LIGHTS OUT FOR EARTH HOUR!

Simon Hughes is pressing for the Houses of Parliament to be plunged into darkness in support of the WWF's global Earth Hour campaign.

On 28 March at 8.30pm (GMT) individuals, communities, businesses are being asked to turn off their lights for one hour in support of taking action against climate change. The campaign is hoping that over a billion people will sign up. WWF is encouraging councils throughout the UK to join the big switch off by dimming and switching off lights of civic buildings and iconic landmarks. Restaurants and bars are asked to get involved by holding candlelit dinners on the night and members of the public can also hold their own events such as lights out parties. People can sign up to support WWF's Earth Hour by visiting

wwf.org.uk/earthhour or by texting Earth to 84880.

Mr Hughes has written to the Speaker of the House of Commons requesting that the Palace of Westminster participates in the global act. In his letter, Mr Hughes said, "I believe that this single act will make a very important statement that through small individual and collective actions we can make a difference to help protect our environment."

So far many iconic landmarks from around the world will switch off their lights. This includes the Forth Bridge, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town and Sydney Opera House.

The Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly have both announced their participation and it is now time for the UK parliament to follow suit.

Commenting Simon Hughes said: "I am very supportive of the WWF Earth Hour campaign. In this vital year for our economy and our environment, we all need to be part of the solution to the difficulties we face. I believe that this single act - switching off our lights for one hour - will make a very important statement that through small individual and collective actions we can make a difference to help protect our environment. I hope you will join me and a billion other people around the world on 28th March.

Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF UK, said: "We are delighted that Simon Hughes is backing WWF's Earth Hour. Negotiations for a global deal to tackle climate change are going on right now and it is essential that politicians demand the UK Government takes a strong leadership position.

In the year of the critical Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, parliament as well as people need to show their firm commitment to take action. Participation in Earth Hour would be a symbolic gesture of our determination to do so."