Homes and business around the Douglas region are again being encouraged to turn off their lights this Earth Hour Day on Saturday, March 23 at 8.30pm, an event celebrated around the world.

But this year’s Earth Hour has a different spin.  Organisers, the World Wildlife Fund, are asking Australian participants, dubbed as leaders in the switching off their lights as a show of unity in protecting the planet, to pledge to making the switch for good and turning to renewable energy to run their lights instead of resource-zapping and expensive fossil fuels.

The WWF states the renewables revolution is well and truly underway in Australia with 1.5 million homes already making the switch to green power or solar, making the most of our nation’s wealth of clean, renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, wave and geothermal conditions.

“It sends a clear message to governments and corporate Australia that now is the time to secure our future and support the renewables revolution,” the WWF says.Last year, several local businesses and residents participated in Earth Hour, including Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, who will again turn off their lights for the fifth consecutive year and celebrate with a seafood candlelit dinner in the award-winning Lagoons Restaurant from 6pm.

Cost is $79 per person and bookings for the seafood dinner can be made on (07) 4099 5888.

To make a pledge to switch to renewable energy on Earth Hour day, visit www.earthhour.org