More than 40 cities in Romania have already joined the Earth Hour global movement, and will turn off the lights this Saturday, between 20:30 and 21:30, local time.

The Government's building in Bucharest and the ministry headquarters will turn off the lights as well on Saturday evening. Besides turning off the electricity for one hour, the authorities and private companies will also organize special events.

For example, in Bucharest, people are invited to take their bikes and go out for a ride between 20:30 and 21:30. The meeting will take place at 19:30 at the “Cyclists’ Roundabout,” located across the street from the Parliament’s Palace, on Natiunile Unite boulevard. The tour will start at 20:30 and will follow the route Izvor Park – Unirii – Romana Square – Victoriei Square – Charles de Gaulle – Kiseleff Boulevard – Calea Victoriei and back. Find more information here.

AFI Palace Cotroceni in Bucharest will also mark Earth Hour with a special event. On Friday, March 18, between 18:30 and 19:30, people are invited to choose one of the bikes located in front of the mall and pedal until the sphere located in front of the shopping center starts to shine. Besides this activity, the mall will also turn off the lights partially on Saturday, starting 20:30.

The City Hall in Adjud, Vrancea County, will also organize an Earth Hour caravan which will distribute the campaign’s message to the city’s inhabitants. Moreover, the symbolic buildings in the city will switch off the electricity for one hour, and the inhabitants will meet in the park for an unplugged event.

Bistrita will host a special film screening, with electricity provided by bicycles, a bike tour, and an acrobatic light show on bikes. People will also ride their bikes in Timisoara and Iasi. Meanwhile, in Oradea, the residents are invited to an artistic event in Unirii Square, which will promote resource saving.

More than 7,000 cities from over 160 countries will take part in the Earth Hour global movement this year.

The movement started in Australia in 2007, when over 2.2 million individuals and 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour. In 2012, over 6,900 cities in 152 countries around the world joined Earth Hour and turned off the lights. Romania joined the movement in 2009.

Earth Hour 2016: Romania turns off the lights for one hour this March

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: WWF)