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New Westminster residents urged to turn out the lights on Saturday night

It's that time of the year again when Royal City residents will join people around the world in taking action to increase awareness about climate change.

It's that time of the year again when Royal City residents will join people around the world in taking action to increase awareness about climate change.

Earth Hour, which is taking place on Saturday, March 31, encourages people to turn off all unnecessary lights and equipment. Locally, residents will celebrate Earth Hour from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

According to the City of New Westminster, switching off your lights is just one simple action that residents can take to help make a difference and show their commitment to fighting climate change. Earth Hour was launched in 2007 to highlight the need to take action to address climate change.

Coun. Jonathan Cote has no specific plans for this year's Earth Hour, but he will certainly be turning off the lights in his home.

"In the past we have invited friends over," he said. "One year we played board games by candlelight."

New Westminster MLA Dawn Black is encouraging residents to participate in Earth Hour, an event that is organized by the World Wildlife Fund.

"It started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. It showed that everyone, from children to CEOs and politicians, has the power to change the world we live in," she said in an email to community members. "In 2008, the plan was to spread Earth Hour to the rest of Australia but it wasn't long before 35 countries and almost 400 cities and towns followed suit."

According to Black, for the fourth consecutive year, the B.C. Legislature will participate in Earth Hour by turning off the exterior outline lighting as well as all controlled lights in the interior of the building and fountain and rose garden areas between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm on Saturday, March 31.

"I would also like to encourage participation at your home and work location on Saturday evening," she said. "Our provincial average was a 1.8 per cent reduction in electricity consumption during Earth Hour last year and I hope we can increase that percentage in 2012."