More companies toswitch off on EarthHour this year

For the fourth time since it started in 2010, Saudi Arabia is participating in Earth Hour today between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. local time. Earth Hour is the largest global action against climate change where people are encouraged to go powerless for one hour and live by candlelight.
The initiative started in 2008 in Sydney, when 2 million people in one city switched off their lights. Saudi Arabia first joined Earth Hour in 2010. In 2011 the two largest Skyscrapers of the country, Al-Faisalyah and the Kingdom towers and hotels Jeddah Rosewood, Sheraton and Hilton switched off.
“We are proud to participate in Earth Hour again this year,” said Hans-Peter Lietske, managing director for Rosewood Corniche. “We look forward to building on the success of last year’s event and to implementing more sustainable initiatives in the hotel throughout the year so we too can go beyond the hour.”
Hotel guests are also encouraged to take part in the global event. The hotel will invite guests to dine by candlelight in their restaurants and to dim nonessential lights in their suites.
The number of international and local companies participating in the event is increasing each day and spreading awareness message to their employees. “This is the third year when IKEA joins the cause by shutting down nonessential lights in our showrooms in Saudi Arabia,” said Mark Stratfold of marketing.
This year, participants want to make it big. Businesses such as Al Baik are also participating. The restaurant chain is switching off nonessential lights in its 47 restaurants for one hour over three days.
“At Al Baik, environmental awareness isn’t just a corporate social responsibility program, it’s the essence of how we operate,” said company CEO Rami Abu Ghazaleh.
For 2013, Al Baik partnered with UTurn Productions to send the message across YouTube with a competition calling on everyone to share pictures of how they switched off the lights for Earth Hour.
People can vote online for their favorite photos and the winners will win an eco trip to Jeddah with the choice of going on a diving trip or a camping trip with a friend to one of the natural wonders of the region.