Earth Hour is drawing strong support from Starwood hotels around the globe with all 7 Starwood hotels & resort in the Pacific region participating.  Last year, the unlit hotels offered striking visual imagery that provided an apt symbol of Earth Hour.

Sheraton Mirage, Port Douglas General Manager Lachlan Walker said, “Sheraton Mirage is again participating in such a vital initiative that is now practiced around the world and there is no better place than Port Douglas to show our support in the fight against climate change and help keep our reef and rainforest for our children to continue to enjoy”.

Editors comments: Good on the Sheraton for leading the way, now come on, let's have every other resort doing the same.  What a difference we could make.  If you are planning something similar to The Sheraton, let us know and we'll shout your name from the pages of Newsport Daily online!  Hey, we cover over 160 countries so it's a big shout!

About Earth Hour

On Earth Hour, March 27 2010, hundreds of millions of people around the world will come together to call for action on climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour. The movement symbolizes that by working together, each of us can make a positive impact in this fight, protecting our future and that of future generations.

Since its inception three years ago, Earth Hour’s non-partisan approach has captured the world’s imagination and became a global phenomenon. Nearly one billion people turned out for Earth Hour 2009 – involving 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents.  Last year, 80 million Americans and 318 U.S. cities officially voted for action with their light switch, joining iconic landmarks from around the world that went dark for Earth Hour.  
More at www.myearthhour.org